Brigadier Jerry

Robert Russell (born 28 September 1957), better known by the stage name Brigadier Jerry, is a Jamaican dancehall reggae deejay known for his "cultural" lyrics.

Biography

Brigadier Jerry, often nicknamed "Briggy" and "The General", was born in the Papine area of eastern Kingston in 1957, and he became interested in music at an early age, initially linking with U Roy's King Stur-Gav Hi-Fi sound system. Jerry's earliest stage appearances were as a young man performing stand-up comedy, but he soon switched to deejaying for local sound systems.

He became a member of the Rastafarian organisation Twelve Tribes of Israel by 1978 and spread their message on the Jah Love Muzik sound system. By 1980, Brigadier Jerry was one of Jamaica's most sought-after performers by sound systems across the island, and a well-respected deejay among his peers. He recorded for Studio One in the early 1980s before having his first hits with "Pain" (on the Answer/Never Let Go riddim) and "Gwan a School" for producer Delroy Stansbury on the Jwyanza label in 1982. His first album was the live recording Live at the Controls in 1983, and his debut studio album, Jamaica Jamaica, was released in 1985. He often chats...

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