Freddie McKay | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1947 |
| Origin | Saint Catherine Parish, Jamaica |
| Died | 19 November 1986(1986-11-19) (aged 38–39) |
| Genres | Reggae,Roots Reggae,Rocksteady, dub |
| Instrument | Vocals |
| Labels | Bamboo |
Freddie McKay (sometimesFreddy McKay) (1947 – 19 November 1986)[1][2] was a Jamaican singer, whose career spanned therocksteady and conscious spiritualroots reggae eras.
McKay, born inSaint Catherine Parish, Jamaica,[3] is regarded as one of the most soulful singers to come out of Jamaica.[4] McKay first recorded for producerPrince Buster in 1967, his first hit coming the same year with "Love Is A Treasure", recorded forDuke Reid'sTreasure Isle set-up.[5] McKay then enjoyed a fruitful spell withCoxsone Dodd, recording a number of popular songs forStudio One, such asDiscomix vocal and dub " Love Is A Treasure", backed by The Soul Defenders, a band that included Bobby Kalphat and Joseph Hill of Culture,[6] including "High School Dance", "Sweet You Sour You", and "Picture on the Wall", the latter the title track of his 1971 debut album.[5]
A second album,Lonely Man followed in 1974. McKay recorded a duet withHorace Andy in 1975, "Talking Love" which was also a hit in Jamaica.[7] McKay enjoyed another hit in 1976 with "Dance This Ya Festival", which won theJamaican Independence Popular Song Contest that year.[7]
In 1977 McKay teamed up withAlvin Ranglin to produce the misleadingly titledThe Best Of Freddie McKay (it was an album of new recordings), adapting to the prevailingroots reggae conscious Rockers style, also releasing a number of highly regardedDiscomix vocal and dub showcase works, produced, engineered and mixed byLeonard Chin,Joe Gibbs (producer),Augustus Pablo,King Tubby and Scientist.
AnOssie Hibbert-produced showcase albumCreation followed in 1979, featuring McKay's versions ofBurning Spear's andJohnny Clarke'sCreation, a cover ofHorace Andy,Coxsone Dodd, and Wentworth Vernal'sThe Rainbow as well as aDiscomix take onDennis Brown'sHere I Come.
Another album,Tribal Inna Yard, was released in 1983, backed byRoots Radics and engineered by Scientist.
McKay maintained a faithful, serious following amongst conscious roots rockers and sound system devotees until his death in 1986[2] from a heart attack,[2] shortly after finishing his final album,I'm a Free Man, cut atJoseph Hoo Kim'sChannel One Studios withSly and Robbie,Eric "Bingy Bunny" Lamont,Dean Fraser andEarl "Chinna" Smith, withbacking vocals provided byThe Tamlins.[5]
His son, Andrew Chin, known under the pseudonymBrushy One String, is a musician known for playing a one-stringed guitar.[8][9]
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