Nicodemus (b. Cecil Wellington, 1957, Jamaica) came to notoriety as a DJ in the late 70's as deejay on the Socialist Roots Sound System alongside the famous selector Danny Dread. His family having musical ties previously as Nicodemus brother is Blacka Morwell of the Morwells. In '78 Prince Jammy connected him with the Tape-Tone Hifi which found great success when Nicodemus joined the sound. The deejay won a strong following with his gruff voice that was in similar manner of Prince Far I or Prince Jazzbo but more in tune with rhythm riding younger deejay generation.
Nicodemus recorded several hits at Channel One and in '82 his first albums reached such as Gunman Connection (Cha Cha) where the title track was a sizeable hit, Dancehall Style (Black Joy), She Love It In The Morning (Hitbound) with striking cover art by Jamaal Pete and also the first part of Greensleeves DJ Clash series which he shared with Toyan.
The deejay would often be found featuring on sounds such as Virgo Hifi (a sound that he also would chat for in New York after it had migrated there in '82) and Jack Ruby's Hi Power.
The deejay was a popular all through the 80's recording what today are regarded as classic albums in the early 80's and also in the mid 80's for labels such as Skengdon.
Nicodemus would frequently travel to the US where he also recorded. A notable session of his earlier US-recordings is from a travel with fellow artists from Jack Ruby's Hi-Power in '83 - Bobby Culture, Louie Rankin, Brimstone & Fire. The result was the album Tidal Wave that featured an early version of Nicodemus PT. 109 that he would re-record in the mid 80's.
In '88 he recorded the album Cabin Stabbin with Supercat & Junior Demus which proved to be a success in the US.
Nicodemus passed away the 26th of August in '96 after diabetes complications.
There are several deejays that have been influenced by Nicodemus and taken after his style. The earliest one perhaps being Papa Keeble who was also known as Nicodemus Junior. The deejay Chaka Demus was also would also use the Nicodemus Junior moniker in his early career but would later be dubbed to Chaka Demus by Nico himself. There was also the deejay Junior Demus (b. Conrad McNish) who would take on the style and successfully evolve a minimalistic chatting approach to great effect.
Title | Label | Year | Catalog or Matrix No. | Country Of Issue | Comment/Riddim/Producer |
DJ Clash | Greensleeves | 1982 | GREL 32 | UK | split LP w/ Toyan; prod. by Henry 'Junjo' Lawes |
Gunman Connection | Cha Cha | 1982 | CHALP 0011 | UK | clear vinyl; prod. by Morwells |
She Love It In The Morning | Channel One | 1982 | JJ-064 | US | credited as 'Nicodimus'; prod. by M. Wellington & E. Lamont |
Nice Up The Dance | Clappers/Leaf Of Life | 1983 | LLPS 0001 | US | Features a song by the deejay Trinity (who is uncredited). Produced by M. Wellington, E. Lamont and John Murray. Backing is by Roots Radics. |
Dance Hall Style | Black Joy | 198x | DHLP2003 | UK | Album is credited to Niccodeemos. Productions by Prince Jammie and mixed at Tubby's. |
The Very Best Of | Serious Gold | 198X | US | ||
Nuff Respect | Skengdon | 1986 | US | ||
Serious Nicodemus: Chapter One | Sound System | 2007 | 5967-SERIOUS-1 | US | Album is a compilation of 80s works by Nicodemus. Produced by Blacka / Bingy / Flabba Holt at Channel One. Mixed by Scientist |
Serious Nicodemus: Chapter Two | Sound System | 2007 | 5967-LEAF-1 | US | Album is a compilation of 80s works by Nicodemus. Produced by Blacka / Bingy / Flabba Holt at Channel One. Mixed by Scientist |
Side 1 | Side 2 | Label | Year | Catalog or Matrix No. | Country Of Issue | Comment/Riddim/Producer |
How You Look Girl Pon The Street | Cha Cha | 1982 | CHAD 48 | UK | prod. by Morwell | |
Honey Honey (w/ General Gully) | Radix - Version | Claypot | 1982 | C.P. 005 | US | prod. by V. Blake |
Vex (w/ Daddy Citrus) | Dub | Dignitary Records | 1993 | DR-1001 | US | prod. by R. Barclay |
Wife & Sweetheart | Linval Thompson - Hold On To Your Girlfriend | Jah Guidance | 198X | VPRD 74 | US | prod. by ? |
Eagles Feather | Johnny Osbourne - Budy Bye | Jammy's | 1985 | DSR 5835/DSR 5836 | JA | sleng teng riddim; prod. by Jammy's |
Love In The Morning (w/ Leroy Sibbles) | Radix - Dub In The Morning | Micron | 198X | MICCAN 0043 | CAN | prod. by Leroy Sibbles |
Coke Seller / Ken Boothe - Love Is Real | Sly & Robbie & The Taxi Gang - Mor Well's Strikes | Mor Well Esq. | 1984 | MJW-001 | US | prod. by Morwell Records |
Nuh Touch The 9mm | Version | Reggae Vibes | 199X | PC 0020 | US | prod. by Delroy Francis |
The Title | Sea Breeze | 1992 | MB-009 | US | prod. by Michael Bryan | |
Let Me Go (w/ Roman Stewart) | Serious Gold | 1983 | 1005 | US | prod. by A. Johnson | |
Alien (Vocal Mix - Part One) (w/ Rev. Badoo & Roman Stewart) | Version - Part Two | Shelly's Records | 1990 | SRD-023 | US | prod. by Shelly |
I & I Perrogative (w/ Super Cat) | Version | Wild Apache | 199X | WAD-003 | US | prod. by W. Mirage |
Side 1 | Side 2 | Label | Year | Catalog or Matrix No. | Country Of Issue | Comment/Riddim/Producer |
DJ A Juck It | Mor Well Esq | JA | prod. by Mor-Well Records | |||
Dog Better Than Gun | Gorgon | JA | prod. by Jammy; credited as "Nicademous" | |||
I And I Perrogitive (w/ Super Cat) | Wild Apache | DSR A7121-A | Jamaica | prod. by Super Cat | ||
Jah A King Of Kings | Serious Version (by Mudie's All Stars | Moods International | 1992 | HM1036 A/B | Jamaica | prod. Harry Mudie. Let Me Tell You Boy rhythm |
Old Veteran | Old veteran Strings Mix | Moods International | 1997 | HM1040 A/B | Jamaica | prod. Harry Mudie. Leaving Rome rhythm |
Suzie Wong | Skengdon | 198X | JA | prod. by Kenneth Black & G. Olar; credited as "Nicodemous" | ||
The Best | Mor Well Esq | 1974 | JA | prod. by Mor-Well Records; credited as "Nicademos" | ||
Jamaican Rockers Hop (w/ Ranking Trevor) | Version | Papa Roots | 198X | jamaican rockers hop 001-A | JA | prod. by Lip & Danny Dread; credited as "Nickadimous"; Love Bump Riddim |
LP Title | Song(s) Featured | Label | Year | Catalog or Matrix No. | Country Of Issue | Comment/Riddim/Producer |