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King Sporty | |
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| Background information | |
| Born | Noel George Williams (1943-09-19)September 19, 1943 |
| Died | January 5, 2015(2015-01-05) (aged 71) Miami, Florida |
| Labels | Tashamba, Konduko |
Noel George Williams (19 September 1943 – 5 January 2015), better known asKing Sporty, was a JamaicanDJ,reggae musician, and record producer for the Tashamba and Konduko labels. He is best known for co-writing the song, "Buffalo Soldier", made famous byBob Marley.[1]
Born inPortland, Jamaica,[1] in his early days Sporty rose to become a studiosideman underClement Dodd's tutelage atStudio One, and recorded for Dodd as a deejay as well as deejaying on Dodd'ssound system.[2] In 1965 he released the track "El Cid", credited to King Sporty and Justin Yap.
In the early 1970s he moved to Miami, Florida and began producing music there under his Tashamba and Konduko labels.[3] In 1977 Sporty released an album,Mr. Rhythm on his own Konduko label.[3] He evolved from reggae tofunk todisco toelectro toMiami bass between the 1970s and 1980s. Sporty found lastinghits in theelectro funk canon with Connie Case's "Get on Down" and "Haven't Been Funked Enough", under his Ex Tras moniker when he made licensing deals withTommy Boy Records in 1982. His original version of "Buffalo Soldier" was released in the late 1970s.[1] Marley first recorded the song in Miami towards the end of theKaya tour in 1978.[4]
He released the track "Computer Age" in 1992 under the name Sporty and the Laptop.[citation needed]
Sporty was married to the Americansoul andrhythm and blues singer,Betty Wright.[1]
International Reggae and World Music Awards – IRAWMA honored Mr. Williams with their Lifetime Achievement Award in 2010.[citation needed]
In 2013 Sporty's song "Self Destruct" was sampled byJustin Timberlake for his song "That Girl" on hisThe 20/20 Experience album.[citation needed]
He died on 5 January 2015 in Miami, Florida, aged 71.[1]
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