Sylford Walker
Encyclopedia
Sylford Walker is a Jamaica
n reggae
singer who first recorded in the mid-1970s and, with reissues renewing interest in him, returned to recording and performing in the 21st century.
at the age of nine.
Walker began working with producer Glen Brown
but his first releases were for producer Joe Gibbs
in 1975, including the singles "Burn Babylon" and "Jah Golden Pen", Walker drawing comparisons with Burning Spear
. His most productive period was working with Brown in the mid-late 1970s, singles from the era including "Lamb's Bread" and "Eternal Day". His debut album, Lamb's Bread, produced by Brown and mixed by King Tubby
, was recorded in 1978, but not released until Greensleeves Records
and Shanachie Records
issued it ten years later. In The Rough Guide to Reggae, Steve Barrow and Peter Dalton describe the tracks on the album as "minor masterpieces". The album's tracks were reissued in 2000 on the critically acclaimed Blood & Fire release Lamb's Bread International, which also included Welton Irie
's deejay
versions on the same rhythm tracks. Increased interest in Walker's work saw the release of the Nutin Na Gwan album in 2006, which included new recordings produced by Joe Gibbs, and a string of reissue singles in the first decade of the 21st century. Walker returned to live performance, including a European tour in 2005.
Compilations:
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 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...
singer who first recorded in the mid-1970s and, with reissues renewing interest in him, returned to recording and performing in the 21st century.
Biography
After spending his early years in rural Jamaica, Walker relocated to 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...
at the age of nine.
Walker began working with producer Glen Brown
Glen Brown
Glen Brown , also known as 'God Son' and 'The Rhythm Master', is a Jamaican singer, musician, and record producer, working primarily in the genres of reggae and dub...
but his first releases were for producer Joe Gibbs
Joe Gibbs (record producer)
Joe Gibbs born Joel A. Gibson was a Jamaican reggae producer.-Biography:Joe Gibbs worked as an electronics engineer in the United States before his career in music started. Gibbs eventually returned to Kingston, Jamaica and opened an electrical repair shop with television repairs and sales as its...
in 1975, including the singles "Burn Babylon" and "Jah Golden Pen", Walker drawing comparisons with Burning Spear
Burning Spear
Winston Rodney, OD , also known as Burning Spear, is a Jamaican roots reggae singer and musician. Burning Spear is known for his Rastafari movement messages.-History:...
. His most productive period was working with Brown in the mid-late 1970s, singles from the era including "Lamb's Bread" and "Eternal Day". His debut album, Lamb's Bread, produced by Brown and mixed by King Tubby
King Tubby
King Tubby was a Jamaican electronics and sound engineer, known primarily for his influence on the development of dub in the 1960s and 1970s...
, was recorded in 1978, but not released until Greensleeves Records
Greensleeves Records
Greensleeves 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....
and Shanachie Records
Shanachie Records
Shanachie Records was founded in 1976 by Richard Nevins and Dan Collins. According to Harvey Pekar , it is one of the largest independent record labels in the world, and is currently distributed by E1 Music. Starting as a label that specialized in fiddle music, they began releasing work by Celtic...
issued it ten years later. In The Rough Guide to Reggae, Steve Barrow and Peter Dalton describe the tracks on the album as "minor masterpieces". The album's tracks were reissued in 2000 on the critically acclaimed Blood & Fire release Lamb's Bread International, which also included Welton Irie
Welton Irie
Welton Irie , sometimes credited simply as Welton, is a Jamaican reggae deejay, best known for his work in the late 1970s and early 1980s.-Biography:...
's 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...
versions on the same rhythm tracks. Increased interest in Walker's work saw the release of the Nutin Na Gwan album in 2006, which included new recordings produced by Joe Gibbs, and a string of reissue singles in the first decade of the 21st century. Walker returned to live performance, including a European tour in 2005.
Albums
- Lamb's Bread (1988), 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....
/ShanachieShanachie RecordsShanachie Records was founded in 1976 by Richard Nevins and Dan Collins. According to Harvey Pekar , it is one of the largest independent record labels in the world, and is currently distributed by E1 Music. Starting as a label that specialized in fiddle music, they began releasing work by Celtic...
Compilations:
- Lamb's Bread International (2000), Blood & Fire - with Welton IrieWelton IrieWelton Irie , sometimes credited simply as Welton, is a Jamaican reggae deejay, best known for his work in the late 1970s and early 1980s.-Biography:...
- Nutin Na Gwan (2006), Joe GibbsJoe Gibbs (record producer)Joe Gibbs born Joel A. Gibson was a Jamaican reggae producer.-Biography:Joe Gibbs worked as an electronics engineer in the United States before his career in music started. Gibbs eventually returned to Kingston, Jamaica and opened an electrical repair shop with television repairs and sales as its...
- The Best of Sylford Walker (2009), Walk Yah Walk
Singles
- "Burn Babylon" (1975), Belmont/Joe Gibbs Music
- "Jah Golden Pen" (1975), Joe Gibbs Music
- "Eternal Day" - b-side of God Sons "South East Trumpet" (1975), South East Music - 10-inch single
- "Assack Lawn" (197?), South East Music
- "God Love" (1977), Sir Clough
- "Lambs Bread" (1978), Pantomime
- "I Can't Understand" (1976), EBT
- "Mother In Law" (197?), Joe Gibbs
- "Chant Down Babylon" (197?), Stars
- "Africa" - b-side of Glen Brown - "Marcus Garvey Words" (1979), Kingley Sounds - 12-inch single
- "Cleanliness Is Godliness" (1979), South East Music
- "Lambs Bread" (1979), South East Music
- "Book Of The Old Testament" (1979), Art & Craft
- "Deuteronomy" (1979), South East Music
- "Our Father Home Land" (1979), South East Music
- "I Love You" (1979), Art & Craft - with Jah StitchJah StitchJah Stitch is a reggae deejay best known for his recordings in the 1970s.-Biography:...
- "Deuteronomy" (2002), Glimmer - 10-inch single
- "Chant Down Babylon" (2008), South East Music
- "United" (2010), Charlie's