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Lloyd Campbell

Page history last edited by PBworks 15 years, 6 months ago

Biography

Lloyd Campbell was born in Kingston Jamaica on June 4th 1948 and attended Greenwich Farm Primary school. As a youth of the age 12-13 Lloyd used to visit Sound System dances - mostly standing outside listening not being allowed to enter due to his tender age. It was his first inspiration to start getting in to the music. When he went to England in the early 1960's he got involved with the sound Tom the Great Sebastian. This in turn gave him inspiration to start his own sound Lloyd the Matador by the mid 60's. At this time he and his sound was based in Brixton, South London. At this time he also started showing interest in recording - cutting some songs with Rico Rodriguez, Joe Mansano and the latters group the Rudies. He also produced sides with Pat Rhoden and Winston Groovy.

 

By 1972 he had returned to Jamaica once again and recorder the group Rocking Horse that featured Keith Poppin. With Poppin he recorded the song »Same Thing For Breakfast« which was a sizeable hit. The song had originally been cut in England with Winston Groovy. He also recorded »I'm Your Puppet« in early '75 with Jimmy London that also would prove to be a hit. He also would record with singer Tyrone Taylor. Lloyd was by this time associating with a group of musicians that would form the core of the group Skin Flesh & Bones. In 1975 the group laid a track for vocalist Joy White on which she sang »Dread Out Deh«. The song had originally been written by singer Monica Sinclair but Lloyd instead chose Joy to sing it. The song became a hit on the international reggae market. The studios he used mostly to record at at this time were Randy's and North Parade.

 

In '75 he also recorded a remake of the rocksteady classic »Won't You Come Home« with Ronnie Davis singing it. The rhythm proved to be one of the most durable in reggae with the most known versions being the Itals »In A Dis Yah Time« or Yellowman and Fatheads »Operation Radication« as it is more commonly known. Lloyd Campbell versioned the rhythm himself at least 26 times.

 

Lloyd would enjoy further success with Joy White with her cover of Cat Stevens song »First Cut Is The Deepest« but also Merlene Webber and Earl George with the songs »Stand By Your Man« and »Soulful Lover« respectively.

 

With the group Skin Flesh & Bones he released the dub album »Fighting Dub« (1975). The label that released it, Love, was created through Jama records in England.

 

Lloyd is still active today as a produced and has had major successes with his Joe Frasier imprint. A rarity for a reggae producer to be reaping success through four decades of music.

 

In 1982 Lloyd had a massive hit with Yellowman and Fatheads song »Operation Radication« which lead to the production of the One In A Million (1984) album which was one of Yellowmans most critically acclaimed albums. He also produced the deejay Rappa Roberts debut album Come In A Dis! (Gorgon Records/Ethnic Fight, 1982).

 

Labels run by Lloyd Campbell

  • Spiderman
  • Joe Frasier
  • Eagle
  • Rattie Soul

 

Sources

  • Full Watts, Vol. 5, #3, Solid Rock, »Lloyd 'Spiderman' Campbell - Unmasked!«
  • Liner notes from Skin Flesh & Bones meet Revolutionaries - Fighting Dub 1975-1979 (2006, Hot Pot)

Comments (2)

Anonymous said

at 10:41 pm on Sep 14, 2008

His history from '75 and forward needs more information. His classic set with Yellowman needs some focus and that's quite easy but more information on his Joe Frasier imprint and late 80 to late 90's work is needed. Anyone that feels knowledgeable enough please step in.

raggaprincess@... said

at 4:59 pm on Oct 5, 2016

RIP Spiderman... October 4, 2016.

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