Lee "Scratch" Perry (born Rainford Hugh Perry, on 20th March 1936, in Kenda… Read Full Bio ↴Lee "Scratch" Perry (born Rainford Hugh Perry, on 20th March 1936, in Kendal, Jamaica; died 29 August 2021, in Jamaica) was one of the most influential people in the development of reggae and dub music in Jamaica.
Perry began his career in the late 1950s working with Clement Coxsone Dodd's sound system. He eventually performed a variety of important tasks at Studio One as well as recording about thirty songs, but the pair eventually stopped working together due to personality and financial conflicts.
Working with Joe Gibbs, Perry continued his recording career, but once again, financial problems caused conflict. Perry broke ranks with Gibbs and formed his own label, Upsetter, in 1968. His first single "People Funny Boy", which was an insult directed at Gibbs, sold very well. It is notable for its innovative use of a sample (a crying baby) as well as a fast, chugging beat that would soon become identifiable as "reggae" (the new sound did not really have a name at this time). During the 1970s, Perry released numerous recordings on a variety of record labels that he controlled, and many of his songs were popular in both Jamaica and the U.K. He soon became known for his innovative production techniques as well as his eccentric character.
In the early 1970s, Perry was one of the producers whose mixing board experiments resulted in the creation of dub. In 1973, Perry built a studio in his back yard, The Black Ark, to have more control over his productions and continued to produce notable musicians such as Bob Marley & the Wailers, Junior Byles, The Heptones, and Max Romeo. With his own studio at his disposal, Perry's productions became more lavish, as the energetic producer was able to spend as much time as he wanted on the music he produced. It is important to note that virtually everything Perry recorded in The Black Ark was done using rather basic recording equipment; through sonic sleight-of-hand, Perry made it sound completely unique. Perry remained behind the mixing desk for many years, producing songs and albums that stand out as a high point in reggae history. By 1978, stress and unwanted outside influences began to take their toll: both Perry and The Black Ark quickly fell into a state of disrepair. Eventually, the studio burned to the ground. Perry has constantly insisted that he burned the Black Ark himself in a fit of rage, but it was most likely an accident caused by faulty wiring. After the demise of the Black Ark in the early 1980s, Perry spent time in England and the United States, performing live and making erratic records with a variety of collaborators. It was not until the late 1980s that Perry's career began to get back on solid ground again, after working with British producers Adrian Sherwood and Neil Fraser, better known as Mad Professor.
Perry lived in Switzerland for a while with his wife Mireille Campbell-Rüegg and two children. He continued to record and perform to enthusiastic audiences in Europe and North America late into his life. His later music is a far cry from his reggae days in Jamaica; many saw this part of Perry's career as more of a performance artist in several respects. In 2003, Perry won a Grammy for Best Reggae Album with the album Jamaican ET. He teamed up with a group of Swiss musicians and perform under the name Lee Perry and the White Belly Rats. in 2015, Perry’s recording studio in Switzerland was damaged by a fire that destroyed various unreleased recordings and some of his stage gear. In 2020 Perry moved with his wife to Jamaica, where he died on 29 August 2021.
Perry began his career in the late 1950s working with Clement Coxsone Dodd's sound system. He eventually performed a variety of important tasks at Studio One as well as recording about thirty songs, but the pair eventually stopped working together due to personality and financial conflicts.
Working with Joe Gibbs, Perry continued his recording career, but once again, financial problems caused conflict. Perry broke ranks with Gibbs and formed his own label, Upsetter, in 1968. His first single "People Funny Boy", which was an insult directed at Gibbs, sold very well. It is notable for its innovative use of a sample (a crying baby) as well as a fast, chugging beat that would soon become identifiable as "reggae" (the new sound did not really have a name at this time). During the 1970s, Perry released numerous recordings on a variety of record labels that he controlled, and many of his songs were popular in both Jamaica and the U.K. He soon became known for his innovative production techniques as well as his eccentric character.
In the early 1970s, Perry was one of the producers whose mixing board experiments resulted in the creation of dub. In 1973, Perry built a studio in his back yard, The Black Ark, to have more control over his productions and continued to produce notable musicians such as Bob Marley & the Wailers, Junior Byles, The Heptones, and Max Romeo. With his own studio at his disposal, Perry's productions became more lavish, as the energetic producer was able to spend as much time as he wanted on the music he produced. It is important to note that virtually everything Perry recorded in The Black Ark was done using rather basic recording equipment; through sonic sleight-of-hand, Perry made it sound completely unique. Perry remained behind the mixing desk for many years, producing songs and albums that stand out as a high point in reggae history. By 1978, stress and unwanted outside influences began to take their toll: both Perry and The Black Ark quickly fell into a state of disrepair. Eventually, the studio burned to the ground. Perry has constantly insisted that he burned the Black Ark himself in a fit of rage, but it was most likely an accident caused by faulty wiring. After the demise of the Black Ark in the early 1980s, Perry spent time in England and the United States, performing live and making erratic records with a variety of collaborators. It was not until the late 1980s that Perry's career began to get back on solid ground again, after working with British producers Adrian Sherwood and Neil Fraser, better known as Mad Professor.
Perry lived in Switzerland for a while with his wife Mireille Campbell-Rüegg and two children. He continued to record and perform to enthusiastic audiences in Europe and North America late into his life. His later music is a far cry from his reggae days in Jamaica; many saw this part of Perry's career as more of a performance artist in several respects. In 2003, Perry won a Grammy for Best Reggae Album with the album Jamaican ET. He teamed up with a group of Swiss musicians and perform under the name Lee Perry and the White Belly Rats. in 2015, Perry’s recording studio in Switzerland was damaged by a fire that destroyed various unreleased recordings and some of his stage gear. In 2020 Perry moved with his wife to Jamaica, where he died on 29 August 2021.
Justice to the People
Lee "Scratch" Perry Lyrics
We have lyrics for these tracks by Lee "Scratch" Perry:
African Herbsman All twinklin' lee Can't see the right roads when the streets…
At The End At the end of the rainbow You'll find a pot of…
Baby Baby Thank you boys…
Babylon It sipple out deh! War inna babylon, tribal war inna Babylo…
Bird in Hand Milte hi aankhein dil hua deewana kissi ka Milte hi aankhei…
Brand New Second Hand You're only acting like You are somebody But i don't no say …
Chase the Devil Lucifer son of the mourning, I'm gonna chase you out…
Curly Locks Curly Locks, now that I'm a dreadlocks Your mama say you…
Disco Devil Lucifer son of the mourning, I'm gonna chase you out…
Duppy Conqueror Yes, me friend, me friend Dem set me free again Yes, me…
Fever Never know how much I love you Never know how much…
Gumma Oh lady, I swear…
Higher Level Let's get it right or let be no more... Let's…
History He got kicked in the back He say that he needed…
I Am The Upsetter Why're you so gravelicious? Yeah-hey Why're you so covetous?…
I Chase The Devil Lucifer son of the mourning, I'm gonna chase you out…
Inspector Gadget I, I, I etc Inspector gadget come back in this rocket Inspec…
Keep On Moving Lord, I've got to keep on moving Lord, I've got to…
Magic Touch Somebody better call a doctor, doctor Or wake me up with…
Mr. Brown (Ooh - ooh - ooh - ooh) (It's Mr Brown) Mr…
My Girl I've got sunshine on a cloudy day When it's cold outside…
One Step Forward Ooh yeah ooh yeah Na na na na na na Ooh yeah…
People Funny Boy why, why people funny bwoy now that you reach the top an'…
Perry in Dub Milte hi aankhein dil hua deewana kissi ka Milte hi aankhei…
Police & Thieves Police and thieves in the streets Oh yeah! Scaring the nat…
Police and Thieves Mmmm yes Police and thieves in the street (oh yeah) Fightin…
Public Enemy Number One Satan is public enemy number one Wanted dead or alive for…
Pussy Man Dancin on the dance floor Girl it's you that I adore Step…
Rastafari Pǎomǎ liū liū de shān shàng, yī duǒ liū liū…
Revelation Dub It sipple out deh War inna Babylon, tribal war inna Babylon…
Rightful ruler Kibir amlak Qedamawi ras fetari Qedamawi iyesus kristos L…
Roast Fish & Cornbread Clip, clop Cloppity cloppity cloppity cloppity high Clip…
Set Me Free Set me free (x3) Stop tearing up my heart Tearing me…
Small Axe Why boasteth thyself, O evil men Playing smart and-a not be…
Soldier And Police War Police and thieves in the streets, oh yeah Scaring the nati…
Soul Fire Soul fire I got soul fire I got soul fire And we ain't…
Soul Rebel I'm a rebel, soul rebel I'm a capturer, soul adventurer I'm …
Stand in Love There you are, cryin' again But your loveliness won't cover …
Stay Red When I seen him in the dance club No lie, boost…
Sufferer Time is slippin' away And I and I no reach high…
Sun is Shining Sun is shining, the weather is sweet Make you want to…
The Upsetter Why you so gravelicious? Yee-heey Why you so covetus? Yee-he…
Throw Some Water In Throw Some Water In Oh ah Oh babbadeeda Oh ah Oh babbadeeda…
To Be a Lover Have I told you lately that I love you? Well, if…
War in a Babylon It sipple out deh War inna Babylon, tribal war inna Babylon…
Why Must I Each day is so hard, please help me, Lord I just…
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