Stanley Beckford
Encyclopedia
Stanley Beckford is a Jamaican born Mento
singer, songwriter
, and 2001 Jamaica Independence Festival
song contest winner.
ghetto areas of Greenwich Farm and Maxfield Avenue. He began singing in the local Church of God, and became choirleader, while neighbour Carlton Smith taught him guitar. Beckford gained recognition outside the church by winning one of journalist and radio presenter Vere Johns's talent contests at west Kingston's Majestic theatre.
In 1968 Beckford joined a neighbourhood reggae band, Soul Syndicate
, but his high-pitched, nasal timbre and mento-influenced style did not fit with its focus. He was soon ousted, and subsequently he became a telephone company night watchman.
when Beckford gave an audition. Credited on release to the Starlights, the song's mento-styled vocal bucked urban reggae trends and went straight to No. 1 in the Jamaican charts.
Similar material followed from Beckford under the Starlights credit. His biggest hit was the lewd "Soldering
" (1975), banned by Jamaican radio, which prompted vinyl ripostes from Big Youth
, I-Roy
, and Jah Lloyd
. He became a regular on the north coast hotel circuit, playing to tourists and upper-class locals. After royalty disputes with GG, Beckford, changed the name of his group to Stanley and the Turbines, switching to producer Barrington Jeffrey, at the Dynamic Sounds studio.
Jeffrey ran the Dr Komina label and an adaptation of the ribald mento classic "Leave Mi Kisiloo" (1977) was a big hit. It led to an album of the same name and a follow-up set, Brown Gal.
In 1980 Beckford won the prestigious Jamaica festival song contest with "Dreaming of a New Jamaica (A Land of Peace and Love)", which he wrote during a bloody election year in which more than 900 citizens lost their lives to politically motivated violence. Financially disappointed with Jeffrey, Beckford recorded the album Big Bamboo (1981), with GG. It suffered from a less distinct mento influence.
In the mid-1980s Beckford's production waned as Jamaican music underwent popular music change to the computerised dance hall
style. However he still recorded significant material, most notable of which is the digitally-backed Jamaica festival song contest winner "Dem A Fi Squirm" for trombonist Calvin "Bubbles" Cameron's Uhuru label and "Stanley No Idiot" (both 1986) for fellow singer Keith Poppin's Movements label.
During the 1990s, he recorded popular songs such as "A Wah A Gwan", and "Amazon", and made seven tours of Brazil. In 2000 "Fi Wi Island A Boom" won the Jamaica festival song contest and he regularly performed with the Rod Dennis Mento Band at the Kingston Hilton.
In 2001, while playing hotel performances with the Fab 5 band, he was asked by French record executives to record an album of oldtime mento for the European market. On Stanley Beckford Plays Mento, released by Barclay, Beckford was backed by the Blue Glaze band, one of the island's top mento groups, with additional harmony provided by his wife Thelma and daughter Monique. The album and European tours gave Beckford a new audience; in France, he was compared to Compay Segundo
of the Buena Vista Social Club and his success there led to the 2004 follow-up, Reggaemento, released by Warners.
On March 30, 2007 he died at his Riversdale home in St. Catherine. According to his wife, Thelma , she is trying her best to deal with her loss. "Is just me alone, I feel it. He died at home on our bed about 3:00 this afternoon (Friday). He died in my arms. I was shaking him, saying, Stanley, Stanley, but then I saw the blood running from his nose, there was nothing I could do," Mrs. Beckford said.
Mento
Mento is a style of Jamaican folk music that predates and has greatly influenced ska and reggae music. It has its roots in calypso and other Jamaican folk music. Mento typically features acoustic instruments, such as acoustic guitar, banjo, hand drums, and the rhumba box — a large mbira in the...
singer, songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
, and 2001 Jamaica Independence Festival
Jamaica Independence Festival
The Jamaica Independence Festival is a celebration of Jamaica's independence, a status gained in 1962.-History:The festival was initiated in 1962 by then Minister of Community Development Edward Seaga, to showcase literary, fine, and performing artists, and to celebrate "things Jamaican"...
song contest winner.
Early life
Beckford was born in the north-eastern Jamaican parish of Portland. His mother died during his infancy. At seven, following the death of his father, he was raised by his grandparents, between the west KingstonKingston, 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...
ghetto areas of Greenwich Farm and Maxfield Avenue. He began singing in the local Church of God, and became choirleader, while neighbour Carlton Smith taught him guitar. Beckford gained recognition outside the church by winning one of journalist and radio presenter Vere Johns's talent contests at west Kingston's Majestic theatre.
In 1968 Beckford joined a neighbourhood reggae band, Soul Syndicate
Soul Syndicate
Soul Syndicate, originally called the Rhythm Raiders, were one of the top reggae session bands in Jamaica from the early 1970s to the mid-1980s.-History:...
, but his high-pitched, nasal timbre and mento-influenced style did not fit with its focus. He was soon ousted, and subsequently he became a telephone company night watchman.
70s And Beyond
Working one night in 1973, and witnessing an arrest, Beckford wrote "You Are a Wanted Man" - which impressed producer Alvin "GG" RanglinAlvin Ranglin
Alvin 'GG' Ranglin is a Jamaican reggae singer and record producer.-Biography:Ranglin started to sing in public in his teens with an Adventist Church background. As a radio and television technician involved in the jukebox industry, he soon acquired his own sound system he named "GG"...
when Beckford gave an audition. Credited on release to the Starlights, the song's mento-styled vocal bucked urban reggae trends and went straight to No. 1 in the Jamaican charts.
Similar material followed from Beckford under the Starlights credit. His biggest hit was the lewd "Soldering
Soldering (song)
"Soldering" is a song, by Ewart Beckford & Alvin Ranglin, that has been recorded by artists including Desmond Dekker, The Specials, and Hall & Oates...
" (1975), banned by Jamaican radio, which prompted vinyl ripostes from Big Youth
Big Youth
Manley Augustus Buchanan , better known as Big Youth , is a Jamaican deejay, mostly known for his work during the 1970s....
, I-Roy
I-Roy
Roy Samuel Reid better known as I-Roy was a Jamaican DJ who had a very prolific career during the 1970s.-Biography:...
, and Jah Lloyd
Jah Lloyd
Jah Lloyd, aka Jah Lion, The Black Lion of Judah, and Jah Ali was a reggae singer, deejay and producer.-Biography:...
. He became a regular on the north coast hotel circuit, playing to tourists and upper-class locals. After royalty disputes with GG, Beckford, changed the name of his group to Stanley and the Turbines, switching to producer Barrington Jeffrey, at the Dynamic Sounds studio.
Jeffrey ran the Dr Komina label and an adaptation of the ribald mento classic "Leave Mi Kisiloo" (1977) was a big hit. It led to an album of the same name and a follow-up set, Brown Gal.
In 1980 Beckford won the prestigious Jamaica festival song contest with "Dreaming of a New Jamaica (A Land of Peace and Love)", which he wrote during a bloody election year in which more than 900 citizens lost their lives to politically motivated violence. Financially disappointed with Jeffrey, Beckford recorded the album Big Bamboo (1981), with GG. It suffered from a less distinct mento influence.
In the mid-1980s Beckford's production waned as Jamaican music underwent popular music change to the computerised dance hall
Dance hall
Dance hall in its general meaning is a hall for dancing. From the earliest years of the twentieth century until the early 1960s, the dance hall was the popular forerunner of the discothèque or nightclub...
style. However he still recorded significant material, most notable of which is the digitally-backed Jamaica festival song contest winner "Dem A Fi Squirm" for trombonist Calvin "Bubbles" Cameron's Uhuru label and "Stanley No Idiot" (both 1986) for fellow singer Keith Poppin's Movements label.
During the 1990s, he recorded popular songs such as "A Wah A Gwan", and "Amazon", and made seven tours of Brazil. In 2000 "Fi Wi Island A Boom" won the Jamaica festival song contest and he regularly performed with the Rod Dennis Mento Band at the Kingston Hilton.
In 2001, while playing hotel performances with the Fab 5 band, he was asked by French record executives to record an album of oldtime mento for the European market. On Stanley Beckford Plays Mento, released by Barclay, Beckford was backed by the Blue Glaze band, one of the island's top mento groups, with additional harmony provided by his wife Thelma and daughter Monique. The album and European tours gave Beckford a new audience; in France, he was compared to Compay Segundo
Compay Segundo
Compay Segundo was a Cuban trova guitarist, singer and composer.-Biography:...
of the Buena Vista Social Club and his success there led to the 2004 follow-up, Reggaemento, released by Warners.
Death
Stanley was diagnosed with throat cancer and battled it for four years. Towards the end of 2006, Beckford underwent radiotherapy treatment at the University hospital of the West Indies. He is survived by his wife, five daughters and two sons.On March 30, 2007 he died at his Riversdale home in St. Catherine. According to his wife, Thelma , she is trying her best to deal with her loss. "Is just me alone, I feel it. He died at home on our bed about 3:00 this afternoon (Friday). He died in my arms. I was shaking him, saying, Stanley, Stanley, but then I saw the blood running from his nose, there was nothing I could do," Mrs. Beckford said.
External links
- "Stanley Beckford", MentoMusic.com.
- Campbell, Howard (December 30, 2007). "They Left Us In 2007: ", Jamaica-Gleaner.com.