Big Joe (born Joseph Spalding; 1955) is a

Jamaica Jamaica is an island country in the Caribbean Sea and the West Indies. At , it is the third-largest island—after Cuba and Hispaniola—of the Greater Antilles and the Caribbean. Jamaica lies about south of Cuba, west of Hispaniola (the is ...

reggae Reggae () is a music genre that originated in Jamaica during the late 1960s. The term also denotes the modern popular music of Jamaica and its Jamaican diaspora, diaspora. A 1968 single by Toots and the Maytals, "Do the Reggay", was the first ...

deejay and

record producer A record producer or music producer is a music creating project's overall supervisor whose responsibilities can involve a range of creative and technical leadership roles. Typically the job involves hands-on oversight of recording sessions; ensu ...

, who recorded extensively in the 1970s and early 1980s.

Biography

Spalding was born in

Kingston, Jamaica Kingston is the Capital (political), capital and largest city of Jamaica, located on the southeastern coast of the island. It faces a natural harbour protected by the Palisadoes, a long spit (landform), sand spit which connects the town of Por ...

in 1955, and began his recording career in the early 1970s working with producer Harry Mudie.Larkin, Colin (1998) ''The Virgin Encyclopedia of Reggae'', Virgin Books, , pp. 24–25Moskowitz, David V. (2006) ''Caribbean Music: an Encyclopedia of Reggae, Mento, Ska, Rock Steady, and Dancehall'', Greenwood Press, , p. 29 He then worked with producer Winston Edwards and had a hit single with "Selassie Skank". He moved on to record for

Coxsone Dodd Clement Seymour "Coxsone" Dodd (26 January 1932 – 4 May 2004) was a Jamaican record producer who was influential in the development of ska and reggae in the 1950s, 1960s and beyond. He was nicknamed "Coxsone" at school due to his talent ...

at Studio One and set up his own ''Small Axe Hi Fi''

sound system Sound system may refer to: Technology media * Sound reinforcement system, a system for amplifying audio for an audience * High fidelity, a sound system intended for accurate reproduction of music in the home * Public address system, an institution ...

and a record label. In 1978, he was part of the cast of the movie Rockers, directed by Ted Bafaloukos, where he played himself, doing toasting at a sound system party alongside producer and sound system operator Jack Ruby. In the 2000s Spalding had success as a

hip hop Hip-hop or hip hop (originally disco rap) is a popular music genre that emerged in the early 1970s from the African-American community of New York City. The style is characterized by its synthesis of a wide range of musical techniques. Hip- ...

producer and recording engineer.

Discography

*''Keep Rocking And Swinging'' (1976) Celluloid *''At The Control'' (1978) Live & Love *''African Princess'' (1978) Thompson Sound/

Trojan Trojan or Trojans may refer to: * Of or from the ancient city of Troy * Trojan language, the language of the historical Trojans Arts and entertainment Music * '' Les Troyens'' ('The Trojans'), an opera by Berlioz, premiered part 1863, part 18 ...

References

External links

Big Joe
at Roots Archives 1955 births Living people Musicians from Kingston, Jamaica Jamaican reggae musicians {{Reggae-stub