Lincoln Barrington "Sugar" Minott (25 May 1956 – 10 July 2010)Campbell, Howard (2010)
Reggae singer Sugar Minott dies at 54
, Associated Press, 11 July 2010. Retrieved 12 July 2010Peru, Yasmine (2010)
Godfather of Dancehall, Sugar Minott, dead at 54
", ''

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 ...

'', 12 July 2010. Retrieved 12 July 2010 was a Jamaican

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 ...

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 reggae, roots style, which had dominated much of the 1970s.Barrow, Steve & Dalton, Peter (2 ...

singer,

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 ...

and sound-system operator.Barrow, Steve and Dalton, Peter: "Reggae: The Rough Guide", Rough Guides, 1997, Thompson, Dave (2002) "Reggae & Caribbean Music", Backbeat Books,

Biography

After working as a selector on the ''Sound of Silence Keystone''

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 then his own ''Gathering of Youth'' system, he began his singing career as part of The African Brothers in 1969, along with

Tony Tuff Winston Anthony Morris (1 April 1955 – 20 April 2024), known professionally as Tony Tuff, was a Jamaican conscious roots reggae singer and a member of The African Brothers in the late 1960s and 1970s before embarking on a solo career. Biogr ...

and Derrick Howard. The group released several singles in the first half of the 1970s on labels such as Micron and their own Ital label, and were an early example of the

Rastafari movement Rastafari is an Abrahamic religion that developed in Jamaica during the 1930s. It is classified as both a new religious movement and a social movement by scholars of religion. There is no central authority in control of the movement and much ...

's influence on the

Jamaican music The music of Jamaica includes Jamaican folk music and many popular genres, such as mento, ska, rocksteady, reggae, dub music, dancehall, reggae fusion and related styles. Reggae is especially popular through the fame of Bob Marley. Jamaican mus ...

scene, taking a clear lead from

The Abyssinians The Abyssinians are a Jamaican roots reggae group, famous for their close harmonies and promotion of the Rastafari movement in their lyrics. History The vocal trio was originally formed in 1968 by Bernard Collins and Donald Manning. Their fi ...

. After recording "Mysterious Nature" for producer

Rupie Edwards Rupert Lloyd Edwards (born 4 July 1945) is a Jamaican reggae singer and record producer. Biography Rupie Edwards was born in Goshen, in Saint Ann Parish.Thompson, Dave (2002) ''Reggae & Caribbean Music'', Backbeat Books, , pp. 103–105 The fam ...

, the group recorded 1974's "No Cup No Broke" for Studio One, breaking up shortly after. Minott then teamed up with the producer

Clement "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 a ...

, as studio apprentice at Dodd's Studio One, working as a singer, guitarist and percussionist, and soon began recording his own singles.Larkin, Colin: "The Virgin Encyclopedia of Reggae", Virgin Books, 1998, Minott developed a talent for writing new songs to fit over existing rhythms (which at the time was common when singers performed live, but rare in the studio), often proving more popular than the original songs, pioneering an approach that would be central to the emerging

style. After a number of moderately successful hits for Studio One, such as "Vanity", "Hang On Natty", "Mr. DC", and "Jah Jah Children", his debut LP ''Live Loving'' made his name and increased his popularity, and is regarded as pioneering the dancehall style that would dominate the early 1980s. It was followed in 1979 with a second album, ''Showcase'', which included his singles that had been omitted from the first album. The ''Bittersweet'' album followed, and then the third album of 1979, ''Ghetto-ology'', which saw a return to

roots reggae Roots reggae is a subgenre of reggae that deals with the everyday lives and aspirations of Ethnic groups of Africa, Africans and those in the African Diaspora, including the spiritual side of Rastafari, black liberation, revolution and the ho ...

. ''Roots Lovers'' (1980) saw a move towards

lovers rock Lovers rock is a style of reggae music noted for its romantic sound and content. While love songs had been an important part of reggae since the late 1960s, the style was given a greater focus and a name in London in the mid-1970s.Larkin, Col ...

, which was a UK hit. He became a bigger star in the UK than in Jamaica, his self-produced "Hard Time Pressure" being a major UK reggae hit in 1980, leading Minott to relocate to the UK, where he became a focus for UK reggae. Singles such as "Run Come", "Not for Sale", "African Girl", "Lovers Rock", "In a Dis Ya Time", "Africa" and "Make It with You" (with

Carroll Thompson Carroll Thompson is a British lovers rock singer, best known as the "Queen of Lovers Rock" Biography Thompson was born in England and is of Jamaican descent. Thompson undertook classical piano training on the piano and sang in school and chur ...

) were hits in the years that followed. "

Good Thing Going ''Good Thing Going'' is the 12th studio album released by Rhonda Vincent. The album was released on January 8, 2008, via Rounder Records. It was her third number-one album on the Top Bluegrass Albums chart, and her second Top 40 album on the T ...

" (a

cover Cover or covers may refer to: Packaging * Another name for a lid * Cover (philately), generic term for envelope or package * Album cover, the front of the packaging * Book cover or magazine cover ** Book design ** Back cover copy, part of c ...

of a song originally recorded by

Michael Jackson Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009) was an American singer, songwriter, dancer, and philanthropist. Dubbed the "King of Pop", he is regarded as Cultural impact of Michael Jackson, one of the most culturally significan ...

in 1971) was picked up for distribution by

RCA RCA Corporation was a major American electronics company, which was founded in 1919 as the Radio Corporation of America. It was initially a patent pool, patent trust owned by General Electric (GE), Westinghouse Electric Corporation, Westinghou ...

and reached Number 4 in the UK Singles Chart in March 1981, leading to an album of the same name. The ''Herbman Hustling'' album saw a return to dancehall and

. He released an album of recordings from

Channel One Studios Channel One is a recording studio in Maxfield Avenue, West Kingston, Jamaica. The studio was built by the Hoo Kim brothers in 1972, and has had a profound influence on the development of reggae music. History Joseph Hoo Kim's parents ran a bar a ...

, ''With Lots Of Extra'' in 1983, collecting several hits from his time working with

Winston Holness Winston Holness, better known as Niney the Observer OD (born George Boswell, 1944 in Montego Bay, Jamaica),Thompson, Dave (2002), ''Reggae & Caribbean Music'', Backbeat Books, . is a Jamaican record producer and conscious roots reggae singer wh ...

. Returning to Jamaica, his ''Youth Promotion'' sound system performed regularly in Kingston's Maxfield Park, featuring

Jah Stitch Jah Stitch (born Melbourne James, 27 July 1949 – 28 April 2019) was a reggae deejay best known for his recordings in the 1970s. Biography After an introduction to music singing in a yard with the likes of The Wailers, The Heptones, Roy Sh ...

and newcomers who had been nurtured by his organization such as

Ranking Joe Ranking Joe Little Joe (born Joseph Jackson, 1 July 1959, Kingston, Jamaica) is a reggae deejay who rose to prominence in the 1970s and had continuing success in the 1980s. Biography Jackson was initially inspired towards a musical career by ...

Captain Sinbad Captain Sinbad was the deejay alter ego of Jamaican record producer Carl Dwyer (born c.1955). Biography Dwyer was born in Kingston, Jamaica, and entered the music industry as a deejay under the name Captain Sinbad on the ''Sound of Silence'' s ...

, and

Ranking Dread Ranking Dread (born Winston Brown; – 1996)Moskowitz, David V. (2006) ''Caribbean Music: an Encyclopedia of Reggae, Mento, Ska, Rock Steady, and Dancehall'', Greenwood Press, , p. 246.Barrow, Steve & Dalton, Peter (2003) ''The Rough Guide to R ...

. His Black Roots label featured his productions of these artists plus others such as Barry Brown,

Tenor Saw Clive Bright (2 December 1966 – 13 August 1988), better known as Tenor Saw, was a Jamaican dancehall singjay in the 1980s, considered one of the most influential singers of the early digital reggae era. His best-known song was the 1985 hit "R ...

Little John Little John is a companion of Robin Hood who serves as his chief lieutenant and second-in-command of the Merry Men. He is one of only a handful of consistently named characters who relate to Robin Hood and one of the two oldest Merry Men, alo ...

Barrington Levy Barrington Ainsworth Levy (born 30 April 1964) is a Jamaican reggae and dancehall artist from Clarendon, Jamaica. Career In 1977, Levy formed a band called the Mighty Multitude, with his cousin, Everton Dacres; the pair released "My Bla ...

Horace Andy Horace Andy (born Horace Keith Hinds, 19 February 1951) is a Jamaican roots reggae songwriter and singer, known for his distinctive vocals and hit songs such as " Skylarking", as well as "Government Land", "Angel", "Spying Glass", and "Five Ma ...

, and one of his discoveries from England,

Trevor Hartley Trevor Hartley (born 16 March 1947) is an English former footballer with West Ham United and Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic and football manager with AFC Bournemouth and Tottenham Hotspur. Biography Footballing career Trevor Hartley was bo ...

. Minott also produced early works by

Nitty Gritty Glen Augustus Holness (1957–24 June 1991), otherwise known by his stage name Nitty Gritty, was a popular reggae singer. Born in the August Town section of Kingston, Jamaica, he was the second of eleven children born to religious parents. ...

Junior Reid Delroy "Junior" Reid (born 6 June 1963) is a Jamaican reggae and dancehall deejay. From 1986 to 1988, he served as lead vocalist for the reggae band Black Uhuru on three albums: '' Brutal'' (1986), '' Positive'' (1987), and ''Black Uhuru Live i ...

Yami Bolo Rolando Ephraim McLean (born 1 October 1970), better known as Yami Bolo, is a Jamaican reggae singer. Biography Yami Bolo grew up in postal zone 13 of Kingston. His first professional job and exposure was with Sugar Minott's Youth Promotion C ...

, Colourman,

Daddy Freddy S. Frederick Small (born 1965), better known as Daddy Freddy, is a Jamaican ragga vocalist. Early life Small was born in 1965, in Kingston, Jamaica, and grew up in the city's Trenchtown district.Huey, SteveDaddy Freddy Biography", Allmusic, ...

and

Garnett Silk Garnet Silk (born Garnet Damion Smith; 2 April 1966 – 9 December 1994) was a Jamaican reggae musician and Rastafarian, known for his diverse, emotive, powerful and smooth voice. During the early 1990s he was hailed as a rising talent, however ...

. In 1980s he was working with producers in Jamaica including,

Mikey Dread Michael George Campbell (4 June 1954 – 15 March 2008), better known as Mikey Dread, was a Jamaican singer, producer, and broadcaster. He was one of the most influential performers and innovators in reggae music. Biography Born in Port Antonio ...

George Phang George Phang (born 29 March 1956 in Saint Andrew, Kingston) is a Jamaican reggae record producer, famously known for owning the ''Powerhouse'' label. Phang started his reggae label Powerhouse in the early 1980s. His first hits were Little John's " ...

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 ...

Philip "Fatis" Burrell Philip "Fatis" Burrell (23 July 1954 – 3 December 2011)Katz, David (2011)Philip 'Fatis' Burrell obituary, ''The Guardian'', 6 December 2011, retrieved 2011-12-06 was a Jamaican record producer, who ran the Xterminator record label. He was one o ...

, Channel One,

Prince Jammy Lloyd Woodrowe James (born 26 October 1947),Barrow, Steve & Dalton, Peter: "Reggae: The Rough Guide", 1997, Rough Guides, better known as Prince Jammy or King Jammy, is a Jamaican dub mixer, sound system owner and record producer. He began hi ...

, and

Donovan Germain Donovan Germain OD (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) "T ...

, as well as recording for United States–based Lloyd "Bullwackie" Barnes (the ''Wicked A Go feel It'' album from 1984). His biggest hits included "Herbman Hustling", "No Vacancy", "Jamming in the Street", "Rub A Dub Sound", "Buy Off The Bar", "Rydim", and "Devil's Pickney". He linked up with Sly and Robbie for 1984's "Rub a Dub Sound Style" single, which is regarded as a prototype for the

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 ...

style that developed in the mid-1980s. Sugar Minott continued to record on his Black Roots label, Youth Promotion Label and for Major and Independent labels. His albums receive increasingly exciting reviews. He released over 60 albums and hundreds of singles. He is one of the artists who appeared on the (2006) record, ''

Radiodread ''Radiodread'' is a 2006 tribute album by the Easy Star All-Stars that covers Radiohead's 1997 album ''OK Computer'' in reggae, ska and dub styles. History The ''Radiodread'' producer and arranger, Michael Goldwasser, said ''OK Computer'' h ...

'', released by the

Easy Star Easy Star All-Stars is a reggae collective founded in 1997 by Michael Goldwasser, Eric Smith, Lem Oppenheimer and Remy Gerstein of New York City-based Easy Star Records. The band is known for its reinterpretations of classic albums in reggae s ...

label, providing the guest vocals on the song "Exit Music (For a Film)". Minott's desire for independence led him to leave Studio One in 1978 and form his own Black Roots Records label and Youth Promotion organization, the latter with the aim of helping young singers from the same ghetto background as himself. Minott also ran the Youthman Promotion sound-system, giving young performers their first public exposure. Youthman Promotion has new selectors working alongside the veterans of Major Stitch, Ragga Steve and Drifter, Daddy Ants, Mr Shorty and Jimmy Knuckles. The selectors most recently added to the sound are DiGeneral Starry B in 2007, alongside Poochiny and Jr War, who were added in 2012. Ragga Steve has taken full control of the sound with Earl Minott in the UK. Minott married music executive Maxine Stowe, niece of Clement Coxsone Dodd in 1993, she was then working at

Columbia Records Columbia Records is an American reco ...

. They met At Coxsone’s Music City in

Brooklyn Brooklyn is a Boroughs of New York City, borough of New York City located at the westernmost end of Long Island in the New York (state), State of New York. Formerly an independent city, the borough is coextensive with Kings County, one of twelv ...

, New York in 1978, where they collaborated and produced the album ''Roots Lovers''. They have four children, Rachiim, Jahson, Candice and Osunya. Sugar has 13 children with one, Alton, predeceasing him. The other children are Tamar, Lincoln Jr., Daniel, Debbie, Andrew, Tamar Elaine, Kelly & Linval.

Death

Minott died on 10 July 2010 at the University Hospital of the West Indies in St. Andrew Parish, Jamaica, after being admitted earlier that day. The cause of death remains undisclosed. He had been affected by a heart condition since early 2009, and cancelled several performances in May 2010 due to chest pains." He is survived by his widow Maxine Stowe and 13 children, grandchildren, brothers, and sisters. In May 2012, a charity concert was held at his former home commemorating his birthday, with Minott's children (who include daughter Tamar, aka Pashon) joined by

Bounty Killer Rodney Basil Price OD (born 12 June 1972), known as Bounty Killer, is a Jamaican reggae and dancehall deejay. AllMusic describes him as "one of the most aggressive dancehall stars of the '90s, a street-tough rude boy with an unrepentant fl ...

Sizzla Miguel Orlando Collins (born 17 April 1976), known by his stage name Sizzla Kalonji or Sizzla, is a Jamaican reggae musician. He is one of the most commercially and critically successful contemporary reggae artists and is noted for his high num ...

Beenie Man Moses Anthony Davis OD (born 22 August 1973), professionally known as Beenie Man, is a Jamaican dancehall deejay. His awards include DJ of the Year Award eight years in a row. His twelfth studio album '' Art and Life'' received a Grammy Award ...

Ken Boothe Kenneth George Boothe OD (born 22 March 1948) is a Jamaican vocalist known for his distinctive vibrato and timbre. Boothe achieved an international reputation as one of Jamaica's finest vocalists through a series of crossover hits that appeal ...

and John Holt.Morgan, Simone (2012)
Not so sweet for 'Sugar'
, ''

'', 22 May 2012. Retrieved 1 June 2012 Proceeds went to the Youthman Promotions Music Centre and other causes helping local poor people. In 2019, he was honoured with a Reggae Gold award by the Jamaican government for his contributions as artist and producer.

Discography

*''Live Loving'' (1977, Studio One) Roots Archives states 1977,

Discogs Discogs ( ; short for " discographies") is a database of information about audio recordings, including commercial releases, promotional releases, and bootleg or off-label releases. Database contents are user-generated, and described in ''T ...

says release year is unknown *''Showcase'' (1978, Studio One, probably a smaller edition in Jamaica by Studio One already 1977,); reissued in US as ''Showcase'' (1992,

Heartbeat Heartbeat, heart beat or heartbeats may refer to: Science and technology * Heartbeat (biology), one cardiac cycle of the heart * Heartbeat (computing), a periodic signal to indicate normal operation or to synchronize parts of a system ** Heartbea ...

) with different mixing; reissued as ''

Jah Jah or Yah (, ''Yāh'') is a short form of the Tetragrammaton (YHWH), the personal name of God: Yahweh, which the ancient Israelites used. The conventional Christian English pronunciation of ''Jah'' is , even though the letter J here transliter ...

Jah Children'' 2012 *'' Black Roots'' (1979, Black Roots Records & Gorgon Records in Jamaica; 1979 by

Mango A mango is an edible stone fruit produced by the tropical tree '' Mangifera indica''. It originated from the region between northwestern Myanmar, Bangladesh, and northeastern India. ''M. indica'' has been cultivated in South and Southeast As ...

for US and 1980 by

Island Records Island Records is a multinational record label owned by Universal Music Group. It was founded in Jamaica by Chris Blackwell, Graeme Goodall, and Leslie Kong in 1959, and was eventually sold to PolyGram in 1989. Island and A&M Records, another ...

for UK and (Germany) with other, shorter names on the 10 songs). The LP-album ''Black Roots'', released for the Jamaican market on Black Roots Records, Gorgon Records and Thunder Bolt is dated 1978, so the album is recorded before the year 1979. *''Bittersweet'' (1979, Gorgon Records in Jamaica; Warrior Records in UK); also released as ''Give The People'' (1979,

United Artists Records United Artists Records was an American record label founded by Max E. Youngstein of United Artists in 1957 to issue movie soundtracks. The label expanded into other genres, such as easy listening, jazz, pop, and R&B. History Genres In 1958 ...

) in UK *''Ghetto – Ology'' (1979,

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 ...

) – reissued as ''Ghetto-ology + Dub'' (2000,

Easy Star Records Easy Star Records is an American independent record label founded in 1996. Based in New York City, the label primarily produces and releases albums in the genres of reggae and Dub music, dub. The label has had multiple albums chart at No. 1 on t ...

in US) *''Roots Lovers'' (1980, Black Roots); in Jamaica also released as ''Music for the Roots Lovers'' (1980?, Black Roots) with ''Sugar Minott & Black Roots Players'' *''African Girl'' (1981, Black Roots); pre-release album was produced and released 1980 *''Sweeter Than Sugar'' (1981, Sonic Sounds for Jamaica, Hummingbird Records for US and UK) *''

'' (1981,

for UK); (1982

for US); Re-issued with smaller edits as ''Good Thing Going'' (1994, Black Roots Records) *''More Sugar Minott'' (1982, Studio One) – released on Jamaica *''Dancehall Showcase'' (1983, Black Roots) *''With Lots Of Extra'' (1983, Hitbound) *''Herbman Hustling'' (1984, Black Roots) *''Slice of the Cake'' (1984, Black Roots) *''Wicked a Go Feel It'' (1984, Wackies) *''Leader for the Pack'' (1985, Striker Lee) *''Rydim'' (1985, Greensleeves) *''Time Longer Than Rope'' (1985, Greensleeves) *''Inna Reggae Dance Hall'' (1986, Black Roots) *''Sugar & Spice'' (1986, Taxi) *''Jamming in the Streets'' (1987, Wackies) *''African Soldier'' (1988, Black Roots) *''Buy Off De Bar'' (1988, Sonic Sounds) *''Sugar Minott & Youth Promotion'' (1988, NEC) *''Lovers Rock Inna Dance Hall'' (1988, Youth Promotion) *''Sufferers Choice'' (1988, Black Roots) *''Ghetto Youth Dem Rising'' (1988, Black Roots) *''The Boss Is Back'' (1989, RAS) *''Ghetto Child'' (1989, Black Roots) *''Smile'' (1990, L&M) *''A Touch of Class'' (1991, Jammy's) *''Happy Together'' (1991, Black Roots) *''Run Things'' (1993, VP) *''Breaking Free'' (1994, RAS) *''Stir it Up (feat.

)'' (1994,

Music of Life Music of Life is a British independent hip hop and dance music label formed in 1986 by Froggy and Simon Harris, managed by Chris France. At first, the label licensed new rap music from US production company Powerplay for the first compilati ...

) *''International'' (1996, RAS) *''Musical Murder'' (1997, VP) *''Good Thing Going'' (1998, VP) *''Easy Squeeze'' (1999, World) *''Simply the Best'' (2000), World *''From the Heart'' (2000), Blackwacks *''Leave Out a Babylon'' (2005), Discograph *''In A Lovers Roots Style'' (2008), Pinnacle *''Tribute to Studio One'' (2009), Tad's *''New Day'' (2009), Stop Look Listen ;Split albums: *''Rockers Award Winners'' (1985,

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 ...

) (Sugar Minott and

Leroy Smart Leroy Smart (born 1952) is a reggae singer-songwriter and record producer from Kingston, Jamaica. Biography Smart was born in 1952 and orphaned at the age of two. He was raised at Maxfield Park Children's Home and educated at Alpha Boys School ...

) *''Double Dose'' (1987, Blue Mountain) (Sugar Minott and

Gregory Isaacs Gregory Anthony Isaacs OD (15 July 1951 – 25 October 2010)Thompson, p. 127. was a Jamaican reggae musician. Milo Miles, writing in ''The New York Times'', described Isaacs as "the most exquisite vocalist in reggae".Miles, Milo (1992),RECORDI ...

) *''Showdown Volume 2'' (Channel One) (Sugar Minott and Frankie Paul) ;Compilations: *''With Lots of Extra'' (1983, Hitbound) *''Best of Vol 1'' (1988, Black Roots) *''Collectors Collection Vol 1'' (1996, Black Roots) *''RAS Portrait'' (1997, RAS) *''Sugar Minott's Hidden Treasures'' (1999, Easy Star) *''Hard Time Pressure: Reggae Anthology'' (2011, VP Records) ;With the African Brothers:

References

External links

Roots Archive discography
* *

{{DEFAULTSORT:Minott, Sugar 1956 births 2010 deaths Singers from Kingston, Jamaica Jamaican reggae singers Jamaican male singers Island Records artists Easy Star Records artists VP Records artists Heartbeat Records artists The African Brothers members