Joseph Bonner, also commonly known by the nickname Spanner Banner, is a

Jamaica Jamaica (; ) is an island country situated in the Caribbean Sea. Spanning in area, it is the third-largest island of the Greater Antilles and the Caribbean (after Cuba and Hispaniola). Jamaica lies about south of Cuba, and west of Hispan ...

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

and

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 style, which had dominated much of the 1970s.Barrow, Steve & Dalton, Peter (2004) "The Ro ...

musician.

Biography

Bonner was born on 6 February 1959, in Rock Hall, St. Andrew, Jamaica.Russell, Karie (1995)
The Chillin' is Over
, ''

Reggae Report ''Reggae Report'' was a U.S.-based music and culture magazine first published in 1983. The publication offered an abundance of news and information regarding reggae, Caribbean, and world music artists and entertainers, including soca, African ...

'', 1995, retrieved 24 July 2014 The brother of fellow reggae stars

Pliers Pliers are a hand tool used to hold objects firmly, possibly developed from tongs used to handle hot metal in Bronze Age Europe. They are also useful for bending and physically compressing a wide range of materials. Generally, pliers consi ...

Richie Spice Richell Bonner (born 8 September 1971), better known as Richie Spice, is a Jamaican reggae artist. He is a member of the Rastafari movement. Some of his most famous songs include, "Brown Skin", "Youth Dem Cold Rel Bad", "Grooving' My Girl", "Ear ...

, and Snatcha Lion, Bonner began his career in the late 1980s on the Bidia sound system in St. Andrew, and had hits with songs such as "Life Goes On" with producer

Winston Riley Winston Riley (14 May 1943 – 19 January 2012) was a Jamaican singer, songwriter and record producer. The ''Jamaica Gleaner'' notes he was one of the most successful reggae producers.

.McLean, Roxroy (2009)
The Bonner brothers' bond
", ''

Jamaica Gleaner ''The Gleaner'' is an English-language, morning daily newspaper founded by two brothers, Jacob and Joshua de Cordova on 13 September 1834 in Kingston, Jamaica. Originally called the ''Daily Gleaner'', the name was changed on 7 December 1992 to '' ...

'', 27 October 2009, retrieved 6 September 2012Larkin, Colin (1998) ''The Virgin Encyclopedia of Reggae'', Virgin Books, , p. 280Spanner Banner hopes for 'Happiness' atop charts
, ''Jamaica Star'', 5 July 2012, retrieved 6 September 2012Moskowitz, David V. (2006) ''Caribbean Popular Music: an Encyclopedia of Reggae, Mento, Ska, Rock Steady, and Dancehall'', Greenwood Press, , p. 279-280 He co-wrote Chaka Demus and Pliers' chart-topping " Tease Me", and rose to prominence himself in the mid-1990s with albums on RAS (''Now and Forever'') and

Island Jamaica An island or isle is a piece of subcontinental land completely surrounded by water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, skerry, skerries, cays or keys. An river island, island in a river or a lak ...

(''Chill''), working with

Sly and Robbie Sly and Robbie were a prolific Jamaican rhythm section and production duo, associated primarily with the reggae and dub genres. Drummer Sly Dunbar and bassist Robbie Shakespeare teamed up in the mid-1970s after establishing themselves separat ...

on the latter. He went on to release the ''Real Love'' album in 2001 on

Heartbeat Records Heartbeat Records is an independent record label based in Burlington, Massachusetts. The label specializes in Jamaican music. Founded by reggae music enthusiasts Bill Nowlin and Duncan Brown, the label's first release was a vinyl LP reissue of ...

, featuring contributions from

Tanya Stephens Vivienne Tanya Stephenson (born 2 July 1973),Lim, Ann-Margaret (2004)All Woman: Tanya Stephens", ''Jamaica Observer'', 3 May 2004. Retrieved 31 October 2010

Lady Saw Marion Hall (born 12 July 1969; 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 Queen of Dancehall, she is the first female deejay to be certified ...

, and

Sean Paul Sean Paul Ryan Francis Henriques OD (born 9 January 1973) is a Jamaican rapper and singer who is regarded as one of dancehall's most prolific artists. Paul's singles " Get Busy" and "Temperature" topped the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart in the ...

among others. After relocating to

England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe ...

for a few years, Bonner returned to Jamaica and found success again.Smith, Germaine.
Spanner grips music again
, ''Jamaica Star'', 4 February 2005, retrieved 6 September 2012

retrieved 28 June 2020. In 2009, he returned to the charts with the

Donovan Germain Donovan Germain (born 7 March 1952 in Jamaica) is a reggae producer, one of the most successful of the digital era. Biography Germain's entry into the music industry was via his record shop in New York City in the 1970s.Larkin, Colin (1998) "The Vi ...

-produced "Rolling Stones", and won the 'Biggest Comeback Artiste' award at the 2010 EME Awards.Spanner Banner Optimistic About 'Moving On'
, ''

'', 18 July 2011, retrieved 6 September 2012 In 2011 he set up the Bonner Yard Productions record label. In February 2014, he announced plans to release a new album, to be preceded by an EP in March.Brooks, Sadeke (2014)
Spanner Banner To Release EP And Album
, ''

'', 23 February 2014. Retrieved 23 February 2014

Discography

*''Now and Forever'' (1994), RAS *''Chill'' (1995),

*''Lover's Story'' (1998), Sweet Angel *''Real Love'' (2001), Heartbeat *''Clean Up Your Actions'' (2008), Clive Hunt/Ugly Man *''I'm a Winner'' (2009), Bonner Cornerstone/ VP ;Compilations: *''Life Goes On'' (1990), Techniques *''Greatest Hits'' (2001), Jet Star

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Banner, Spanner Living people 21st-century Jamaican male singers Jamaican dancehall musicians People from Saint Andrew Parish, Jamaica 1959 births 20th-century Jamaican male singers VP Records artists Island Records artists