Joe Gibbs worked as an electronics engineer in the United States before his… Read Full Bio ↴Joe Gibbs worked as an electronics engineer in the United States before his career in music started. Gibbs eventually returned to Kingston, Jamaica and opened an electrical repair shop with television repairs and sales as its main concern. It was in this shop that he first started to sell records. The fast growth of the local music scene encouraged him to get more involved in the music business, and in 1967 he started to record some artists in the back of his shop with a two-track tape machine, working with Lee Perry who had just ended his association with Clement "Coxsone" Dodd. In 1968, with the help of Bunny Lee, he launched his Amalgamated record label, and had his first success with one of the earliest rocksteady songs, Roy Shirley's "Hold Them"

When Perry decided to leave to start his own record label, Upsetters, Gibbs enrolled the young Winston "Niney" Holness (later known as Niney The Observer) who helped Gibbs maintain his productions at the top of the charts. During the rocksteady period until 1970, he had hit records with numerous artists including The Pioneers, Errol Dunkley, and Ken Parker. He also worked with backing bands such as Lynn Taitt and the Jets (including the organist Ansel Collins, and horns players Tommy McCook, Johnny "Dizzy" Moore, Bobby Ellis and Vin Gordon), or The Hippy Boys (featuring the Barrett brothers as the rhythm section).

He concentrated exclusively on the production of the then new reggae sound after his first international success "Love of the Common People" by Nicky Thomas (#9 in the UK Singles Chart in summer 1970) Gibbs still recorded the rock-steady artists that he had initially worked with; artists like The Ethiopians, Delroy Wilson, and The Heptones. The two volumes of his singles compilations The Heptones and Friends were bestsellers in Jamaica. During this period, he launched three new labels —Jogib, Shock, and Pressure Beat.

In 1972, after having moved his studio in the Duhaney Park district, he set up a new one at Retirement Crescent and started to work with sound engineer Errol Thompson, who used to be at Randy's Studio.Together they were known as "The Mighty Two", and along with his studio band The Professionals (including bassist Robbie Shakespeare, drummer Sly Dunbar and guitarist Earl "Chinna" Smith), they produced hundreds of singles, including the hits "Money In My Pocket" by Dennis Brown, "Ah So We Stay" by Big Youth and "Eviction" by Black Uhuru. The duo worked on over 100 Jamaican number one hits.

In 1975, he set up his new 16-track studio and record pressing plant and kept producing Jamaican artists under numerous label names (Crazy Joe, Reflections, Belmont, Town & Country). He had success again with roots reggae, rockers, lovers rock and Dub music artists including: Dennis Brown, Jacob Miller, Sylford Walker, The Mighty Diamonds, Gregory Isaacs, Prince Alla and Junior Byles.

The 1977 Culture album Two Sevens Clash was a major influence on the then emerging punk scene and an internationally acclaimed production. The album was cited by punk rock band The Clash. Other successful artists produced by the Mighty Two during the end of the 1970s include: Marcia Aitken, Althea & Donna, John Holt, Barrington Levy, Cornell Campbell, Dean Fraser, Delroy Wilson, Beres Hammond, Ranking Joe, Prince Jazzbo, Prince Mohammed, Dillinger, Trinity, Prince Far I, Clint Eastwood, I-Roy and Kojak & Liza.

In the 1980s, Gibbs had an international hit with J.C. Lodge's "Someone Loves You Honey" and again in the 1990s–2000s teamed up with Errol Thompson, and Sydney "Luddy" Crooks of The Pioneers, to produce some new music way into the new millennium. Before his death, Gibbs also went into business with Chris Chin of VP Records, which was one of his last business ventures.

He was not married when he died of a heart attack on 21 February 2008 and is survived by his 12 children.

My Best Dub
Joe Gibbs & The Professionals Lyrics

We have lyrics for these tracks by Joe Gibbs:

Money In My Pocket Money in my pocket but I just can't get no…
Money In My Pocket Version Money in my pocket but I just can't get no…
Turn Back The Hands Of Time Version Oh darling I'm so lonely without you Can't sleep at night…

We have lyrics for these tracks by The Professionals:

1-2-3 You don't know if I'm a jerk And you don't care…
Away Too Long If I Stay Too Long I might lose my life Oh whatever I'll rol…
Crescendo Keep on moving between the lines Keep on walking time after…
Friday Night Square Friday night, so letâ…

Has Anybody Got An Alibi Can anybody see you hanging on? No one seems to know…
Home from Home You've got your self destructive ways As you stare at…
Join The Professionals Yeah, I want to see the world for free But I…
Just Another Dream I'm always hoping, waiting for the day Something's going to…
Kamikaze Kamikaze* Don't you write your every attack for me Cause I d…
Kick Down the Doors Waiting for the other side You just say I never tried I…
Little Boys in Blue Little boys like you, they got a job to do In…
Mad House Everyday is the same in here I think I need some…
Madhouse Everyday is the same in here I think I need some…
Mods Skins Punks I remembered when they told you that you had to…
Northern Slide Watch the sun, I'm so bliss through the open morning…
Payola It's just a matter of losing and everyday I saw…
The Magnificent Everything will be alright when you touch the you in…

Too Far to Fall Oh no, it's you again crashing on the door Don't think…

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