Downloads   Galeries   Forums   Audios   Vidéos   Liens   Livre d´or   Partenaires   Contact   
  Accueil
  Actualité
  Régions/Peuples
  Historique
  Sawanité
  Le Ngondo
  Tourisme
  Littérature
  VIP
  F.A.Q
  Agendas
  Evénements
  Annonces
  Projets
  Communauté



      


30.10.2010

Gregory Isaacs, Jamaican reggae artist, dies at age 59 

Mr. Isaacs maintained that he owned the guns for protection from robbers and political violence, which had engulfed Jamaica in the late 1970s, "just like you have a jacket to protect you from the cold." 

====================== 

Gregory Isaacs, who died on Tuesday at age 59 in London, England, possessed one of the most recognisable and beloved voices in reggae over a career that spanned five decades.

Though he’d been in ill health for a long time, he succumbed to lung cancer contracted in the past year. During the past couple of decades, his wounded and beguiling voice had deteriorated into a shadow of its former self as a result of cocaine and crack use. Nevertheless, even in its diminished state, producers in Jamaica and around the world continued to utilise the voice to connect their beats to the essence of reggae itself.

Isaacs’ vocal abilities were unique. Certainly not a technically gifted singer, his songs brimmed with his incomparably persuasive phrasing. Best known for his irresistible appeal to ladies, “The Cool Ruler,” as he was known, featured a sly tenor croon that verged on melodic speech, particularly in later years. These same qualities helped him to convey more serious topics or even boastful attitude with equal conviction. Perhaps the highest compliment that could be paid to him is that his voice was inimitable.

Issacs began recording in 1968 and found his first success in the early ’70s as he refined his persona to match the roots reggae of the day with romantic subjects. By 1975, he was working with the greatest producers of the era, recording hit after hit — often on his own label, African Museum — which remain beloved in the reggae canon. Isaacs moved more towards social criticism during his tenure with Virgin Records’ Front Line label in the late ’70s, and during this time, became a major star in Britain.

‘Night Nurse,’ his signature song and one of reggae’s archetypal tracks, speaks volumes of his career. Recorded in 1982, Isaacs’ languidly pleads for a nurse to “quench his thirst” over top of a slow-rolling bass line and catchy, understated synth hooks. Though, it was never a big hit in radio, it’s one of those songs which have reached the four corners of the world; wherever reggae is being played, ‘Night Nurse’ is never far away.

With the song released by Island Records, who eagerly signed him after Virgin inexplicably dropped him, Isaacs’ future seemed bright. However, he spent six months of the year in prison on a weapons conviction, which slowed his momentum. ‘Night Nurse’ was the beginning of a pattern in which his addiction to cocaine and subsequent troubles with the law hampered his career. Sadly, this struggle dominated many decades of his life, though he cleaned up in his last years.

Isaacs continued to make fine music and remain popular among reggae fans. When able to perform, he did so spectacularly. His 1984 album, ‘Live at the Academy Brixton,’ witnessed the depth of his fans’ love as the audience sang prolonged sections of his hits back to him. Even as he continued to slide into drug problems in the late ’80s, he was a major figure in dancehall of that era, recording anthems ‘Rumours’ and ‘Red Rose for Gregory,’ which portrayed menacing and romantic sides of his personality respectively, for a new generation of listeners.

In later years, his health problems caused him to lose his teeth and thicken his once-nimble voice. However, he continued to record steadily and perform when he could, overcoming the obstacles that his criminal record presented.

His last full-fledged album, ‘Brand New Me,’ came out in 2008, fittingly on the African Museum label. One of his last recordings was just released this month: the title track on Juno-winning Canadian reggae artist Dubmatix’ ‘System Shakedown.’

“I wrote the music specifically for Gregory,” Dubmatix said. “I wanted to reproduce the original early ’80s sound of ‘Night Nurse,’ ‘Number One’ and others. He did a quick demo and sent it over. Two nights later, I spoke with him as he was in the studio voicing the song. For me, it was a highlight musically working with one of the legends I grew up listening to in the ’80s — I never did know that he was ill.”

In remembering Isaacs’ matchless voice, reggae fans also acknowledge his volatile yet perceptive character. Perhaps the most prolific reggae singer of all time, Isaacs, even at his most mundane, had a particular point of view that brought a strong sense of drama to his songs. His death will undoubtedly spark many reappraisals of (and reissues from) his long career.

“His voice ruled the dancehalls of the ’80s,” said Dubmatix. “His legacy will continue through those incredible works of art.”

 

Source: Dikalo la Mboa Sawa | Hits: 37756 | Envoyer à des amis  ! | Imprimer ! | Réagir(1)

PLUS DE NOUVELLES


  Hébergement web, quelle est son importance en SEO ?
( | 12.10.2023 | 1719 hits  | 0 R)

  Est-ce possible de parier à des matchs de foot en ligne ?
( | 15.10.2021 | 27571 hits  | 0 R)

  Dibiye le nde njangi. Alexandre EWANDE.
( | 10.08.2014 | 48865 hits  | 0 R)

  Ruth Kotto se confie
( | 05.01.2014 | 52656 hits  | 0 R)

  Kalenda 2014
( | 27.12.2013 | 52353 hits  | 0 R)

  Qui sont les Banen ?
( | 11.11.2013 | 61026 hits  | 0 R)

  Décès du KING DEIDO ESSAKA EKWALLA ESSAKA
( | 03.10.2013 | 59789 hits  | 0 R)

  Iconoclasme Pathologique: les cas Nelson Mandela et Cheikh Anta Diop
( | 18.09.2013 | 54750 hits  | 0 R)

  Sawa Beach relancé
( | 16.09.2013 | 43644 hits  | 0 R)

  Nelson Mandela: Le Visionnaire mal compris
( | 08.09.2013 | 42587 hits  | 0 R)

  Banque Centrale de la Diaspora : un élément de solution aux problèmes de l’Afrique Noire
( | 09.08.2013 | 42964 hits  | 0 R)

  UNIVERSITES DU PETROLE ET FUTUR DE L’AFRIQUE NOIRE
( | 02.08.2013 | 42735 hits  | 0 R)

  LE GRAND SOMMET - DE LA JEUNESSE D’EDEA - SAMEDI 27 JUILLET 2013
( | 15.07.2013 | 41332 hits  | 0 R)

  Notre devoir de MÉMOIRE à l´occasion du 42ème anniversaire du décès de Ernest Ouandié
( | 15.01.2013 | 42829 hits  | 0 R)

  Les dessous du complot contre le Mali : L’étape cruciale de la 3ème guerre mondiale a déjà commencé
( | 14.01.2013 | 48557 hits  | 1 R)

  Hommage à Raymond Kotto Touah, par Gaston Ntouba
( | 06.01.2013 | 41101 hits  | 0 R)

  Lettre de Philippe Bouvard à François Hollande
( | 06.01.2013 | 38457 hits  | 0 R)

  Le Prince René Douala Bell passe le flambeau
( | 06.12.2012 | 44687 hits  | 0 R)

  Essai sur les origines, l´histoire, le parcours et l´oeuvres du Prince René Dualla Manga Bell ( 22/02/1927-06/11/2012)
( | 02.12.2012 | 49941 hits  | 0 R)

  Ngondo 2012
( | 28.11.2012 | 46268 hits  | 0 R)

  Dynastie Bélè Bélè: De Ndoumbe Lobè à René Manga Bell
( | 12.11.2012 | 53626 hits  | 0 R)

  Sa Majesté le Prince Réné DOUALA MANGA BELL est décédé.
( | 07.11.2012 | 44349 hits  | 0 R)

  La Pensée Africaine: Essai sur L´Universisme philosophique de Mbog Mbassong
( | 01.10.2012 | 37864 hits  | 0 R)

  J-J Ekindi interpelle Philemon Yang au sujet de l´implantation de l´usine Dangote
( | 04.07.2012 | 43009 hits  | 0 R)

  La Route Douala-Yabassi: Bitumage strictement interdit !!!!
( | 03.07.2012 | 52735 hits  | 0 R)

  Lettre aux Chefs Sawa
( | 03.07.2012 | 40411 hits  | 0 R)

  Hommage au Père Eric de Rosny
( | 05.03.2012 | 45116 hits  | 0 R)

  Lettre du Pr. Kum’a Ndumbe III au Synode Général de l’Eglise Evangélique du Cameroun 2012
( | 02.03.2012 | 51012 hits  | 0 R)

  Calendrier Africain "KALENDA 2012" en Duala - Français - Swahili
( | 04.12.2011 | 42754 hits  | 0 R)

  Manu Dibango : "J´ai grandi entre Halléluia et le début de Soul Makossa"
( | 17.11.2011 | 45125 hits  | 0 R)

  15. Novembre 1884 - 15 Novembre 2011. Berlin 126 ans après
( | 17.11.2011 | 38480 hits  | 0 R)

  Appel à l’intelligentsia européenne et nord-américaine. Pr. Kum’a Ndumbe III
( | 09.10.2011 | 43654 hits  | 0 R)

  LE XXIE SIECLE SERA-T-IL AFRICAIN ? Axelle Kabou
( | 09.10.2011 | 38710 hits  | 0 R)

  Libya: The real war starts now By Pepe Escobar
( | 06.10.2011 | 60130 hits  | 0 R)

  Libération de l´Afrique : Nécessite d´une Armée Révolutionnaire !
( | 20.09.2011 | 47190 hits  | 0 R)

  RACISME: Une Camerounaise tabassée pendant son rapatriement forcé
( | 15.09.2011 | 40743 hits  | 0 R)

  Propositions pour un Modèle de Nouvelle Gouvernance des Sawas
( | 11.07.2011 | 45741 hits  | 0 R)

  Lettre Ouverte d´un Africain au Président Obama et à Sarkozy
( | 28.06.2011 | 43260 hits  | 0 R)

  The Boycott France Campaign Reaches the Caribbean - Les crimes de la France contre les Noirs
( | 11.06.2011 | 40271 hits  | 0 R)

  Malimba: L´administration néocoloniale fait le hold-up sur les chefferies traditionnelles Sawa. Par Moukoudi César
( | 15.05.2011 | 48919 hits  | 0 R)

  La chose est de retour.
( | 14.04.2011 | 39343 hits  | 0 R)

  Le rôle des Askaris dans les invasions de l’Afrique. Par Brother Metusala Dikobe
( | 07.04.2011 | 44521 hits  | 0 R)

  President Obama Gets His Groove Back By Attacking Africans - Cynthia McKinney
( | 07.04.2011 | 41663 hits  | 0 R)

  Et si l´Afrique refusait le développement ? La suite ... Axelle Kabou
( | 06.04.2011 | 38579 hits  | 0 R)

  Les Chefs Dualas et la Politique Internationale au XIXe Siècle
( | 01.04.2011 | 43482 hits  | 0 R)

  Célébré au Panthéon, Aimé Césaire demeure un rebelle irrécupérable
( | 01.04.2011 | 38857 hits  | 0 R)

  Lettre ouverte à la nouvelle génération consciente et patriote
( | 01.04.2011 | 37503 hits  | 0 R)

  LES MENSONGES DE LA GUERRE DE L’OCCIDENT CONTRE LA LIBYE
( | 29.03.2011 | 37287 hits  | 0 R)

  L´Union africaine : ce projet européen ? Axelle Kabou
( | 25.03.2011 | 37577 hits  | 0 R)

  "Cri aux Africains !" Tribune d’Adame Ba Konaré, historienne et ex-Première dame du Mali
( | 24.03.2011 | 37146 hits  | 0 R)



   0 |  1 |  2 |  3 |  4 |  5 |  6 |  7 |  8 |  9 |  10 |  11 |  12 |  13 |  14 |  15 |      ... >|



Jumeaux Masao "Ngondo"

Remember Moamar Kadhafi

LIVING CHAINS OF COLONISATION






© Peuplesawa.com 2007 | WEB Technology : BN-iCOM by Biangue Networks