Dandy Livingstone is a Jamaica

Jamaica

Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...

n reggae

Reggae

Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...

 musician

Musician

A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....

 and producer

Record producer

A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...

, best known for his 1972 hit

Hit record

A hit record is a sound recording, usually in the form of a single or album, that sells a large number of copies or otherwise becomes broadly popular or well-known, through airplay, club play, inclusion in a film or stage play soundtrack, causing it to have "hit" one of the popular chart listings...

, "Suzanne Beware of the Devil", and for his song

Song

In music, a song is a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing.A song may be accompanied by musical instruments, or it may be unaccompanied, as in the case of a cappella songs...

, "Rudy, A Message to You

A Message to You, Rudy

"Rudy, A Message to You" is a 1967 rocksteady song by Dandy Livingstone. The song later achieved broader success when in 1979, The Specials cover, titled "A Message to You, Rudy", reached Number 10 in the UK chart....

", which was later a hit for The Specials

The Specials

The Specials are an English 2 Tone ska revival band formed in 1977 in Coventry, England. Their music combines a "danceable ska and rocksteady beat with punk's energy and attitude", and had a "more focused and informed political and social stance" than other ska groups...

. "Suzanne Beware of the Devil", reached number 14 on the UK Singles Chart

UK Singles Chart

The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...

.

Biography

At the age of 15, Livingstone moved to the United Kingdom. Livingstone's first record

Gramophone record

A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...

 was released without his knowledge - a tenant in the building where he and a friend jammed

Jam session

Jam sessions are often used by musicians to develop new material, find suitable arrangements, or simply as a social gathering and communal practice session. Jam sessions may be based upon existing songs or forms, may be loosely based on an agreed chord progression or chart suggested by one...

 recorded some of these sessions and released some tracks on the Planetone

Planetone

Planetone was a label that issued Jamaican Ska recordings in the early 1960's.-History:The labels founder was Sonny Roberts. It is possible that this was the first black owned label in England.The basement studio was located at Cambridge Road, London....

 record label

Record label

In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...

. When London

London

London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...

-based Carnival Records were seeking a Jamaican vocal duo, Livingstone filled the requirement by double-tracking his own voice, releasing records in this fashion under the name 'Sugar & Dandy'. One of these singles, "What a Life", sold 25,000 copies, providing Livingstone with his first hit. When called on to perform live, Roy Smith was recruited to make up the duo, although he would be replaced by Tito "Sugar" Simon

Tito Simon

Tito Simon is a Jamaican reggae singer and producer.Simon appeared with Dandy Livingstone as one half of Sugar & Dandy. He had solo success with tunes such as "This Monday Morning Feeling" which he wrote and produced. The song reached #45 in the UK Singles Chart in February 1975.-References:...

.

In 1967, Livingstone signed with Ska Beat Records, for whom he recorded his debut album

Album

An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...

 1968's Rocksteady with Dandy.

In 1968 Livingstone moved into production

Record producer

A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...

, and formed a duo

Duet (music)

A duet is a musical composition for two performers. In classical music, the term is most often used for a composition for two singers or pianists; with other instruments, the word duo is also often used. A piece performed by two pianists performing together on the same piano is referred to as...

 with Audrey Hall

Audrey Hall

-Biography:Hall began her career singing with Dandy Livingstone in the duo Dandy & Audrey. They recorded the song "Morning Side of the Mountain" in 1969, the success of which led to an album of the same name. They released a second album on the Trojan label, I Need You. Livingstone also produced...

 (as 'Dandy & Audrey'). His production of other artists

Musician

A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....

 included The Marvels' debut album, and hit singles by Nicky Thomas

Nicky Thomas

Nicky Thomas was a reggae singer who enjoyed considerable chart success in the 1970s.-Biography:...

 ("Suzanne Beware of The Devil") and Tony Tribe ("Red Red Wine

Red Red Wine

"Red Red Wine" is a song written and originally recorded by Neil Diamond. It has been covered by Tony Tribe, Jimmy James & the Vagabonds, and more famously by British reggae group UB40, whose version topped the U.S. and UK singles charts...

").

In the late 1960s, Livingstone worked with the trombonist, Rico Rodriguez

Rico Rodriguez

Rico Rodriguez MBE , also known as Reco or El Reco, is a ska and reggae trombonist. He has recorded with many producers, including Karl Pitterson, Prince Buster, and Lloyd 'Matador' Daley...

, who had featured on "Rudy, A Message to You". Rodriguez later played with The Specials

The Specials

The Specials are an English 2 Tone ska revival band formed in 1977 in Coventry, England. Their music combines a "danceable ska and rocksteady beat with punk's energy and attitude", and had a "more focused and informed political and social stance" than other ska groups...

, whose 1979 cover version

Cover version

In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...

 of the song

Song

In music, a song is a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing.A song may be accompanied by musical instruments, or it may be unaccompanied, as in the case of a cappella songs...

 made it famous. Livingstone produced several singles for Rodriguez under the name 'Rico & the Rudies'.

Livingstone signed to Trojan Records

Trojan Records

Trojan Records is a British record label founded in 1968. It specialises in ska, rocksteady, reggae and dub music. The label currently operates under the Sanctuary Records Group. The name Trojan comes from the Croydon-built Trojan truck that was used as Duke Reid's sound system in Jamaica...

 in 1968, releasing two albums, Follow That Donkey and Dandy Returns. A Trojan subsidiary, Down Town Records, was set up to release Livingstone's output, both as a singer and producer, the J-Dan subsidiary serving the same purpose in the early 1970s. In the early 1970s, Livingstone returned to Jamaica, living there until 1973.

Livingstone resurfaced in 1973 with the "Black Star" single on Mooncrest Records, and the album Conscious. On his return to the UK, he recorded a self-titled album at Byron Lee

Byron Lee

Byron Lee OD, OJ was a musician, record producer, and entrepreneur, best known for his work as leader of Byron Lee and the Dragonaires.-Biography:Lee was born in Christiana in Manchester Parish to an Afro-Jamaican mother and a Chinese father Byron Lee OD, OJ (born Byron Aloysius St. Elmo Lee, 27...

's studio.

The 2 Tone

2 Tone

2 Tone is a music genre created in the United Kingdom in the late 1970s by fusing elements of ska, punk rock, rocksteady, reggae, and New Wave. It was called 2 Tone because most of the bands were signed to 2 Tone Records at some point. Other labels associated with the 2 Tone sound were Stiff...

 movement in Britain of the late 1970s brought Livingstone to a new audience.

It was announced on Sunday September 11, 2011 that Dandy would be performing for the first time in over 40 years at the 2012 London International Ska Festival on May 3-6.

Singles

Credited to Dandy except where stated.

• "One Man Went To Mow" (1964, Carnival) (as Sugar and Dandy)
• "What A Life" (1964, Carnival) (as Sugar and Dandy)
• "Oh Dear" (1964, Carnival) (as Sugar and Dandy)
• "I'm Not Crying Now" (1964, Carnival) (as Sugar and Dandy)
• "Rudie Don't Go" (1964, Dice)
• "You Got To Pray" (1964, Dice) (as Dandy & Barbara)
• "The Operation" (1964, Dice)
• "Let's Ska" (1965, Carnival) (as Sugar and Dandy)
• "I'm into Something Good
  I'm into Something Good
  "I'm into Something Good" is a song composed by Gerry Goffin and Carole King and made famous by Herman's Hermits. The song was originally recorded by Cookies member Earl-Jean McCrea in 1964 and reached number 38 on the US pop singles chart...
  
  " / "Crazy For You", Carnival, 1965. (as Sugar and Dandy)
• "Think Of The Good Times" / "Girl Come See", Carnival, 1965. (as Sugar and Dandy)
• "I Want To Be Your Lover" / "I Don't Know What", Carnival, 1965. (as Sugar and Dandy)
• "Without Love" (1965, Blue Beat) (as The Rub A Dubs)
• "To Love You" (1965, Blue Beat)
• "Hey Boy, Hey Girl" (1965, Blue Beat) (as Dandy & Del)
• "My Baby" (1965, Blue Beat)
• "I Found Love" (1966, Blue Beat)
• "My Time Now" / "East Of Suez", Giant, 1967. (as Dandy & His Group)
• "You're No Hustler" (1967, Ska Beat)
• "Rudy A Message To You" / "Till Death Do Us Part" (1967, Ska Beat) (B-side as Dandy And His Group)
• "The Fight" (1967, Ska Beat) (as Dandy & His Group)
• "One Scotch, One Bourbon, One Beer" (1967, Ska Beat) (as Dandy & His Group)
• "Puppet on a String
  Puppet on a String
  "Puppet on a String" is the name of the Eurovision Song Contest-winning song in 1967 by British singer Sandie Shaw. It was her thirteenth UK single release....
  
  " (1967, Giant) (as Dandy & His Group)
• "We Are Still Rude" (1967, Giant)
• "Somewhere My Love" (1967, Giant) (as Dandy & His Group)
• "There Is A Mountain" (1967, Giant)
• "Charlie Brown" (1968, Giant) (as Dandy & His Group)
• "Ain't That a Shame
  Ain't That a Shame
  "Ain't That a Shame" is a song recorded by Fats Domino and Dave Bartholomew, in New Orleans, Louisiana, for Imperial Records and released in 1955. It was previously recorded in 1901 by Silas Leachman. The recording was a hit for Domino, eventually selling a million copies. It reached #1 on the...
  
  " (1968, Giant) (as Dandy & The Superboys)
• "Propagandist" (1968, Giant)
• "Sweet Ride" (1968, Giant)
• "Tears on My Pillow
  Tears on My Pillow
  "Tears on My Pillow" is a doo-wop song written by Sylvester Bradford and Al Lewis in 1958. The composition was first recorded by Little Anthony and the Imperials on End Records and was that group's debut recording under that name. Their original recording of the song became a Billboard Top 10 Pop...
  
  " (1968, Giant)
• "You're Hurtin' Me" (1968, Giant) (as Dandy & The Superboys)
• "I'm Back With A Bang Bang" (1968, Giant) (as Dandy & The Superboys)
• "Message To You Girl" (1968, Giant) (as Dandy & The Superboys)
• "That's How Strong My Love Is" (1968, Jolly) (as Bobby Thompson)
• "Donkey Returns" (1968, Trojan) (as Dandy & Brother Dan All Stars)
• "Read Up" (1968, Trojan) (as Dandy & Brother Dan All Stars)
• "Another Saturday Night
  Another Saturday Night
  "Another Saturday Night" is the title of a 1963 hit single by Sam Cooke from the album Ain't That Good News. It reached number ten on the Billboard Hot 100 and was number one on the R&B chart for a single week...
  
  " (1968, Trojan) (as Dandy & Brother Dan All Stars)
• "The Toast" (1968, Trojan)
• "Move Your Mule" (1968, Down Town)
• "Come Back Girl" (1968, Down Town)
• "Tell Me Darling" (1968, Down Town) (as Brother Dan)
• "Copy Your Rhythm" (1968, Down Town) (as Dandy & Brother Dan All Stars)
• "Doctor Sure Shot" (1969, Down Town)
• "Reggae In Your Jeggae" (1969, Down Town)
• "Moma Moma" (1969, Down Town) (as Dandy & The Israelites)
• "Rock Steady Gone" (1969, Down Town)
• "I'm Your Puppet" (1969, Down Town)
• "Everybody Feel Good" (1969, Down Town) (as Dandy & The Downtown All Stars)
• "People Get Ready
  People Get Ready (song)
  "People Get Ready" was a 1965 single by The Impressions, and the title track from the album of the same name. The single is today the group's best-known hit, reaching number-three on the Billboard R&B Chart and number 14 on the Billboard Pop Chart...
  
  " (1969, Down Town) (as The Rudies)
• "Seven Books" (1969, Down Town) (as Dandy & The Israelites)
• "Be Natural Be Proud" (1969, Down Town)
• "Come On Home" (1969, Down Town)
• "Everybody Loves A Winner" (1969, Down Town)
• "Music Doctor Chapter I/II" (1969, Down Town) (as Dandy & The Musical Doctors)
• "Raining In My Heart" (1970, Down Town)
• "Build Your Love On A Solid Foundation" (1970, Down Town)
• "Version Girl" (1970, Down Town) (as Boy Friday)
• "Music So Good" (1970, Down Town) (as Boy Friday & the Groovers)
• "Rudy, A Message To You" (1970, Down Town) (as Boy Friday)
• "Bush Doctor" (1970, J-Dan) (as Dandy & The Music Doctors)
• "Can't Help From Crying" (1970, J-Dan) (as Dandy & The Israelites)
• "The Wild Bunch" (1970, J-Dan, 1970. (as Dandy & The Music Doctors)
• "In the Summertime" (1970, J-Dan) (as Dandy & The Music Doctors)
• "Take A Letter, Maria" (1970, Trojan)
• "Same Old Fashioned Way" (1971, Trojan)
• "I Don't Want No War" (1971, J-Dan) (as Boy Friday)
• "Situation Version" (1971, J-Dan) (as Our Band)
• "There'll Always Be Sunshine" (1971, Down Town) (as Boy Friday)
• "Hot Pant Girl" (1971, Down Town) (as Boy Friday)
• "Salt Of The Earth" (1971, Trojan)
• "The Pliers" (1971, Down Town) (as Dandy & The Musical Doctors)
• "El Raunchy" (1971, Down Town) (as Boy Friday)
• "Daddy's Home" (1971, Down Town) (as Boy Friday)
• "Give Me Some More" (1972, Down Town) (as Dandy & The Studio Sound)
• "Suzanne Beware Of The Devil" (1972, Horse) (as Dandy Livingstone)
• "What Do You Want To Make Those Eyes At Me For
  What Do You Want to Make Those Eyes at Me For?
  "What Do You Want to Make Those Eyes at Me For?" is a song written by Joseph McCarthy, Howard Johnson and James V. Monaco in 1916. It was released in 1917 by Ada Jones and Billy Murray on Victor 18224....
  
  " (1972, Trojan)
• "Big City" (1973, Horse) (as Dandy Livingstone)
• "Come Back Liza" (1973, Horse) (as Dandy Livingstone)
• "Black Star" (1973, Mooncrest) (as Dandy Livingstone)
• "Caribbean Rock" (1974, Horse) (as Dandy Livingstone)
• "Let's Tango" (1976, Charisma) (as R.D. Livingstone)
• "The South African Experience" (1978, Night Owl) (as R.D. Livingstone)
• "Righteous Man" (1980, Minit Music) (as R.D. Livingstone)
• "Living In S.U.S." (1980, Ric) (as R.D. Livingstone)

Albums

• Rocksteady with Dandy (1967, Giant)
• Follow That Donkey (1968, Trojan)
• Dandy Returns (1968, Trojan)
• Let's Catch the Beat (1969, Trojan)
• Your Musical Doctor (1969, Downtown/Trojan)
• I Need You (1969, Ska Beat) (Dandy & Audrey)
• Morning Side of the Mountain (1970) (Dandy & Audrey)
• Dandy Livingstone (1972, Trojan)
• Conscious (1973, Mooncrest)
• Home From Home (1976, Charisma)
• The South African Experience (1978, Night Owl)
• Doo Wop Style (?,?)
• Suzanne Beware of The Devil: The Best of Dandy Livingstone (2002, Trojan) (compilation)
• Let's Catch The Beat: The Music that Launched The Legend (2003) Trojan (compilation) - Dandy and the Brother Dan All Stars