Ophlin Russell (born on 2 January 1962), better known as Sister Nancy (or Muma Nancy), is a Jamaican

dancehall Dancehall is a genre of Jamaican popular music that originated in the late 1970s. Initially, dancehall was a more sparse version of reggae than the roots reggae, roots style, which had dominated much of the 1970s.Barrow, Steve & Dalton, Peter (2 ...

DJ and singer. She is known as the first female dancehall DJ and was described as being a "dominating female voice for over two decades" on the

scene. One of her most famous songs is " Bam Bam", labeled as a "well-known reggae anthem" by

BBC The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is a British public service broadcaster headquartered at Broadcasting House in London, England. Originally established in 1922 as the British Broadcasting Company, it evolved into its current sta ...

and a "classic" by ''

The Observer ''The Observer'' is a British newspaper published on Sundays. First published in 1791, it is the world's oldest Sunday newspaper. In 1993 it was acquired by Guardian Media Group Limited, and operated as a sister paper to ''The Guardian'' ...

''.

Career

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 ...

, Russell was one of 15 siblings.Larkin, Colin (1998) "The Virgin Encyclopedia of Reggae", Virgin Books, Her elder brother, Robert, is better known as Brigadier Jerry, and by her mid-teens, she would occasionally perform on the

Twelve Tribes of Israel The Twelve Tribes of Israel ( , ) are described in the Hebrew Bible as being the descendants of Jacob, a Patriarchs (Bible), Hebrew patriarch who was a son of Isaac and thereby a grandson of Abraham. Jacob, later known as Israel (name), Israel, ...

soundsystem ''Jahlovemuzik''

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 ...

that she worked with, and worked for three years on the Stereophonic sound system with General Echo.Lesser, Beth (2008) ''Dancehall: The Rise of Jamaican Dancehall Culture'', Soul Jazz, , p. 62 Sister Nancy was born in a conservative household in Kingston. She was expected to perform conservative duties such as being an elder of the community and promote socially conservative values such as staying in the household, be drug-free, and family oriented. Early on, she rebelled against her traditional values and followed her brother Brigadier Jerry in DJing. She was repeatedly dissuaded from DJing and encouraged to pursue Christian music by her father. When she was a teenager, she got into

Dancehall Dancehall is a genre of Jamaican popular music that originated in the late 1970s. Initially, dancehall was a more sparse version of reggae than the roots reggae, roots style, which had dominated much of the 1970s.Barrow, Steve & Dalton, Peter (2 ...

. She was the only girl to show up to dance. The family norms did not appeal to her and she ran away from home for months at a time. Nancy followed DJ Junior Chalice around Jamaica and in St. Thomas was given a chance by him to DJ. She is quoted from an interview as saying, "Me never nervous again after that. That was 15. When I was 16 I say, 'Alright, I go step up me thing.'" In 1980, producer Winston Riley was the first to take her into the studio, resulting in her first single, "Papa Dean" for his Techniques label. Russell-Myers went on to perform at '' Reggae Sunsplash'', making her the first female deejay ever to perform there, and she is also the first female Jamaican deejay to tour internationally. She had further success with singles such as "One Two", "Money Can't Buy Me Love", "Transport Connection" and "Bam Bam". Her debut album, ''One Two'' was released in 1982. She went on to work with producer Henry "Junjo" Lawes, recording "A No Any Man Can Test Sister Nancy", "Bang Belly", and a collaboration with Yellowman, "Jah Mek Us Fe A Purpose". She continued to appear live, sometimes on ''Jahlove Music'' with her brother. The sound system toured internationally, with both Sister Nancy and Brigadier Jerry making their debut UK performances at the

Brixton Brixton is an area of South London, part of the London Borough of Lambeth, England. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London. Brixton experienced a rapid rise in population during the 19th century ...

Town Hall,

London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...

in 1982. Despite his first album being released after hers, Sister Nancy claims her brother as her main inspiration and supporter. His stage presence and voice projection have clearly influenced Sister Nancy's work and career. Aspects of his rolling vocal pattern, sing jay style, expressive performances, and culturally conscious lyrics are found in much of Sister Nancy's music. Much like her brother, she also focuses on cultural issues and has a spiritual tone as well in many of her tracks. Unlike his sister however, Brigadier Jerry was never really able to capture his exceptional live performances on a recorded track that was on par. Today he still puts out the occasional single and tours somewhat regularly. In 1996, she relocated to

New Jersey New Jersey is a U.S. state, state located in both the Mid-Atlantic States, Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, Northeastern regions of the United States. Located at the geographic hub of the urban area, heavily urbanized Northeas ...

. In an interview with ''The Jamaica Observer'' in 2002, Russell said that although she was working in the banking sector, that "music is erfirst love" and said she still performs "every now and then". She explained that her absence from the recording scene was due to her wanting to "give other female artists a chance", though she said she was still "as ready as the first day hecame into the business". ''

'' cited Russell a role model for a successive generation of female acts, including

Lady Saw Marion Hall, formerly known by the stage name Lady Saw, is a Jamaican singer and songwriter whose career has spanned over two decades. Formerly known as the Honorific nicknames in popular music, Queen of Dancehall, she is known for her guest ap ...

, Sister Carol, Macka Diamond, Lady G, Shelly Thunder, Carla Marshall, Lorna G, Lady English, and Lady P. In 2007, Russell released the second of her two albums, ''Sister Nancy Meets Fireproof'', produced by djMush1 (formerly of the Slackers (NYC Ska)), via Special Potato Records. The album was distributed by Jammyland Records in New York, NY. The album features four original compositions, as well as four instrumental versions of the aforementioned songs. In 2011, Sister Nancy gave an interview during which she stated that it's harder now, compared to past years, for women to make it in the music industry; when asked "why", she replied: "Maybe because there weren’t so many female artists out and men respected the women." This seems to coincide with Cooper's thoughts that dancehall music liberated women from "repressive respectability and conservative gender ideologies." Rastawomen singers are free to act and say as they please on stage, in most situations. Upon its original release, "Bam Bam" never fully caught-on as a hit in Jamaica, but has been a fixture in other genres of music ever since. While the song was originally recorded in 1966 by

Toots and the Maytals The Maytals, known from 1972 to 2020 as Toots and the Maytals, are a Jamaican musical group, one of the best known ska and rocksteady vocal groups. The Maytals were formed in the early 1960s and were key figures in popularizing reggae music. ...

, it is Sister Nancy's version that is so often sampled in various genres. R. Henry Gordon, N. N. McCarthy and Frederick "Toots" Hibbert hold the copyright to the original version of the song, but were never compensated for royalties, either, for use of the song by Sister Nancy or any artist who sampled her successive versions.R. Henry Gordon, N. N. McCarthy & Frederick Hibbert (1978) "ABC reggae & 260 other titles. (Part 001 of 002)", United States Copyright Office, Document Number V1700P105 In 2016 Sister Nancy retired from being a bank accountant in New Jersey so she could pursue music and performing. She recently played at Rebel Salute 2017 in Jamaica in January as well as played at Brooklyn Bowl in New York on 25 May 2017. In her interview with HOT 97 she stated that she plans to do more shows in the coming future.

Collaborations and samples

Sister Nancy collaborated with Thievery Corporation on the song "Originality" for the 2006 compilation album ''Versions''. She also collaborated with DJ /rupture and

Kid 606 Miguel Trost De Pedro (born July 27, 1979), better known by his stage name Kid606, is an electronic musician who was raised in San Diego and later moved to San Francisco. He is most closely associated with the glitch, IDM, hardcore techno and ...

on the
Little More Oil
single in 2006.Kid606, DJ Rupture & Sister Nancy - Little More Oil
Soul Jazz Records Sister Nancy's classic "Bam Bam" has been re-recorded and sampled over 80 times since its release in 1982 including: * "Badd" by Stylo G in 2013. * " Famous" by

Kanye West Ye ( ; born Kanye Omari West ; June 8, 1977) is an American rapper, singer and record producer. One of the most prominent figures in hip-hop, he is known for his varying musical style and polarizing cultural and political commentary. After ...

on the album ''

The Life of Pablo ''The Life of Pablo'' is the seventh studio album by American rapper Kanye West. It was released on February 14, 2016, through GOOD Music and distributed by Def Jam Recordings. Recording sessions took place from 2013 to 2016, in Italy, Mexico, ...

'' (2016). * "Bam" featuring Damian Marley on the

Jay-Z Shawn Corey Carter (born December 4, 1969), known professionally as Jay-Z, is an American Rapping, rapper, businessman, and record executive. Rooted in East Coast hip-hop, he was named Billboard and Vibe's 50 Greatest Rappers of All Time, the ...

album '' 4:44'' (2017). * Unknown track by Main Source in 1996. * Canadian producer RCola brought Sister Nancy into Liondub's studio to re-sing her classic "Bam Bam", released in 2007 as a

drum and bass Drum and bass (commonly abbreviated as DnB, D&B, or D'n'B) is a genre of electronic dance music characterised by fast Break (music)#Breakbeat (element of music), breakbeats (typically 165–185 Tempo, beats per minute) with heavy Bass (music) ...

dancefloor remix
A What A Bam Bam (Remixes)
on 12" vinyl with Division One remix on the AA side. * In 2007, Sister Nancy voiced a dubplate of her "Bam Bam" with new lyrics for

Atlanta Atlanta ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in Georgia (U.S. state), most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia. It is the county seat, seat of Fulton County, Georg ...

ragga Raggamuffin music (or simply ragga) is a subgenre of dancehall and reggae music. The instrumentals primarily consist of electronic music with heavy use of sampling. Wayne Smith's " Under Mi Sleng Teng", produced by King Jammy in 1985 on a ...

/drum and bass DJ Tester. * Canadian/American producer Krinjah published a 12" vinyl single
Bam Bam (Remix)
in 2001, which helped start off the ragga-jungle revival in North America.

Personal life

She worked as an accountant at a bank in New Jersey and, as of 2014, had retired from the profession.Nancy's b'day fest for Queens
, ''

Jamaica Observer The ''Jamaica Observer'' is a daily newspaper published 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 ...

'', 2 January 2014. Retrieved 11 January 2014

Discography

EP

* ''Armageddon'' (2021)

Albums

* '' One, Two'' (1982) Techniques * ''The Yellow, The Purple & The Nancy'' (1982)

Greensleeves "Greensleeves" is a traditional English folk song. A broadside ballad by the name "A Newe Northen Dittye of ye Ladye Greene Sleves" was registered by Richard Jones at the London Stationers' Company in September 1580,Frank Kidson, ''English F ...

(with Yellowman, Fathead, and Purpleman) * ''Sister Nancy Meets Fireproof'' (2001) Special Potato Records (with djMush1 aka Jeremy Mushlin)

Singles

* "One Two" Techniques * " Bam Bam" Techniques * "Transport Connection" Techniques * "Proud a We" (1982) Techniques * "King and Queen" (1982) AMCO (Yellowman & Sister Nancy) * "No Dun And Put Dun" Digital B * "Deh Yah Long Time" Digital B * "Little More Oil" (2004) Soul Jazz (with DJ /rupture and Kid 606) * "Papa Dean" Techniques * "Solid Has a Rock" Techniques * "Dance Pon Your Corner" Volcano * "Originality" (2006) Thievery Corporation * "Love Jah" King Jammy's * "Fool Say in His Heart" Easy Star Records * "Ting Mi Dis a Come" African Stars * "Muma is Coming" Shocking Vibes * "Ram Dance Daughta" Shocking Vibes * "Chalice" Volcano * "Roof Over Mi Head" * "Ain't no Stopping Nancy" One Two

Compilation appearances

* ''A Dee-Jay Explosion (Inna Dance Hall Style)'' Heartbeat - live album recorded in 1982 includes "One Two" (Sister Nancy & Lee Van Cliff)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Sister Nancy 1962 births Living people Singers from Kingston, Jamaica Jamaican emigrants to the United States 20th-century Jamaican women singers 21st-century Jamaican women singers Singers from New Jersey Jamaican dancehall musicians Jamaican reggae singers 20th-century American women singers 20th-century American singers 21st-century American women singers 21st-century American singers