Deborahe Glasgow
Encyclopedia
Deborahe Glasgow was an English
"Lovers Rock
" singer of guyanese parentage who was active from the late 1970s to the beginning of the 90s. Though Glasgow released only one album in her lifetime, 1989's Deborahe Glasgow, she began releasing singles in her adolescence. She is perhaps best known for her duet with Shabba Ranks
on a song initially released as "Champion Lover" on her eponymous album, but recut by Ranks as "Mr. Loverman
" in 1990.
in 1965, recording her first single "Fallin' in Love" (as Debbie G) in her mid teens for producer Mad Professor
's Ariwa label. She steadily built up a following amongst black Londoners by working the local sound system circuit. This led to a record contract with Greensleeves Records
' Bubblers subsidiary and a series of popular singles, including "Knight in Shining Armour", "When Somebody Loves You Back" and "Don't Stay Away".
An album
collaboration in Jamaica in 1989 with Dancehall
producer Augustus "Gussie" Clarke
, backed on many tracks by Steely & Cleevie proved the highlight of Glasgow's short career and "made her name a legend." The resultant collection of songs is highly representative of the Lovers Rock genre and described by some critics as "the best lovers rock album ever recorded". Tracks such as "Don't Test Me" and "This Love" remain popular twenty years after their recording. "Champion Lover" revealed an uncharacteristically hard-edged sound, with the 12" "Sex" mix of the track representing a move towards dancehall and sentiments that were less innocent in content than other Glasgow recordings. In 1990, Shabba Ranks versioned "Champion Lover" under the new title "Mr. Loverman" on his album "Rappin With the Ladies". Four years later, after Glasgow's early death, he re-recorded the tune, this time with Chevelle Franklin as the featured singer, and this version became a huge hit around the world.
At the start of the 90s, Glasgow collaborated briefly with General Lee, resulting in the tracks "Weak" and "Knocking The Boots". However, aside from some lucrative work on advertisement jingles, her recording career was largely dormant. Instead she opted to devote more time to the needs of her young family. She was diagnosed with lymphatic cancer, the complications from which ultimately claimed her life. She died in Wandsworth
, south London on January 25, 1994 of a cerebral hemorrhage at the age of twenty eight.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
"Lovers Rock
Lovers rock
Lovers rock is a style of reggae music noted for its romantic sound and content. While love songs had been an important part of reggae since the late 1960s, the style was given a greater focus and a name in London in the mid 1970s.-History:...
" singer of guyanese parentage who was active from the late 1970s to the beginning of the 90s. Though Glasgow released only one album in her lifetime, 1989's Deborahe Glasgow, she began releasing singles in her adolescence. She is perhaps best known for her duet with Shabba Ranks
Shabba Ranks
Shabba Ranks is a Jamaican dancehall musician.He was one of the most popular dancehall artists of his generation. He was also one of the first Jamaican deejays to gain worldwide acceptance, and recognition for his 'slack' lyrical expressions and content, when "ridin' di riddim"...
on a song initially released as "Champion Lover" on her eponymous album, but recut by Ranks as "Mr. Loverman
Mr. Loverman
"Mr. Loverman" is the signature song of Jamaican ragga artist Shabba Ranks.The song was written by Hopeton Lindo, Rexton Gordon and Michael Bennett. It was released in 1992 and 1993 as a single.-Origin of song:...
" in 1990.
Background
Glasgow was born in LondonLondon
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...
in 1965, recording her first single "Fallin' in Love" (as Debbie G) in her mid teens for producer Mad Professor
Mad Professor
Mad Professor is a dub music producer and engineer known for his original productions and remix work. He is considered one of the leading producers of dub music’s second generation and was instrumental in transitioning dub into the digital age. He is a prolific producer, contributing to or...
's Ariwa label. She steadily built up a following amongst black Londoners by working the local sound system circuit. This led to a record contract with Greensleeves Records
Greensleeves Records
Greensleeves Records & Publishing is a record label specialising in dancehall and reggae music. The company was founded by Chris Cracknell and Chris Sedgwick and started as a small record store in West Ealing, London, in November 1975 and is based in Britain....
' Bubblers subsidiary and a series of popular singles, including "Knight in Shining Armour", "When Somebody Loves You Back" and "Don't Stay Away".
An 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...
collaboration in Jamaica in 1989 with Dancehall
Dancehall
Dancehall is a genre of Jamaican popular music that originated in the late 1970s. Initially dancehall was a more sparse version of reggae than the roots style, which had dominated much of the 1970s. In the mid-1980s, digital instrumentation became more prevalent, changing the sound considerably,...
producer Augustus "Gussie" Clarke
Gussie Clarke
Augustus "Gussie" Clarke , is a reggae producer who worked with some of the top Jamaican reggae artists in the 1970s and later set up his own Music Works studio.-Career:...
, backed on many tracks by Steely & Cleevie proved the highlight of Glasgow's short career and "made her name a legend." The resultant collection of songs is highly representative of the Lovers Rock genre and described by some critics as "the best lovers rock album ever recorded". Tracks such as "Don't Test Me" and "This Love" remain popular twenty years after their recording. "Champion Lover" revealed an uncharacteristically hard-edged sound, with the 12" "Sex" mix of the track representing a move towards dancehall and sentiments that were less innocent in content than other Glasgow recordings. In 1990, Shabba Ranks versioned "Champion Lover" under the new title "Mr. Loverman" on his album "Rappin With the Ladies". Four years later, after Glasgow's early death, he re-recorded the tune, this time with Chevelle Franklin as the featured singer, and this version became a huge hit around the world.
At the start of the 90s, Glasgow collaborated briefly with General Lee, resulting in the tracks "Weak" and "Knocking The Boots". However, aside from some lucrative work on advertisement jingles, her recording career was largely dormant. Instead she opted to devote more time to the needs of her young family. She was diagnosed with lymphatic cancer, the complications from which ultimately claimed her life. She died in Wandsworth
Wandsworth
Wandsworth is a district of south London, England, in the London Borough of Wandsworth. It is situated southwest of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.-Toponymy:...
, south London on January 25, 1994 of a cerebral hemorrhage at the age of twenty eight.
Album Discography
- Deborahe Glasgow (1989) Greensleeves
- Gimme Your Love (1994) World
- The Legend (1999) World