Eric Donaldson
Encyclopedia
Eric Donaldson is a Jamaican reggae
singer-songwriter
.
since 1964. "Cherry Oh Baby" has been covered
by both The Rolling Stones
(on their 1976 album
, Black and Blue
) and UB40
(on their 1983 album, Labour of Love
). The riddim
has remained extremely popular – over thirty cover versions have been recorded, including an update by Donaldson himself.
In 1971 he recorded a version of the much-copied song
, "The Lion Sleeps Tonight
".
Donaldson currently lives in Kent Village, Jamaica
where he runs the 'Cherry Oh Baby Go-Go' bar
.
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...
singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
.
Biography
Donaldson has won the Jamaican Festival Song Competition six times, in 1971, 1977, 1978, 1984, 1993 and 1997. His winning 1971 entry, "Cherry Oh Baby", launched him into the limelight, although he had been composing and recordingSound recording and reproduction
Sound recording and reproduction is an electrical or mechanical inscription and re-creation of sound waves, such as spoken voice, singing, instrumental music, or sound effects. The two main classes of sound recording technology are analog recording and digital recording...
since 1964. "Cherry Oh Baby" has been covered
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...
by both The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones are an English rock band, formed in London in April 1962 by Brian Jones , Ian Stewart , Mick Jagger , and Keith Richards . Bassist Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts completed the early line-up...
(on their 1976 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...
, Black and Blue
Black and Blue
Black and Blue is the 13th British and 15th American studio album by The Rolling Stones, released in 1976. It was the band's first studio album released with Ronnie Wood as the replacement for Mick Taylor...
) and UB40
UB40
UB40 are a British reggae/pop band formed in 1978 in Birmingham. The band has placed more than 50 singles in the UK Singles Chart, and has also achieved considerable international success. One of the world's best-selling music artists, UB40 have sold over 70 million records.Their hit singles...
(on their 1983 album, Labour of Love
Labour of Love
Labour of Love is a reggae album by UB40, the band's fourth studio album. It was originally released on 1 September 1983 and included the hits, "Red, Red Wine" , "Cherry Oh Baby" , "Many Rivers to Cross" , and "Please Don't Make Me Cry" .The entire album consists of cover versions of songs...
). The riddim
Riddim
Riddim is the Jamaican Patois pronunciation of the English word "rhythm," but in dancehall/reggae parlance it refers to the instrumental accompaniment to a song. Thus, a dancehall song consists of the riddim plus the "voicing" sung by the deejay. The resulting song structure may be taken for...
has remained extremely popular – over thirty cover versions have been recorded, including an update by Donaldson himself.
In 1971 he recorded a version of the much-copied 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...
, "The Lion Sleeps Tonight
The Lion Sleeps Tonight
"The Lion Sleeps Tonight", also known as "Wimoweh" and originally as "Mbube", is a song recorded by Solomon Linda and his group The Evening Birds for the South African Gallo Record Company in 1939. It was covered internationally by many 1950s pop and folk revival artists, including The Weavers,...
".
Donaldson currently lives in Kent Village, Jamaica
Bog Walk
Bog Walk is a town in the parish of Saint Catherine, Jamaica...
where he runs the 'Cherry Oh Baby Go-Go' bar
Bar (establishment)
A bar is a business establishment that serves alcoholic drinks — beer, wine, liquor, and cocktails — for consumption on the premises.Bars provide stools or chairs that are placed at tables or counters for their patrons. Some bars have entertainment on a stage, such as a live band, comedians, go-go...
.
Albums
- Eric Donaldson (1971), Jaguar - reissued with bonus tracks as Love Of The Common People
- Keep on Riding (1976), Dynamic Sounds
- Kent Village (1978), Dynamic Sounds
- Juan De Bolas (1980), Dynamic Sounds - also released as Stand Up
- Rock Me Gentle (1981), Serengeti
- Come Away (1982), Dynamic Sounds
- Right On Time (1985), Dynamic Sounds
- The System (1985), WEAWarner Music GroupWarner Music Group is the third largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry, making it one of the big four record companies...
- reissued as Children of Jah - Crazy You Crazy Me (1988)
- Trouble in Afrika (1991)
- Blackman Victory (1993) - reissued with bonus tracks as Beautiful Day
- Peace and Love (1998), Joe Gibbs - reissued as Young and Reckless
- In Action (2000), Roots & Culture - with Sil Bell & Keith Coley
- Mr. Pirate (2004), Ice - reissued as 100% of Love
Compilation albums
- Cherry Oh Baby (1997), TrojanTrojan RecordsTrojan 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...
- The Very Best of Eric Donaldson (1992), Rhino
- Very Best of Eric Donaldson (1998), Musicrama
- Oh What a Feeling (1998), Rhino
- Beautiful Day (1999)
- Freedom Street (1999), Rhino
- Super Medley Hits (2000), T.P.
- Greetings (2001), Rhino
- The Very Best of Eric Donaldson Vol.1 (2002), Rhino
- Anthology (2003), Creole
- Cherry Oh Baby (2003), Smith & Co
- Eric Donaldson Sings 20 Jamaica Classics (2004)
- Cherry Oh Baby (The Best Of) (2006), TrojanTrojan RecordsTrojan 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...