Welton Irie
Encyclopedia
Welton Irie sometimes credited simply as Welton, is a Jamaican reggae
deejay
, best known for his work in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
to the sound system. Welton moved on to the Gemini and Virgo sound systems and began a partnership with Lone Ranger
, the two beginning their recording careers together as a duo for Studio One, in a similar vein to Michigan & Smiley
with tracks such as "Chase Them Crazy". On Studio One boss Coxsone Dodd
's recommendation, he extended his stage name to Welton Irie. The pair's partnership was short-lived with both going on to solo careers. Solo hits soon came with "The Bomb", "Army Life", the Jamaican number one hit "Ballerina" recorded with Sly & Robbie, and "Lambs Bread International".
His debut album, Ghettoman Corner, was recorded for producer Glen Brown
and was based on rhythms from Sylford Walker
's Lamb's Bread album. Walker's album was re-released with the inclusion of six of Irie's deejay versions as Lamb's Bread International by Blood & Fire in 2000.
In the early 1980s he worked with Henry "Junjo" Lawes' Volcano sound system, and in 1983 returned to Gemini, touring internationally with Johnny Ringo
and Squiddly Ranking. In the mid-1980s, with the prevalent style of reggae changing, Irie stopped deejaying and worked as a selector for Gemini. He revived his career in the mid 2000's and began performing live once again.
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...
, best known for his work in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
Biography
Welton Irie began his career performing as simply 'Welton' on the Sir John the President and Big John's Stereophonic Sound sound systems (the latter later known as Echo Tone Hi Fi), in 1976, initially heavily influenced by Ranking Trevor. After building up a sizeable following, he was able to introduce young talent such as General EchoGeneral Echo
General Echo aka Ranking Slackness, was one of the first reggae deejays to move away from 'cultural' lyrics towards 'slackness' ....
to the sound system. Welton moved on to the Gemini and Virgo sound systems and began a partnership with Lone Ranger
Lone Ranger (musician)
Lone Ranger is a Jamaican reggae deejay who recorded nine albums between the late 1970s and mid-1980s.-Biography:...
, the two beginning their recording careers together as a duo for Studio One, in a similar vein to Michigan & Smiley
Michigan & Smiley
Michigan and Smiley were a Jamaican singing combo of the late 1970s first wave of dancehall music, consisting of Papa Michigan and General Smiley .-Career:...
with tracks such as "Chase Them Crazy". On Studio One boss Coxsone Dodd
Coxsone Dodd
Clement Seymour "Sir Coxsone" Dodd, CD was a Jamaican record producer who was influential in the development of ska and reggae in the 1950s, 1960s and beyond...
's recommendation, he extended his stage name to Welton Irie. The pair's partnership was short-lived with both going on to solo careers. Solo hits soon came with "The Bomb", "Army Life", the Jamaican number one hit "Ballerina" recorded with Sly & Robbie, and "Lambs Bread International".
His debut album, Ghettoman Corner, was recorded for 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...
and was based on rhythms from Sylford Walker
Sylford Walker
Sylford Walker is a Jamaican 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.-Biography:...
's Lamb's Bread album. Walker's album was re-released with the inclusion of six of Irie's deejay versions as Lamb's Bread International by Blood & Fire in 2000.
In the early 1980s he worked with Henry "Junjo" Lawes' Volcano sound system, and in 1983 returned to Gemini, touring internationally with Johnny Ringo
Johnny Ringo (musician)
Johnny Ringo was a reggae/dancehall deejay active from the late 1970s to the early 1990s.-Biography:...
and Squiddly Ranking. In the mid-1980s, with the prevalent style of reggae changing, Irie stopped deejaying and worked as a selector for Gemini. He revived his career in the mid 2000's and began performing live once again.
Albums
- Ghetto Man Corner (1977) Pantomime
- It Feels So Good (1980) 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...
- Reprobate (1982) Hitbound
- Army Life (1982) Dynamite
- New Style (1982) Pioneer International
- Sweetest Ever (1983) Rohit
- One & One = Two (1995) Jamaican Authentic Classics (with General Plough)
- Lamb's Bread International (2000) Blood & Fire (with Sylford WalkerSylford WalkerSylford Walker is a Jamaican 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.-Biography:...
) - Live@Chez Heinz, Hannover/April 2007 (2007)
Appearances on live albums
- Junjo Presents Aces International (1982) 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....
- A Dee Jay Explosion Inna Dance Hall Style (1982) HeartbeatHeartbeat RecordsHeartbeat Records is an independent record label based in Burlington , Massachusetts. The label specializes in Jamaican music. Founded by reggae music enthusiasts Bill Nowlin and Duncan Brown, the label's first release was a vinyl LP reissue of Linton Kwesi Johnson's Dread Beat an' Blood...