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Gregory Isaacs
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Gregory Isaacs

1968–2010

Gregory Anthony Isaacs OD (15 July 1950 – 25 October 2010) was a Jamaican reggae musician. Milo Miles, writing in The New York Times, described Isaacs as "the most exquisite vocalist in reggae".

Early career

In his teenage years, Isaacs became a veteran of the talent contests that regularly took place in Jamaica. In 1968, he made his recording debut as Winston Sinclair, with the single "Another Heartache", recorded for producer Byron Lee. The single sold poorly and Isaacs went on to team up with Errol Dunkley to start the African Museum record label and shop, and soon had a hit with "My Only Lover", credited as the first lovers' rock record ever made. He recorded for other producers to finance further African Museum recordings, having a string of hits in the three years that followed, ranging from ballads to roots reggae, including "All I Have Is Love", "Lonely Soldier", "Black a Kill Black", "Extra Classic" and his cover version of Dobby Dobson's "Loving Pauper". In 1974, he began working with producer Alvin Ranglin, and that year he had his first Jamaican no. 1 single with "Love Is Overdue".

Isaacs recorded for many of Jamaica's top producers during the 1970s, including Winston...

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Lovers Rock Roots Reggae

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Albums

Rebirth Of The Cool Ruler

7 tracks · 2023

Let's Dance

8 tracks · 2019

Last One

15 tracks · 2017

Crying Over You

10 tracks · 2017

Special Guest

3 tracks · 2017

Get Cool

9 tracks · 2017

Dreader Than Cool

12 tracks · 2017

The New Millenium

13 tracks · 2017

African Struggle

2 tracks · 2016

Love Light

4 tracks · 2016

The Adrenalin

5 tracks · 2011

Isaacs Meets Isaac

9 tracks · 2010

So Much Love

12 tracks · 2009

Brand New Me

13 tracks · 2008

Cutie Cutie

1 tracks · 2007

Substance Free

1 tracks · 2007

Come Take My Hand

5 tracks · 2006

Sings Dennis Brown

15 tracks · 2005

Open the Door

6 tracks · 2004

The Table Is Going To Turn

19 tracks · 2004

Masterclass

10 tracks · 2004

Revenge

7 tracks · 2004

Give It All Up

7 tracks · 2004

Here By Appointment

13 tracks · 2003

I Found Love

9 tracks · 2002

It Go Now

1 tracks · 2002

Rat Patrol

8 tracks · 2001

Solitary Confinement

5 tracks · 2001

Private & Confidential

9 tracks · 2000

Reggae Heights

7 tracks · 2000

Father & Son

3 tracks · 2000

Dapper Slapper

7 tracks · 1999

Turn Down the Lights

5 tracks · 1999

Rasta Business

4 tracks · 1999

Willow Tree

3 tracks · 1999

The Prime of Gregory Isaacs

8 tracks · 1998

Do Lord

8 tracks · 1998

Yesterday

11 tracks · 1997

Over the Bridge

2 tracks · 1996

I Am the Investigator

4 tracks · 1996

Mr Cool

5 tracks · 1996

Private Lesson

3 tracks · 1996

Dreaming

6 tracks · 1995

Dem Talk Too Much

5 tracks · 1995

Lady of Your Calibre

10 tracks · 1995

Not a One Man Thing

5 tracks · 1995

Holding Me Captive

10 tracks · 1994

Dance Hall Don

10 tracks · 1994

Work Up a Sweat

9 tracks · 1994

Blood Brothers

8 tracks · 1994

Midnight Confidential

8 tracks · 1994

Unlocked

9 tracks · 1993

The Cool Ruler Rides Again

4 tracks · 1993

I Am Gregory

10 tracks · 1993

Unattended

10 tracks · 1993

Once Ago

2 tracks · 1992

No Luck

11 tracks · 1992

Pardon Me!

9 tracks · 1992

Can't Stay Away

9 tracks · 1992

No Surrender

8 tracks · 1992

Most played

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Riddims Gregory Isaacs voiced

Riddim Guide →

Real Rock Riddim

33 versions · 1995 · Sony Music Entertainment Inc

Answer Riddim

33 versions · 1993

Shank I Sheck Riddim

21 versions · 1981 · Greensleeves

Heavenless Riddim

20 versions · versions from 1983

Far East Riddim

17 versions · versions from 1972

Swing Easy Riddim

15 versions · 1995

A Love I Can Feel Riddim

15 versions · 1977

Vanity Riddim

14 versions · 1982

Songs on JamaicansMusic

747 playable tracks in the catalog.

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From the archive

Career timeline

Stories about Gregory Isaacs from the JamaicansMusic archive, oldest first · 1974–2013

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  1. 1974

    Music

    Gregory Isaacs Builds His Own House: African Museum, ‘My Only Lover’ and the First Hits, 1968–1974

    A Fletcher’s Land teenager who lost out on his first sessions decides to produce himself. With Errol Dunkley he opens the African Museum label; ‘My Only Lover’ sketches the lovers rock template; Phil Pratt’s ‘All I Have Is Love’ and Alvin ‘GG’ Ranglin’s ‘Love Is Overdue’ make Gregory Isaacs a name Jamaica cannot ignore.

  2. 1978

    Music

    The Cool Ruler Is Crowned: Gregory Isaacs Signs to Virgin’s Front Line, Stars in ‘Rockers’ and Cuts ‘Soon Forward’ With Sly & Robbie

    After the self-produced concept album ‘Mr. Isaacs’ and the Black Ark anthem ‘Mr Cop’, Gregory Isaacs lands his first international deal. ‘Cool Ruler’ (Front Line, 1978), mixed at Channel One, gives him the nickname that outlives the record; a cameo in the film ‘Rockers’ puts his face on cinema screens; ‘Soon Forward’ (1979) hands its title track to a young rhythm section called Sly & Robbie.

  3. 1982

    Music

    ‘Night Nurse’: Gregory Isaacs Signs to Island Records, Records With the Roots Radics at Tuff Gong and Reaches the UK Top 40

    A year after Bob Marley’s death, Chris Blackwell’s Island label signs the Cool Ruler. Cut at Tuff Gong with the Roots Radics and mixed at Compass Point, ‘Night Nurse’ becomes Gregory Isaacs’s biggest seller and its title track a club standard. Then, at the peak, a prison sentence in Kingston — and the album he wrote about it, ‘Out Deh!’.

  4. 1988

    Music

    ‘Rumours’: Gregory Isaacs Walks Into Gussie Clarke’s New Digital Studio and Walks Out With the Dancehall Hit of 1988

    The first song voiced at Music Works was meant for the Mighty Diamonds. When they could not find it, the Cool Ruler walked through the door. ‘Rumours’ and the album ‘Red Rose for Gregory’ put a 1970s lovers rock singer at the top of digital dancehall — and lent its riddim to J.C. Lodge’s ‘Telephone Love’.

  5. 2010

    Music

    The Later Years: Gregory Isaacs Takes ‘Brand New Me’ to the Grammys, His Fourth Nomination in a Four-Decade Career

    Self-produced at his own Poor People Recording Studio in St Andrew and distributed by Tads Records, ‘Brand New Me’ earns the 58-year-old Cool Ruler a Best Reggae Album nomination at the 52nd Grammy Awards on January 31, 2010. He loses to Stephen Marley. ‘I always think I can win,’ he tells the Sunday Gleaner. A look at the road from the 1990s to this night.

    Music

    A Red Rose for Gregory: Jamaica Says Goodbye to the Cool Ruler, 1951–2010

    Gregory Isaacs died at his London home on Monday, October 25, 2010, a year after a lung cancer diagnosis. A thanksgiving service in Harrow, a Ranny Williams tribute concert with Bunny Wailer and Shaggy, a body lying in state at the National Indoor Sports Centre and a drive through Fletcher’s Land ended on Saturday, November 20, with burial at Dovecot. The eulogy was read by Culture Minister Olivia Grange.

  6. 2013

    Music

    Gregory Isaacs' classics get remixed

    Worldly known and waved-to for his 1985 LP 'Night Nurse', Gregory Isaacs versatile smooth-voiced dancehall crooning will return to shelves on April 15 for the compilation dubbed 'Gregory Isaacs: Remixed'.

    Music

    Remembering the Cool Ruler: Gregory Isaacs

    Poised with his felt/fedora hat and a unique touch to the romantic songs dubbed 'Lovers' Rock' style of the late 70's/early 80's, the Cool Ruler dominated the airwaves and captivated audiences with his hit-riddled catalog inclusive of 'Rumours' and 'Night Nurse'.

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