1990s

BUNNY WAILER'S LIBERATION! Here is an excerpt of an interesting article by Kevin Aylmer that appeared in 'The Beat' in 1990.

Jamaicansmusic.com would like to acknowledge the passing of renowned Jamaican saxophonist Cedric Brooks. Rest In Peace Cedric http://www.suntimes.com/news/obituaries/19902753-418/cedric-brooks-70-influential-roots-reggae-musician.html

British Reggae group Aswad’s Too Wicked album was recorded in Jamaica with producer Gussie Clarke and released in 1990.

Cocoa Tea recorded the biggest socially conscious hit of his career to date, "Riker's Island," in 1990, and supported it with an album of the same name. His strident anti-Gulf War commentaries "Oil Ting" and "No Blood for Oil" were banned on radio in Jamaica and the U.K.

Time Will Tell: A Tribute to Bob Marley is an album by Bunny Wailer, released through Shanachie Records in 1990. In 1991, the album won Wailer the Grammy Award for Best Reggae Recording.

In August 1990, IRIE FM, a radio station dedicated solely to the playing of reggae music started broadcasting from studios in Ocho Rios, St Ann (Jamaica)

Maxi Priest is one of only two British reggae acts (along with UB40) to have an American Billboard number one: "Close to You" in 1990.

Today, January 16th, in 1991, UB40's single "The Way You Do The Things You Do" [Virgin] was certified Gold by the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America).

Shabba Ranks scored a major-label deal with Epic in 1991. His Epic debut, As Raw as Ever, featured a high-profile duet with the then-hot Maxi Priest, "Housecall." "Housecall" made the Top Five on the R&B charts, sending As Raw as Ever all the way to number one on the R&B album listings.

In September 1992 Jamaican dub poet, Mutabaruka had a No.1 hit with his single "Johnny Drug Head". It appeared on several US-based music charts.

MadHouse Record label was found by Dave Kelly and Janet Davidson in 1992. The label is responsible for some of the most successful riddims to date including Pepperseed, Joyride and Showtime. Some of the biggest hits on the label were "Action" by Terror Fabulous & Nadine Sutherland, "Dude" by Beenie Man & Ms. Thing, and "Ghetto Story" by Cham.

In 1992 Buju Banton broke Bob Marley's record for the most number one singles in a year. Banton's album, Mr. Mention, includes his greatest hits from that year such as 'Love Me Browning' 'Love Black Woman' & 'How The World A Run'

In 1992 Garnett Silk released his debut album "Its Growing" which went on to become one of the best selling albums in Jamaica that year. It featured his first major international hit single "Hello Mama Africa" which topped the reggae chart in Britain.

Shabba Ranks won two Grammy awards for the Best Reggae Album category twice in a row- in 1992 and 1993 for his albums “As Raw As Ever” and “X-tra Naked.”

Gold, released by the U.K. Charm label in 1993, included the inspirational "Zion in a Vision" by Garnett Silk, a Jamaican number one cut with producer Jack Scorpio, as well as Silk's first international hit.

Tougher Than Tough: The Story Of Jamaican Music album was released Nov 02, 1993 on the Mango label. This collection of 95 songs on 4 CDs attempts to chart the music's diversity and development through ska, rock-steady, reggae, and dub, to dancehall and ragga.

UB40's cover of Elvis Presly's song (I Cant Help) Falling In Love With You is to date one of their biggest hits! They covered the song, as first single from their 1993 album Promises and Lies. It was a great success, reaching number one in Austria, the Netherlands, Sweden, the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia, and New Zealand.

Patra’s debut album, ‘Queen of the Pack’ peaked at number one on the Billboard Reggae Album chart in 1993. It featured songs such as Worker Man, Think (About It) ft Lyn Collins and Romantic Call ft Yo-Yo.

Chaka Demus and Pliers was the first Jamaican act to have three consecutive Top 5 hits on the UK Singles Chart. Their first UK chart hit was "Tease Me" (#3 in 1993), then they released a cover of the Isley Brothers' "Twist and Shout" (#1 in 1994) followed by "She Don't Let Nobody" (#4)

InnerCircle received a Grammy Award in 1993 for 'Best Reggae Album by Duo or Group' for their hit single 'Bad Boys'