Rudy Grant
Encyclopedia
Rudy Grant, also known as Little Brother Grant and The Mexicano (born Rudolph Grant, Plaisance
, Guyana
), is a reggae
deejay
and singer.
with his family in 1960. His brother, Eddy Grant
, was a member of The Equals
in the late 1960s, and Rudolph also recorded in this era, as Little Brother Grant, releasing the single "Let's Do It Tonight". In the 1970s, he recorded as a reggae deejay under the name The Mexicano, releasing singles such as "Gorilla in Manilla", and "Cut Throat". Grant had his biggest success in 1978, with his Starsky & Hutch-inspired single "Move Up Starsky", on which he deejayed over Bob Marley
's "I'm Still Waiting" rhythm. The single topped the UK reggae chart, with an album of the same name following it, and inspired the less successful "Move Up Hutch" by Superstar. Grant followed this with several other singles, including "Lover's Conversation", but none matched the success of "Move Up Starsky".
By 1981, Grant had abandoned the Mexicano alias and began recording as a singer under his own name, recording cover versions of songs including John Lennon
's "Woman", and, most successfully Stevie Wonder
's "Lately
", with which he had a minor UK Singles Chart
hit in February that year. The single's success led to a contract with Stiff Records
, although he failed to score any further hits.
Grant's 1987 single "Mash in Guyana" proved a major success in his country of birth, and has been described as "the unofficial anthem of Mashramani
". He wrote the song on a visit to Guyana in 1986 and recorded it at his brother Eddy's Coach House Studios on his return to London. Grant performed the song at the Notting Hill Carnival
and it went on to top the first soca
chart in London, published by the Black Echoes music paper.
In 2002, Grant's version of "Lately" was included on the Dynamite Reggae Classics album.
Plaisance
Plaisance is a French word, meaning pleasantness, derived from the Latin placentia 'acceptable things'.The name Plaisance may refer to:Locations in Europe* Neuilly-Plaisance, in the Seine-Saint-Denis département in France...
, Guyana
Guyana
Guyana , officially the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, previously the colony of British Guiana, is a sovereign state on the northern coast of South America that is culturally part of the Anglophone Caribbean. Guyana was a former colony of the Dutch and of the British...
), is a 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...
deejay
Deejay
A deejay is a reggae or dancehall musician who sings and toasts to an instrumental riddim .Deejays are not to be confused with disc jockeys from other music genres like hip-hop, where they select and play music. Dancehall/reggae DJs who select riddims to play are called selectors...
and singer.
Biography
Born in Guyana, Grant settled in the United KingdomUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
with his family in 1960. His brother, Eddy Grant
Eddy Grant
Edmond Montague "Eddy" Grant is a musician, born in Plaisance, Guyana.- Life and career :When he was still a young boy, his parents emigrated to London, UK, where he settled. He lived in Kentish Town and went to school at the Acland Burghley Secondary Modern at Tufnell Park...
, was a member of The Equals
The Equals
The Equals were a pop/reggae/rock group that formed in North London, England in 1965. They are mainly remembered for its million-selling chart-topper, "Baby Come Back". Eddy Grant, then sporting dyed blonde hair, founded the group...
in the late 1960s, and Rudolph also recorded in this era, as Little Brother Grant, releasing the single "Let's Do It Tonight". In the 1970s, he recorded as a reggae deejay under the name The Mexicano, releasing singles such as "Gorilla in Manilla", and "Cut Throat". Grant had his biggest success in 1978, with his Starsky & Hutch-inspired single "Move Up Starsky", on which he deejayed over 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...
's "I'm Still Waiting" rhythm. The single topped the UK reggae chart, with an album of the same name following it, and inspired the less successful "Move Up Hutch" by Superstar. Grant followed this with several other singles, including "Lover's Conversation", but none matched the success of "Move Up Starsky".
By 1981, Grant had abandoned the Mexicano alias and began recording as a singer under his own name, recording cover versions of songs including John Lennon
John Lennon
John Winston Lennon, MBE was an English musician and singer-songwriter who rose to worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles, one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music...
's "Woman", and, most successfully Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder
Stevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist...
's "Lately
Lately (Stevie Wonder song)
"Lately" is a song by American singer Stevie Wonder recorded for his album Hotter than July . The song was notably covered by R&B group Jodeci and released as a promotional single for the live album Uptown MTV Unplugged in June 1993....
", with which he had a minor 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 ...
hit in February that year. The single's success led to a contract with Stiff Records
Stiff Records
Stiff Records is a record label created in London in 1976, by entrepreneurs Dave Robinson and Andrew Jakeman , and active until 1985. It was reactivated in 2007....
, although he failed to score any further hits.
Grant's 1987 single "Mash in Guyana" proved a major success in his country of birth, and has been described as "the unofficial anthem of Mashramani
Mashramani
Mashramani, often abbreviated to "Mash", is an annual festival that celebrates Guyana becoming a Republic in 1970. The festival, usually held on 23 February – Guyanese Republic Day – includes a parade, music, games and cooking and is intended to commemorate the "Birth of the...
". He wrote the song on a visit to Guyana in 1986 and recorded it at his brother Eddy's Coach House Studios on his return to London. Grant performed the song at the Notting Hill Carnival
Notting Hill Carnival
The Notting Hill Carnival is an annual event which since 1964 has taken place on the streets of Notting Hill, Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea , London, UK each August, over two days...
and it went on to top the first soca
Soca music
Soca is a style of music from Trinidad and Tobago. Soca is a musical development of traditional Trinidadian calypso, through loans from the 1960s onwards from predominantly black popular music....
chart in London, published by the Black Echoes music paper.
In 2002, Grant's version of "Lately" was included on the Dynamite Reggae Classics album.
As The Mexicano
- "Gorilla in Manilla"
- "Cut Throat"
- "The Mexicano v. The Dreadlocks at O.K. Corral" (1977) Serious Business
- "First of May" (1977) IceIce RecordsIce Records is a record label based in Barbados that is owned by musician Eddy Grant. In addition to Grant's music, the label also seeks "to record, promote and market classic calypso, soca and Ringbang ." Ice Records lays claims to owning the largest catalog of Caribbean music in the...
- "Move Up Starsky" (1977)
- "Lover's Conversation" (1978) Ice
- "Annie's Song" (1978) Ice
- "Treasure the Moments" (1978) Ice
- "Move Up Starsky" (1979) Ice
- "Harry the Fool"
- "Rock It"
- "Lonely Street"
- "The Israelites Can Dance Some More" (1980) Ice
- "Better Love Next Time" (1980) Ice (Jackie RobinsonJackie Robinson (musician)Jackie Robinson is a Jamaican singer, best known as the lead vocalist with The Pioneers, but who has also recorded solo material both under his own name, and under the pseudonym Harry Hippy.-Biography:...
featuring The Mexicano) - "Dallas" (1980) MercuryMercury RecordsMercury Records is a record label operating as a standalone company in the UK and as part of the Island Def Jam Motown Music Group in the US; both are subsidiaries of Universal Music Group. There is also a Mercury Records in Australia, which is a local artist and repertoire division of Universal...
As Rudy Grant
- "Woman" (1981) Ice
- "LatelyLately (Stevie Wonder song)"Lately" is a song by American singer Stevie Wonder recorded for his album Hotter than July . The song was notably covered by R&B group Jodeci and released as a promotional single for the live album Uptown MTV Unplugged in June 1993....
" (1981) EnsignEnsign RecordsEnsign Records was started in 1976 by Nigel Grainge, as an independent Phonogram subsidiary.-History:Grainge had been the head of A&R at Phonogram in London for the previous two years and directly signed Thin Lizzy, 10cc, The Steve Miller Band, and a worldwide license for the successful All...
UK #58 - "Space Oddity" (1981) Ensign/Ice
- "Funny Girl" (1982) Ice
- "Without Your Love" Ice
- "Trial by Television" StiffStiff RecordsStiff Records is a record label created in London in 1976, by entrepreneurs Dave Robinson and Andrew Jakeman , and active until 1985. It was reactivated in 2007....
- "Everyday People" (1983) RAKRAK RecordsRak Records was a British record label, founded by record producer Mickie Most in 1969. Rak was home of artists like Herman's Hermits, Suzi Quatro, Mud, Kenny, Hot Chocolate, Smokie, Arrows, Span, Racey and Kim Wilde. Rak Records were distributed via a licensing deal with EMI, which bought the...
- "Get Ready Get Right" (1984) RAK
- "Mash in Guyana" (1987) Seara
- "You Got to Be Drunk" Seara
- "Melvina"
- "Jump and Play Mas" Seara
The Mexicano
- Move Up Starsky (1977) Pioneer
- Goddess of Love (1978) Ice
- The Best of The Mexicano (1980), Ice
Rudy Grant
- Sings the Hits (1982) Pinnacle
- Soca For Lovers volume 1 Seara
- Reggae and Soca for Lovers vol. 2
- Soca For Lovers Part 4 Seara
- Hello Africa Tabansi
- Peace and Love (2005) Seara
External links
- The Mexicano at Roots Archives