Get set to celebrate one of the most astonishing careers in the annals of Jamaican music with reggae legend Errol Dunkley.
It is almost sixty years since he stumbled upon producers Linden and Sonia Pottinger’s Gaydisc record label and so charmed the staff that he was rushed immediately into the studio to cut his first single.
Since then, Dunkley has worked with many of the biggest names in reggae, including Joe Gibbs, Lee “Scratch” Perry, Coxsone Dodd, Rupie Edwards, Tapper Zukie and Gregory Isaacs, with whom he founded the legendary African Museum label. Throughout, his silken vocal and ear for melody established Dunkley not only among Jamaica’s most reliable hit makers, butt also positioned him to be regarded a crucial influence on the Lover’s Rock scene.
OK Fred is a vibrant tour through some of Dunkley’s most storied tracks, revisiting several of his biggest hits – his UK Top 20 smash “OK Fred,” “Black Cinderella,” “Keep the Pressure Down” and “Please Stop Your Lying” – originally recorded with Lee Perry in 1967, and the first ever hit on Joe Gibbs’ Amalgamated label. He also turns his eye towards other favorites composed by Bob Marley, Toots Hibbert and others!
Recorded by Daniel Minott at his late father Sugar Minott’s studio in Kingston, Jamaica, OK Fred is the ultimate summertime reggae album, and one that will still be spinning in the wintertime too – for the final track on the album, Dunkley treats us to “Blue Christmas.”
CD and digital album will be released on July 26. Vinyl version will be released on September 13.
Thoughts Words Action 