Vivian Jackson (14 August 1946 – 12 January 2010) better known as Yabby You… Read Full Bio ↴Vivian Jackson (14 August 1946 – 12 January 2010) better known as Yabby You (or sometimes Yabby U), was a reggae vocalist and producer, who came to prominence in the early 1970s through his uncompromising, self-produced work.
Jackson was born in the Waterhouse district of Kingston, Jamaica in 1946. One of seven children, Jackson left home at the age of twelve to find work at a furnace in Waterhouse. At seventeen, the effects of malnutrition had left him hospitalized, and on his release he was left with severe arthritis which had partially crippled his legs. His physical condition meant that he was unable to return to his previous work, and he was forced into hustling a living on the streets of Kingston.
His beliefs were markedly different from that of his Rastafarian contemporaries, believing in the divinity of Jesus rather than Haile Selassie I, earning him the nickname 'Jesus Dread'; This often prompted debate on religio-philosophical matters, and it was after one of these discussions that Jackson first headed towards a recording studio, having heard music "like a strange ting, inside a my thoughts - like an angel a sing".
Another spell in hospital meant that finding money for recording was difficult, but eventually the "Conquering Lion" single was released late in 1972, credited to 'Vivian Jackson and the Ralph Brothers'. Cut for King Tubby, the popularity of the song and its distinctive introduction (the chant of "Be-you, yabby-yabby-you") earned Jackson the nickname "Yabby You", which has remained with him during his entire career.
The next few months saw the recording of several more singles, released under different names on various record labels, (although usually credited to 'Vivian Jackson and the Prophets', and often featuring a King Tubby 'version' on the b-side); culminating in the release of the Conquering Lion album. A King Tubby mixed dub set, King Tubby's Prophesy of Dub, was also issued, albeit on a limited run of 500 copies, helping to establish Jackson as a roots artist.
Yabby's success allowed him to branch out as a producer, and he began working with both upcoming and more established artists including Wayne Wade, Michael Rose, Tommy McCook, Michael Prophet, Big Youth, Trinity, Dillinger and Tapper Zukie, while continuing to release his own material.
Jackson continued to record, produce and perform (often with the aid of crutches) until the mid-1980s. He re-emerged in the early 1990s, issuing both new and old material, and his recordings have been the subject of several high quality reissues in recent years. In 2000 he released a singles remix project with Glen Brown. The album included remixes of "Conquering Lion" by Smith and Mighty, and a remix of Glen Brown by Small Axe and Terminal Head.
He died on 12 January 2010, aged 63, after suffering a ruptured brain aneurysm.
Partial Discography:
Conquering Lion / Version (Prophet) (1972, Single)
Conquering Lion (Micron) (1975, LP)
Jesus Dread (1972-1977) (Blood And Fire)
Dub It to the Top: 1976-1979 (Blood And Fire)
Dread Prophecy: The Strange and Wonderful Story of Yabby You (Shanachie)
Jackson was born in the Waterhouse district of Kingston, Jamaica in 1946. One of seven children, Jackson left home at the age of twelve to find work at a furnace in Waterhouse. At seventeen, the effects of malnutrition had left him hospitalized, and on his release he was left with severe arthritis which had partially crippled his legs. His physical condition meant that he was unable to return to his previous work, and he was forced into hustling a living on the streets of Kingston.
His beliefs were markedly different from that of his Rastafarian contemporaries, believing in the divinity of Jesus rather than Haile Selassie I, earning him the nickname 'Jesus Dread'; This often prompted debate on religio-philosophical matters, and it was after one of these discussions that Jackson first headed towards a recording studio, having heard music "like a strange ting, inside a my thoughts - like an angel a sing".
Another spell in hospital meant that finding money for recording was difficult, but eventually the "Conquering Lion" single was released late in 1972, credited to 'Vivian Jackson and the Ralph Brothers'. Cut for King Tubby, the popularity of the song and its distinctive introduction (the chant of "Be-you, yabby-yabby-you") earned Jackson the nickname "Yabby You", which has remained with him during his entire career.
The next few months saw the recording of several more singles, released under different names on various record labels, (although usually credited to 'Vivian Jackson and the Prophets', and often featuring a King Tubby 'version' on the b-side); culminating in the release of the Conquering Lion album. A King Tubby mixed dub set, King Tubby's Prophesy of Dub, was also issued, albeit on a limited run of 500 copies, helping to establish Jackson as a roots artist.
Yabby's success allowed him to branch out as a producer, and he began working with both upcoming and more established artists including Wayne Wade, Michael Rose, Tommy McCook, Michael Prophet, Big Youth, Trinity, Dillinger and Tapper Zukie, while continuing to release his own material.
Jackson continued to record, produce and perform (often with the aid of crutches) until the mid-1980s. He re-emerged in the early 1990s, issuing both new and old material, and his recordings have been the subject of several high quality reissues in recent years. In 2000 he released a singles remix project with Glen Brown. The album included remixes of "Conquering Lion" by Smith and Mighty, and a remix of Glen Brown by Small Axe and Terminal Head.
He died on 12 January 2010, aged 63, after suffering a ruptured brain aneurysm.
Partial Discography:
Conquering Lion / Version (Prophet) (1972, Single)
Conquering Lion (Micron) (1975, LP)
Jesus Dread (1972-1977) (Blood And Fire)
Dub It to the Top: 1976-1979 (Blood And Fire)
Dread Prophecy: The Strange and Wonderful Story of Yabby You (Shanachie)
Greetings
Yabby You Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'Greetings' by these artists:
Bill Hicks Chicago Chicago 18 Forever (Robert Lamm, Bill Gable) 1986 Fi…
Bob Marley & The Wailers Yeah Greetings in the name of his imperial majesty Emperor I…
Broadcast No. 1 So I guess this is what it's like for one…
Burning Spear Yes, greetings Yes, greetings Black Jah, black Jah come …
C.M.C. I need to make sure I perfect the script For every…
Commoners and Kings This is kona gold of the hawaiian islands... Right now mci…
Devin Townsend From my world, I bring you greetings From our world, I…
El-Capris Greetings to the new world Mr. Fly Greetings Este rique se …
Escoe Everybody like man You gunna have to dumb it down Too far ah…
Halcyon Days Verse Now is the hour It's time for you to pay the…
Half Pint [Intro:] You live the life you love You love the life you…
Hamza El Din بسم الله الرحمان الرحيم لا سلام لا جواب يا اعز حبيب ايه…
Jah I Ras Greetings in the Name of majesty Kings of kings, lord of lor…
Kiss Kiss Kiss One, Two, Three, Four I was born amongst the flowers My eye…
Low F.M I need to make sure I perfect the script For every…
Mutilator He fought and also did it for you But for you…
P.O.D. greetings. redrains and sistrains. the P.O.D. comin' at ya…
P.O.D.(Payable on Death) greetings. redrains and sistrains. the P.O.D. comin' at ya, …
PUSHIM さあ おいでよ そんなにどこに急いで行くの 雨の空も ないのに どうして傘を持つの 朝と夜と 君にはどちらが大切なの ま…
Ravyn I thought the first thing you say When you walked my…
Riff Cohen لا سلام لا جواب يا أعز حبيب ايه الأسباب عن عينى…
Sean Riley & The Slowriders Greetings from New York, got the world on a string Radio…
Settle For Less I'm exhausted I think I've lost it I think it's time to…
Smart Move Music Australia Greeting 唱: Smart Move Music Australia 曲: Traditional 詞: T…
StickyNote Me and Kurt feel the same, too much pleasure is…
SunYe 이번엔 진짠가요 몇 번을 헤어졌지만 결국엔 다시 또 돌아왔잖아요 이번엔 진짠가요 이제는 알잖아요 사랑을 하…
The Monitors Greetings This is Uncle Sam I want to take you To a far…
The Valadiers Greetings This is Uncle Sam I want to take you To a far…
VINXIS While I have been gone through that road While they are…
Yabby U Meets Sly And Robbie Greetings from paradise and a bottle of rum Fresh out the…
ריף כהן لا سلام لا جواب يا أعز حبيب ايه الأسباب عن عينى…
We have lyrics for these tracks by Yabby You:
Anti Christ Them say them love And them live in hate Them say no…
Anti-Christ Them say them love And them live in hate Them say no…
Conquering Lion Be You Yabby Yabby You Be You Yabby Yabby You Lala la lala l…
Deliver Me From My Enemies Deliver me, oh my God, from my enemies Oh, I flee…
How Long Stood along this lonely track Watching the trains speed alo…
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
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