Nitty Gritty
Encyclopedia
Glen Augustus Holness otherwise known by his stage name Nitty Gritty, was a popular Reggae
singer. Born in the August Town section of Kingston, Jamaica
, he was the second of eleven children born to religious parents.
. He worked on the Zodiac sound system and recorded further singles, working with George Phang
before moving on to King Jammy
in 1985, with whom he had his breakthrough success with "Hog inna Minty", a Jamaican folk song. Nitty Gritty was the first to record the song and was an instant success. He enjoyed further successful singles produced by Jammy, and his debut album, Turbo Charged was released in 1986, as was the split album with King Kong
, Musical Confrontation. He moved to live in London before relocating to New York City
, where he continued to record but less frequently. Further albums followed with General Penitentiary (1987), Nitty Gritty (1988), and Jah in the Family (1989).
On 24 June 1991, he was shot dead in front of Super Power Record Shop in Brooklyn, New York at the age of 34, for which deejay Super Cat was initially suspected yet later cleared.
Compilations:
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. Born in the August Town section of Kingston, Jamaica
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...
, he was the second of eleven children born to religious parents.
Biography
Holness formed The Soulites in the early 1970s and recorded his first solo single in the early 1980s for producer Sugar MinottSugar Minott
Lincoln Barrington "Sugar" Minott was a Jamaican reggae singer, producer and sound-system operator.-Biography:...
. He worked on the Zodiac sound system and recorded further singles, working with George Phang
George Phang
George Phang is a reggae producer born in the 1950s in south Saint Andrew, Kingston, Jamaica where still resides today.Phang started his reggae label Powerhouse in the early 1980s. His first hits were Little John's "True Confessions" and "Roots Girl", both released in 1983...
before moving on to King Jammy
King Jammy
Lloyd James , better known as Prince Jammy or King Jammy, is a dub mixer and record producer. He began his musical career as a dub master at King Tubby's recording studio...
in 1985, with whom he had his breakthrough success with "Hog inna Minty", a Jamaican folk song. Nitty Gritty was the first to record the song and was an instant success. He enjoyed further successful singles produced by Jammy, and his debut album, Turbo Charged was released in 1986, as was the split album with King Kong
King Kong (musician)
Dennis Anthony Thomas , better known as King Kong, is a Jamaican deejay/singer best known for his work in the 1980s.-Biography:...
, Musical Confrontation. He moved to live in London before relocating to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, where he continued to record but less frequently. Further albums followed with General Penitentiary (1987), Nitty Gritty (1988), and Jah in the Family (1989).
On 24 June 1991, he was shot dead in front of Super Power Record Shop in Brooklyn, New York at the age of 34, for which deejay Super Cat was initially suspected yet later cleared.
Releases
- Turbo Charged (1986), GreensleevesGreensleeves RecordsGreensleeves 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....
- Musical Confrontation (1986), Jammy's - with King Kong (musician)King Kong (musician)Dennis Anthony Thomas , better known as King Kong, is a Jamaican deejay/singer best known for his work in the 1980s.-Biography:...
- General Penitentiary (1987), Black Victory
- Nitty Gritty (1988), Witty's
- Jah In The Family (1989), Blacka Dread
- Powerhouse Presents (1989), with Tenor SawTenor sawTenor Saw was a prominent dancehall singer in the 1980s, and one of the most influential singers of the early digital reggae era...
Compilations:
- Tribute to Nitty Gritty: Trials & Crosses (1994), VPVP RecordsVP Records is an independent reggae record label, located in Queens, New York. It is best known for producing Caribbean singers.-The foundation:...
- We Run Things (2002), Rhino - with Tenor Saw