Tiger (musician)
Encyclopedia
Norman Washington Jackson (born 1960), better known as Tiger, is a Jamaica
n dancehall
musician active since the late 1970s. He is known for his "growling" style of deejaying, often imitated by other dancehall deejays since his initial rise to fame.
in 1960. He first recorded as a singer under the name Ranking Tiger, his first single being "Why Can't You Leave Dreadlocks Alone?" in 1978. In the early 1980s he began working as a deejay
with the Black Star sound system, often performing alongside fellow deejay Bruk Back and singer Anthony Malvo.
In 1985 and 1986 he had several local hits including "No Wanga Gut" and "No Puppy Love". He was signed by Mango Records who released his debut album, Me Name Tiger, in 1986. In the second half of the 1980s he became a major star of Jamaican music, known for his style that has been described as "multi-voiced and totally deranged", and recorded for producers including Harry J, King Jammy
, Gussie Clarke
, Sly & Robbie, Philip "Fatis" Burrell, and Donovan Germain
. He also began producing himself, and started his own Tiger label. His single "Cool Me Down" was included on the soundtrack to the film Cool Runnings
. In 1989 he became one of the first ragga
artists to cross over into the US hip hop
scene when he duetted with The Fat Boys
on "T'ings Nah Go So". Success continued in the 1990s and he was signed via his Chaos production company to Columbia Records
, his first album for the label Claws of the Cat in 1993.
Soon after his major label debut, Jackson was seriously injured in a motorcycle accident, in December 1993. His recovery was slow, and the injury affected his voice to the point he was no longer able to record or perform to his previous capacity. However, in 2003 he returned to live performance as part of the 'Dons of Dancehall' UK tour. He also appeared at Reggae Sumfest
alongside deejay Kiprich
in 2007, as well as the 2010 "Reewind and Come Again" in New York, which featured a host of dancehall performers from the 1980s and early 1990s.
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 dancehall
Dancehall
Dancehall is a genre of Jamaican popular music that originated in the late 1970s. Initially dancehall was a more sparse version of reggae than the roots style, which had dominated much of the 1970s. In the mid-1980s, digital instrumentation became more prevalent, changing the sound considerably,...
musician active since the late 1970s. He is known for his "growling" style of deejaying, often imitated by other dancehall deejays since his initial rise to fame.
Biography
Jackson was born in Kingston, JamaicaKingston, 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...
in 1960. He first recorded as a singer under the name Ranking Tiger, his first single being "Why Can't You Leave Dreadlocks Alone?" in 1978. In the early 1980s he began working as a 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...
with the Black Star sound system, often performing alongside fellow deejay Bruk Back and singer Anthony Malvo.
In 1985 and 1986 he had several local hits including "No Wanga Gut" and "No Puppy Love". He was signed by Mango Records who released his debut album, Me Name Tiger, in 1986. In the second half of the 1980s he became a major star of Jamaican music, known for his style that has been described as "multi-voiced and totally deranged", and recorded for producers including Harry J, 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...
, Gussie Clarke
Gussie Clarke
Augustus "Gussie" Clarke , is a reggae producer who worked with some of the top Jamaican reggae artists in the 1970s and later set up his own Music Works studio.-Career:...
, Sly & Robbie, Philip "Fatis" Burrell, and Donovan Germain
Donovan Germain
Donovan Germain is a reggae producer, one of the most successful of the digital era.-Biography:Germain's entry into the music industry was via his record shop in New York City in the 1970s. He began production in 1972, visiting Jamaica for recording sessions, working in both roots reggae and...
. He also began producing himself, and started his own Tiger label. His single "Cool Me Down" was included on the soundtrack to the film Cool Runnings
Cool Runnings
Cool Runnings is a 1993 comedy film directed by Jon Turteltaub. It is loosely based on the true story of the Jamaica national bobsled team's debut in the bobsleigh competition of the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, Alberta. It stars Leon Robinson, Doug E. Doug, Malik Yoba, and Rawle D...
. In 1989 he became one of the first ragga
Ragga
-Origins:Ragga originated in Jamaica during the 1980s, at the same time that electronic dance music's popularity was increasing globally. One of the reasons for ragga's swift propagation is that it is generally easier and less expensive to produce than reggae performed on traditional musical...
artists to cross over into the US hip hop
Hip hop
Hip hop is a form of musical expression and artistic culture that originated in African-American and Latino communities during the 1970s in New York City, specifically the Bronx. DJ Afrika Bambaataa outlined the four pillars of hip hop culture: MCing, DJing, breaking and graffiti writing...
scene when he duetted with The Fat Boys
The Fat Boys
The Fat Boys are a successful African American hip-hop music trio from Brooklyn, New York City, that emerged in the early 1980s. Briefly, the group was known originally as the Disco 3.-Members:*Mark Morales a.k.a. "Prince Markie Dee"...
on "T'ings Nah Go So". Success continued in the 1990s and he was signed via his Chaos production company to Columbia Records
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
, his first album for the label Claws of the Cat in 1993.
Soon after his major label debut, Jackson was seriously injured in a motorcycle accident, in December 1993. His recovery was slow, and the injury affected his voice to the point he was no longer able to record or perform to his previous capacity. However, in 2003 he returned to live performance as part of the 'Dons of Dancehall' UK tour. He also appeared at Reggae Sumfest
Reggae Sumfest
Reggae Sumfest is the largest concert festival in Jamaica, taking place each year in mid-July in Montego Bay. Sumfest, started in 1993, is officially sponsored by Red Stripe....
alongside deejay Kiprich
Kiprich
Kiprich , formerly known as Crazy Kid, is a popular dancehall deejay. He, like his mentor Elephant Man, is a member of The Alliance, a group of Gangsta-themed deejays....
in 2007, as well as the 2010 "Reewind and Come Again" in New York, which featured a host of dancehall performers from the 1980s and early 1990s.
Discography
- Me Name Tiger (1986), RASRAS RecordsRAS Records, also known as Real Authentic Sound, is a reggae record label.-History:RAS Records was founded in 1979 by Doctor Dread. In his travels to Jamaica he created a network within the reggae artist community there. By the early to mid 1980s RAS had signed artists such as Black Uhuru, Inner...
/MangoIsland RecordsIsland Records is a record label that was founded by Chris Blackwell in Jamaica. It was based in the United Kingdom for many years and is now owned by Universal Music Group... - Kangal Presents Tiger Meets Yellowman (1986), Kangal - split LP with YellowmanYellowmanYellowman is a Jamaican reggae and dancehall deejay, widely known as King Yellowman...
- Tiger Meets General Trees Live In Concert (1987), CSA - with General TreesGeneral TreesGeneral Trees was one of the most popular jamaican dancehall deejay of the 1980s, best known for his hits in the latter half of the decade.-Biography:...
- Bam Bam (1988), RAS
- Shockin' Colour (1989), Jammy's
- Ram Dancehall (1989), VPVP RecordsVP Records is an independent reggae record label, located in Queens, New York. It is best known for producing Caribbean singers.-The foundation:...
- Love Affair (1990), Rohit
- Touch Is a Move (1990), Mango
- Reggae Dancehall Sensation (1990), Rohit
- Tiger a Tiger (1991), New Name
- Ready Fi Dem (1991), VP
- Deadly (1992), Penthouse
- Put It On (1992), Rohit
- Claws of the Cat (1993), ColumbiaColumbia RecordsColumbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
/Chaos - Come Back to Me, Techniques
Compilations:
- New Brand Style (1995), RAS
- RAS Portraits (1997), RAS
- Most Wanted (2011), VP