Jack Scorpio | |
---|---|
Background information | |
Birth name | Maurice Johnson |
Also known as | Black Scorpio |
Born | Jamaica |
Origin | Kingston, Jamaica |
Genres | Reggae, dancehall |
Occupation(s) | Sound system operator, record producer |
Years active | 1968–present |
Labels | Black Scorpio |
Black Scorpio is a Jamaican sound system and record label run by Maurice "Jack Scorpio" Johnson.
Johnson started to operate a single turntable and speaker sound system in 1968 and started the Special I sound system in 1972, changing the name to Black Scorpio after the name caused friction in the area in which it was based, with the largely People's National Party-supporting locals suspecting sympathies with the Jamaica Labour Party due to its similarity to that party's slogan. [1] [2] Also known as 'The Horseman Sound' to the close association of Johnson (who owned racehorses) and deejays that worked on the sound system ( General Trees and Lord Sassafrass) with horse racing, it rose to become one of the top sounds in Jamaica. [2] [3] [4] Other deejays who worked on the system included Culture Lee, Shukashine, Barry Bak, and Lady G. [2] Black Scorpio expanded into a record label in the early 1980s with a studio on Molynes Road in the Drewsland area of Kingston. [5] [6] Johnson had his first hit as producer in 1982 with "Pink Eye" by DJ Sassafrass, the pair having a bigger hit in 1985 with "Pocomania Jump", and Black Scorpio went on to become one of the top labels of the early era of ragga. [3] [5]
Black Scorpio productions include recordings by Bunny Rugs, Dennis Brown (More), Gregory Isaacs (Consequence), Frankie Paul (True, Start of a Romance), Garnett Silk, King Kong, Mafia & Fluxy, Papa San (Style and Fashion), Capleton, Bounty killer, Pliers, Mega Banton, Barrington Levy, Beenie Man, and Luciano (Serve Jah). [3] [5] [7] [8]
There are two sub-labels of Black Scorpio, Headley Avenue and Junior Scorpio, the latter named for Johnson's late son. [3]
In 2010, Johnson was inducted into the International Reggae and World Music Awards (IRAWMA) Hall of Fame. [9]
Jack Scorpio | |
---|---|
Background information | |
Birth name | Maurice Johnson |
Also known as | Black Scorpio |
Born | Jamaica |
Origin | Kingston, Jamaica |
Genres | Reggae, dancehall |
Occupation(s) | Sound system operator, record producer |
Years active | 1968–present |
Labels | Black Scorpio |
Black Scorpio is a Jamaican sound system and record label run by Maurice "Jack Scorpio" Johnson.
Johnson started to operate a single turntable and speaker sound system in 1968 and started the Special I sound system in 1972, changing the name to Black Scorpio after the name caused friction in the area in which it was based, with the largely People's National Party-supporting locals suspecting sympathies with the Jamaica Labour Party due to its similarity to that party's slogan. [1] [2] Also known as 'The Horseman Sound' to the close association of Johnson (who owned racehorses) and deejays that worked on the sound system ( General Trees and Lord Sassafrass) with horse racing, it rose to become one of the top sounds in Jamaica. [2] [3] [4] Other deejays who worked on the system included Culture Lee, Shukashine, Barry Bak, and Lady G. [2] Black Scorpio expanded into a record label in the early 1980s with a studio on Molynes Road in the Drewsland area of Kingston. [5] [6] Johnson had his first hit as producer in 1982 with "Pink Eye" by DJ Sassafrass, the pair having a bigger hit in 1985 with "Pocomania Jump", and Black Scorpio went on to become one of the top labels of the early era of ragga. [3] [5]
Black Scorpio productions include recordings by Bunny Rugs, Dennis Brown (More), Gregory Isaacs (Consequence), Frankie Paul (True, Start of a Romance), Garnett Silk, King Kong, Mafia & Fluxy, Papa San (Style and Fashion), Capleton, Bounty killer, Pliers, Mega Banton, Barrington Levy, Beenie Man, and Luciano (Serve Jah). [3] [5] [7] [8]
There are two sub-labels of Black Scorpio, Headley Avenue and Junior Scorpio, the latter named for Johnson's late son. [3]
In 2010, Johnson was inducted into the International Reggae and World Music Awards (IRAWMA) Hall of Fame. [9]