Dwight Pinkney
Encyclopedia
Dwight Pinkney also known as Brother Dee, is a Jamaica
n guitarist best known for his work as a session musician and as a member of Zap Pow
and the Roots Radics
, who since 1999 has recorded as a solo artist.
, moving to Kingston
as a youth. In the mid-1960s he joined The Sharks as guitarist, the band recording for Studio One and backing The Wailers on their 1965 Jamaican hit single "Put It On", also providing backing for recordings by Ken Boothe
and The Gaylads
. One of Pinkney's most successful songs, written in 1967 while a member of The Sharks, is "How Could I Live", which was originally released as the b-side of Jeff Dixon and Marcia Griffiths
' "Words" single, and has since been recorded by artists including Myrna Hague
, The Heptones
, Richie Stephens
, George Nooks
, and Dennis Brown
(as "How Could I Leave"). Pinkney moved on to work with Zap Pow in 1969, a band with members including Beres Hammond
, David Madden
, and Glen DaCosta. Zap Pow recorded two albums and their best-known song, "This is Reggae Music", was co-written by Pinkney. In the mid-1970s, Pinkney put his recording career on hold to attend the Jamaican School of Music, undertaking a course in Afro-American music, and studying arranging, and later taking on a teaching role. Pinkney's 1979 arrangement of The Astronauts' Festival Song Competition-winning "Born Jamaican" won him a Guinness Jamaica award, and he returned once again to recording.
In the early 1980s he joined the Roots Radics
, replacing Sowell Radics, and he also worked on dozens of albums by artists including Barry Brown
, Bunny Wailer
, Culture
, Frankie Paul
, The Itals
, Yellowman
, and Gregory Isaacs
.
In 1999 he reelased his debut solo album, the award winning Jamaican Memories by the Score, which includes an updated version of "How Could I Live". Further albums followed in 2000 and 2002. In 2004 he contributed to the album Is it Rolling Bob? A Reggae Tribute to Bob Dylan. In 2008 he released an album of instrumental versions of Bob Marley
songs, Dwight Pinkney Picks Marley Melodies.
In 2000, he formed a new band, the Distinguished Personalities Band (aka the DP Band) along with Keith Francis and Earl Fitzsimmons.
Pinkney has also appeared in the films Smile Orange, Land of Look Behind
, and Holyland.
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 guitarist best known for his work as a session musician and as a member of Zap Pow
Zap Pow
Zap Pow were a Jamaican reggae band, whose members have included guitarist Dwight Pinkney and singer Beres Hammond. They existed from 1969 to 1979.-History:...
and the Roots Radics
Roots Radics
The Roots Radics Band was formed in 1978 by bass player Errol "Flabba" Holt and guitarist Eric "Bingy Bunny" Lamont. They were joined by many great musicians. As a combined force the Roots Radics became a well-respected studio and stage band, which dominated the sound in the first half of the 1980s...
, who since 1999 has recorded as a solo artist.
Biography
Pinkney was born in Manchester Parish, JamaicaManchester Parish, Jamaica
The parish of Manchester is located in west-central Jamaica, in the county of Middlesex. Its capital, Mandeville, is a major business centre, and the only parish capital not located on the coast or on a major river. The Right Excellent Norman Washington Manley The parish of Manchester is located in...
, moving to Kingston
Kingston, Jamaica
Kingston is the capital and largest city of Jamaica, located on the southeastern coast of the island. It faces a natural harbour protected by the Palisadoes, a long sand spit which connects the town of Port Royal and the Norman Manley International Airport to the rest of the island...
as a youth. In the mid-1960s he joined The Sharks as guitarist, the band recording for Studio One and backing The Wailers on their 1965 Jamaican hit single "Put It On", also providing backing for recordings by Ken Boothe
Ken Boothe
Ken Boothe OD is a Jamaican recording artist.-Biography:Ken Boothe was born in the Denham Town area of Kingston in 1948, the youngest of seven children, and began singing in school...
and The Gaylads
The Gaylads
The Gaylads were one of the top Rocksteady vocal groups active in Jamaica between 1963 and 1973. The group, formed in Kingston, originally consisted of singers Harris "B.B." Seaton, Winston Delano Stewart and Maurice Roberts; Seaton and Stewart had previously been successful as the duo Winston &...
. One of Pinkney's most successful songs, written in 1967 while a member of The Sharks, is "How Could I Live", which was originally released as the b-side of Jeff Dixon and Marcia Griffiths
Marcia Griffiths
Marcia Llyneth Griffiths is a successful female singer, also called the "Queen of Reggae". One reviewer described her noting "she is known primarily for her strong, smooth-as-mousse love songs and captivating live performances".Griffiths started her career in 1964...
' "Words" single, and has since been recorded by artists including Myrna Hague
Myrna Hague
Myrna Hague, known as 'Jamaica's First Lady of Jazz', is a Jamaican lovers rock and jazz singer and actress, who recorded for Coxsone Dodd's Studio One.-Biography:...
, The Heptones
The Heptones
The Heptones are a Jamaican rocksteady and reggae vocal trio most active in the 1960s and early 1970s. They were one of the more significant trios of that era, and played a major role in the gradual transition between ska and rocksteady with their three-part harmonies.-History:Leroy Sibbles, Earl...
, Richie Stephens
Richie Stephens
Richard Frederick Freeman Stephenson III, better known as Richie Stephens is a Jamaican R&B, dancehall and reggae singer and producer.-Biography:...
, George Nooks
George Nooks
George Nooks, aka Prince Mohamed, Prince Mohammed, or George Knooks is a reggae singer who initially found fame as a deejay.-Biography:...
, and Dennis Brown
Dennis Brown
Dennis Emmanuel Brown was a Jamaican reggae singer. During his prolific career, which began in the late 1960s when he was aged eleven, he recorded more than 75 albums and was one of the major stars of lovers rock, a sub-genre of reggae...
(as "How Could I Leave"). Pinkney moved on to work with Zap Pow in 1969, a band with members including Beres Hammond
Beres Hammond
Beres Hammond is a reggae singer known in particular for his romantic lovers rock and soulful voice...
, David Madden
David Madden
David Madden may refer to:*David Madden , American novelist*David Madden , Australian entrepreneur associated with progressive causes*David M. Madden, former mayor of Weymouth, Massachusetts*Dave Madden, Canadian actor...
, and Glen DaCosta. Zap Pow recorded two albums and their best-known song, "This is Reggae Music", was co-written by Pinkney. In the mid-1970s, Pinkney put his recording career on hold to attend the Jamaican School of Music, undertaking a course in Afro-American music, and studying arranging, and later taking on a teaching role. Pinkney's 1979 arrangement of The Astronauts' Festival Song Competition-winning "Born Jamaican" won him a Guinness Jamaica award, and he returned once again to recording.
In the early 1980s he joined the Roots Radics
Roots Radics
The Roots Radics Band was formed in 1978 by bass player Errol "Flabba" Holt and guitarist Eric "Bingy Bunny" Lamont. They were joined by many great musicians. As a combined force the Roots Radics became a well-respected studio and stage band, which dominated the sound in the first half of the 1980s...
, replacing Sowell Radics, and he also worked on dozens of albums by artists including Barry Brown
Barry Brown (singer)
Barry Brown was a Jamaican reggae singer, initially coming to prominence in the 1970s with his work with Bunny Lee, but remaining popular throughout his career.-Biography:...
, Bunny Wailer
Bunny Wailer
Bunny Wailer, , also known as Bunny Livingston and affectionately as Jah B, is a singer songwriter and percussionist and was an original member of reggae group The Wailers along with Bob Marley and Peter Tosh...
, Culture
Culture (band)
Culture was a Jamaican roots reggae group founded in 1976. Originally they were known as the African Disciples.The members of the trio were Joseph Hill , Albert Walker and Kenneth Dayes ....
, Frankie Paul
Frankie Paul
Paul Blake , better known as Frankie Paul, is one of Jamaica's best-loved and popular dancehall reggae artists. Born blind, he has been dubbed by some 'The Jamaican Stevie Wonder'.-Biography:...
, The Itals
The Itals
The Itals are a Jamaican reggae vocal group formed in 1976 by Alvin "Keith" Porter, Ronnie Davis, and Lloyd Ricketts , all of whom had previously also recorded as solo artists. All three had worked together in the late 1960s in The Westmorelites...
, Yellowman
Yellowman
Yellowman is a Jamaican reggae and dancehall deejay, widely known as King Yellowman...
, and Gregory Isaacs
Gregory Isaacs
Gregory Anthony Isaacs was a Jamaican reggae musician. Milo Miles, writing in the New York Times, described Isaacs as "the most exquisite vocalist in reggae". His nicknames include Cool Ruler and Lonely Lover....
.
In 1999 he reelased his debut solo album, the award winning Jamaican Memories by the Score, which includes an updated version of "How Could I Live". Further albums followed in 2000 and 2002. In 2004 he contributed to the album Is it Rolling Bob? A Reggae Tribute to Bob Dylan. In 2008 he released an album of instrumental versions of Bob Marley
Bob Marley
Robert Nesta "Bob" Marley, OM was a Jamaican singer-songwriter and musician. He was the rhythm guitarist and lead singer for the ska, rocksteady and reggae band Bob Marley & The Wailers...
songs, Dwight Pinkney Picks Marley Melodies.
In 2000, he formed a new band, the Distinguished Personalities Band (aka the DP Band) along with Keith Francis and Earl Fitzsimmons.
Pinkney has also appeared in the films Smile Orange, Land of Look Behind
Land of Look Behind
Land of Look Behind is a 1982 documentary film about Jamaica. It was filmed in May and June of 1981 by Alan Greenberg, and was the director's first film. The film's cinematographer was Jörg Schmidt-Reitwein, an associate of Werner Herzog. The musical score is by K. Leimer.The film begins with...
, and Holyland.
Solo discography
- Jamaican Memories by the Score (1999) RASRAS RecordsRAS Records, also known as Real Authentic Sound, is a reggae record label.-History:RAS Records was founded in 1979 by Doctor Dread. In his travels to Jamaica he created a network within the reggae artist community there. By the early to mid 1980s RAS had signed artists such as Black Uhuru, Inner...
/TP - All Occasions (2000)
- More Jamaican Memories (2002) VPVP RecordsVP Records is an independent reggae record label, located in Queens, New York. It is best known for producing Caribbean singers.-The foundation:...
- Home Grown Jamaican (2005)
- Reggae Chronicles (2006) Hallmark
- Love & Peace (2007)
- Dwight Pinkney Picks Marley Melodies (2008) VP
Awards
- Guinness Jamaica Award for "Born Jamaican" (as arranger), 1979
- Jamaica Federation of Musicians Union (JFMU) Award for Jamaican Memories by the Score
- Reggae-Soca Music Award for Jamaican Memories by the Score
- Canadian Pippers Award, 2002
- International Reggae and World Music Award (IRAWMA) of Honour for contribution the development of Jamaican music, 2008.
External links
- Dwight Pickney at Roots Archives