Harry J

Harry Zephaniah Johnson (6 July 1945 – 3 April 2013), known by the stage name Harry J, was a Jamaican reggae record producer.

Biography

Born in Westmoreland Parish, Jamaica, in 1945, Johnson started to play music with the Virtues as a bass player before moving into management of the group. When the band split up, he focused on working as an insurance salesman until 1968, when he produced the Beltones' local hit "No More Heartaches", one of the earliest reggae songs to be recorded. His agreement with Coxsone Dodd allowed him to use Studio One's facilities, where he produced the hit "Cuss Cuss" with singer Lloyd Robinson, which became one of the most covered riddims in Jamaica, with notable versions released by Horace Andy and Lloyd Barnes. Johnson also released music under a subsidiary label, Jaywax.

In October 1969, he met success in the UK with "The Liquidator" (number 9 in the UK Singles Chart), recorded with his session band, the Harry J All Stars. It was also a hit again in 1980, reaching number 42. This single became one of the anthems of the emerging skinhead youth subculture, together with other instrumental hits released in the UK through his own subdivision "Harry J"...

Read full biography on Wikipedia →