Biography
Real name Earlando Arrington Neil. He got his name through gaining a reputation for arriving early in the dance, so Earlando became Early Bird and eventually just Early B(1). Originally trying his hand at a career as singer he decided to change his focus in 1978 when he started deejaying and soon met Cat-A-Rock, taking him as his protégé. Early B and Cat-A-Rock started deejaying for Soul Imperial Hifi and Crystal Blue Sound Systems in the early 80's. Not long after that they both left for King Majesty, with which they played over the St. Thomas-district. At this time he was also deejaying a bit for Stuart Browns sound system African Star, that was based in Toronto, Canada. The frustration over not getting enough of sessions with King Majesty when the sound owner was working with the sugar cane fields made Early B (and Cat-A-Rock) move to Killamanjaro Sound System. It was after the murder of Jim Kelly (brother of Junior Kelly) that the sound searched for anyone who could replace the deejay and they contacted Super Cat who joined the sound. Soon after that with the help of Super Cat, Early B also joined Killamanjaro.
In 1986 Early B was voted deejay of the year in Jamaica. He later moved to America.
Early B was shot on the 11th of December, 1994, at Windsor Cricket Club, Dorchester, Massachusetts. The sound who was playing was Jah Love with Briggy as deejay. Early B was hit by a stray bullet and was killed. September 26th, 2008 Richard Neil - son of Early B and Lorna Neil - was shot and murdered in what was believe to be a mugging gone wrong(2).
Early B Discography;
Solo Albums
| Title | label | Year | matrix/cat number | Country of issue | Comment (incl producer & format cd/LP) |
| Four Wheel No Real | Midnight Rock/Sonic Sounds | 1984 | | | |
| Wheely Wheely | Sunset | 1986 | | | |
| Sunday Dish | Blue Mountain Ent. | 1985 | LP BM 007 | | Matrix BM 008 on label. |
| Sunday Dish | Sunset | 1985 | | | |
| Ghostbuster | Sonic Sounds | 1985 | | | |
Featuring Albums
| Title | label | Year | matrix/cat number | Country of issue | Comment |
| Phillip Fanna Tackles The Doctor Early »B« | Style & Fashion | 198x | SFLP 001 | | Produced by Egland mcdowell & paul maxon (phillip fanna) |
| Triston Palma Meets Early B The Doctor | Fantastique | 198x | | | |
| My Friends Circle Jamaica (with Malibu) | J&M | 1985(?) | | | |
| Clash of the 80's Vol. 2 (with Josie Wales) | Corner Stone | 19xx | | | |
| Clash of the 80's Vol. 2 (with Josie Wales) | Sonic Sounds | 198x | | | |
Compilations
| Title | Year | Label | Matrix/Cat No | Comments |
| Immortal | | Black Solidarity | | |
| Tribute to Early B | | Corner Stone | | |
| Send In The Patient | 1998 | Culture Press | | Bootleg? |
| Early B - The Anthology | | | | |
| Early B The Doctor - A Memorial Tributed (sic) | 1998 | Roots & Culture Records | | CD |
12" Discos
| Side 1 | Side 2 | Label | Year | Matrix/Cat # | Country of issue | Comment |
| She Is My Woman (Delton Screechie) | Make Love To Me (as Early Brown) | Moa Anbessa | 1980 | MA 004 | UK | Produced by F Perch / Cleave Johnson |
| Nah Love Truck, Version | Live Blanket, Version (Malibu) | Style & Fashion | 1984 | | | Produced by S. Morgan & K. Johnson |
| Wheely Wheely | Bag Up (Delton Screechie) | 56 Hope Road | 198x | DSR4378A | | 1984? Matrix for bag up is DSR4347B |
| Blood Stain & Version (Neville Valentine) | Jah Free The Sling Ting & Version (Early B) | Libra Records | 1985 | | | Both songs on the Sleng Teng rhythm. Produced and arranged by Neville Valentine |
| G.I. Joe | Version | Energetic | 1985 | EN001 | | Produced by Desmond Rowe |
| Ghostbuster, Long Live The King (Captain Sinbad) | Everybody Get Ready (U Roy) | Black Solidarity | 1985 | | | |
| So Much Thing To Say (Lee Van Cliff), Rambo (Early B) | Christmas Style (Neville Valentine) | Libra Records | 1985 | | | Produced and arranged by Neville Valentine |
| Hotter Than Fire (with Josey Wales) | | Jahman Records | 1987 | DSR2901A | | |
| Jamming (Flourgon) | DJ Government | Hawkeye | 1989 | HD. 92 | | Produced by Witty |
| Untitled song & dub (Uncredited artist) | Untitled song (Uncredited artist) / Untitled deejay cut(Early B) | Peach Music | 198x | NM 001 | | Label without info. Side A might be Clair McLean & Norman Collins - Back Together Again. But a different cut that the one issued on Moa Anbessa. B-side is Early B with similar lyrics to Stop The Robbery and on a different rhythm. |
| Circle Jamaica, Version / | My Friends, Version (Malibu) | J&M | 198x | DSM 5984 / DSM 5985 | | |
| Imitator | | Black Solidatiry | 198x | BSI001A | | Ossie Thomas & Linval »Prince Jazzbo« Carter |
| Kill Them All and Come Back Alone (Mr. Palmer) | Abla | MAB (?) | 198x | MAB004 | | Produced by Bert Douglas |
| Romantic Fool (Thriller U), Gi God Trouble (Early B) | Pretty Looks (General Trees), Beat Down The Fence (Quench Aid) | Blacker Dread | 198x | BD88002 | | Produced by Fattis Burrell and plays 33 1/3 rpm. |
| Sensi Man (Bobby Melody) | Send In The Patient | Midnight Rock | 198x | VPRD 231 | | Produced by Jah Thomas |
| Don't Be Cruel / Version (Thriller U) | Board Box / Version | Love Injection | 1991 | | | Produced by Nooks and Mr. Doo |
10" Discos
| Side 1 | Side 2 | Label | Year | Matrix/Cat # | Country of issue | Comment |
| Righteous Rasta | Poor Man Plan | King Jam | | KJ 068 | | Bunny Hilton |
| Sometime Lover (Little John), Sebert | Man Shortage (Jim Nathalie), Man Crisis | Moa Anbessa | 1982 | MA 008 | | Cleave Johnson |
| Shirley | King Jam | | KJ 066 | JA | Produced and arranged by Bunny Hilton. |
| Sweet Africa (Delton Screechie) | History | King Jam | | KJ 064 | | |
7" Singles
| Side 1 | Side 2 | label | Year | matrix/cat number | Country of issue | Comment |
| A Trip To Mexico | Viaje Para Mejico | King Majesty Records | 198x | gg6980 | | |
| Nah Love Truck | Version | J&M | 1980 | DSR 7170 | JA | Junjo Lawes, Freedom Blues |
| Ghetto Soldier | Dub | Scandal | 1981 | DSR3757A | JA | Ansel Cridland |
| C. Bert | Dub | Super Star Posse | 1981 | DSR3300A | JA | Junjo Lawes, Freedom Blues |
| Nesta Marley | Professor - King's Version | Super Star Posse | 1981 | | JA | Winston Riley |
| C Bird Special | | Super Star Posse | 1982 | | | |
| Bicycle Bicycle | | Techniques | 1983 | DSR 3652 | JA | In The Groove-rhythm |
| History Of Jamaica | Deejay With Degree | Moa Anbessa | 1983 | MA 007 | | J. Nathalie, Catalogue number 0095 |
| Send In The Patient | | Midnight Rock | 1983 | VPRD 231-B | | J. Morgan & K. Johnson |
| Send In The Patient | | Ultra Sound | 1983 | | | |
| Visit Of King Selassie | | Midnight Rock | 1983 | | | Witty, Kuff-rhythm |
| Bicycle Bicycle | | Rosie Uprising | 1984 | | | |
| Gateman Get »Fraid« | Haul And Stop Dub | Black Solidarity | 1984 | | | G. Robertson, O. Thomas, T. Palma |
| Sunday Dish | | Midnight Rock | 1984 | | | Produced by Fattis Burrell |
| Wheely Wheely | | 56 Hope Road | 1984 | | | |
| Bible Story | Version (Junjo & The Volcano All-Stars) | Arrival | 1985 | A057 | | |
| Bible Story | Version (Junjo & The Volcano All-Stars) | Volcano | 1985 | | | |
| Ghostbusters | | Black Solidarity | 1985 | DSR 2803 | | |
| Learn Fi Drive | Learn Fi Dub | Midnight Rock | 1985 | | | |
| Learn Fi Drive | | Jammys | 1985 | | | |
| Pedestrian | Dub Pedestrian | Sunset | 1985 | DSR4300 | Jamaica | Jah Thomas production |
| Rambo | Version | EDM | 1985 | DSR 0572 | | |
| Righteous Rastaman | Version | Wheely Wheely Connection | 1985 | DSR 5161 title and PABLO | | |
| What A Haganay | | Black Scorpio | 1986 | #DSR 5555 | | S. Morgon & K. Johnson |
| Gi God Trouble | Version | Vena | 1987 | DSR A2426 | | Earlando Neil, D Lowe, M McKoy |
| Hotter Than Fire (with Josey Wales) | | Sonic Sounds | 1987 | | | |
| Hotter Than Fire (with Josey Wales) | | Jahman Records | 1987 | | | Jah Thomas |
| Pretty Girl | | J&M | 1987 | | | Jah Thomas |
| DJ Government | Version | Music Master | 1988 | | | |
| Come | | Romantic | 1990 | DSR 10392A | | |
| Shirley | See Me Yah Now (True Facts) | King Jam | 2004 | | | |
| Circle Jamaica | Version (Taxi Gang) | J&M | | DSR5331A #DSR 5351/ 5352, title and PABLO(etched in runout) | | Michael Chin … 1984? |
| DJ Origination | | Corner Stone | | | | Prod Michael McKoy |
| What A Blessing | Version | Corner Stone | | | | Jah Thomas |
Sources
(1) Interview with Simon Buckland from Echoes.
(2) http://www.nydailynews.com/news/ny_crime/2008/09/27/2008-09-27_brooklyn_dad_shot_dead_on_way_to_visit_5.html
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