Johnny Clarke

Profile: b. 1955, January 12th Kingston, Jamaica. Johnny Clarke's big success came in the 70's after he teamed up with producer Bunny Lee. Under Lee's tutelage during 1975-76, Clarke became the most exciting new singer in Jamaica. His repertoire, an astute mix of militant "dread" tunes and love songs, given a contemporary gloss or "style" by the Aggrovators studio band, found immediate favour with the discerning dancehall patrons of Jamaica and elsewhere. Lee encouraged him to cover classic Jamaican standards by artists such as John Holt and Bob Marley. Following this period, Clarke continued to record for Lee and other producers as diverse as Errol Thompson and King Jammy. He continued to lay tunes, in UK, at Ariwa Studios with Mad Professor in the mid 80s. During the 90s he recorded for Fashion Records, Jah Shaka in the UK, and the hitmaking production duo of Steely & Cleevie.