Eddy Grant facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Eddy Grant
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Grant in Perth, Australia in 2009
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Edmond Montague Grant |
| Born | 5 March 1948 Plaisance, British Guiana (now Guyana) |
| Origin | London, England |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
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| Years active | 1965–present |
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Eddy Grant, whose full name is Edmond Montague Grant, was born on March 5, 1948. He is a talented singer, songwriter, and musician from Guyana and Britain. Eddy is famous for blending many different music styles, like pop, rock, soul, funk, and reggae. He also helped create a music style called "Ringbang".
He was a founding member of a band called the Equals. This was one of the first racially mixed pop groups in the United Kingdom. They are best known for their huge hit song, "Baby, Come Back", which Eddy wrote.
Later, as a solo artist, Eddy Grant had many hits. These include "I Don't Wanna Dance" (1982) and "Electric Avenue" (1983). "Electric Avenue" became his biggest international hit and even earned him a Grammy Award nomination. He is also well-known for his 1988 song "Gimme Hope Jo'anna", which spoke out against apartheid (a system of racial segregation) in South Africa.
Contents
Early Life and Moving to London
Eddy Grant was born in Plaisance, which was then called British Guiana. His father, Patrick, was a trumpet player. When Eddy was young, his parents moved to the United Kingdom for work. They sent money back for his education.
In 1960, when Eddy was 12, he moved to London to join his parents. He lived in Kentish Town and went to Acland Burghley School. There, he learned how to read and write music. He became a big fan of the musician Chuck Berry. After seeing Chuck Berry perform, Eddy decided he wanted a career in music.
Music Career Highlights
The Equals Band
In 1965, Eddy Grant helped form the band the Equals. He played guitar and sang background vocals. The band had some successful albums and a small hit song called "I Get So Excited." Then, in 1968, they had a number one hit with Eddy's song "Baby, Come Back". This song was so popular that it became a number one hit again in 1994 when another group, Pato Banton featuring UB40, covered it.
The Equals had five more top 40 hits in the UK until the end of 1970. One of their songs, "Police on My Back", which Eddy wrote, was later recorded by the famous punk rock band the Clash. Eddy also wrote and produced music for other artists during this time. He even started his own record label called Torpedo.
Starting Ice Records
On January 1, 1971, Eddy Grant had some health issues. Because of this, he left the Equals band. He decided to focus on producing music instead. In 1972, he opened his own recording studio called Coach House Studios. Then, in 1974, he started his own record label, Ice Records. This label helped him produce music for other artists, including his younger brother, Rudy.
Solo Success
Eddy Grant released his first solo album in 1975, but it didn't become very popular. His next album, Message Man (1977), was also not a big hit, even though Eddy played all the instruments himself.
His big break as a solo artist came two years later with the album Walking on Sunshine. This album included the song "Living on the Frontline," which became a top 20 hit in the UK. In 1980, he had another top 10 hit with "Do You Feel My Love".
From 1982 onwards, Eddy Grant lived in Barbados. That same year, he released his most successful album, Killer on the Rampage. This album featured his two biggest solo hits: "I Don't Wanna Dance" and "Electric Avenue". "I Don't Wanna Dance" was number one in the UK for three weeks. "Electric Avenue" reached number 2 in both the UK and the US.
After this, he had a quieter period. However, in 1988, he returned to the charts with "Gimme Hope Jo'anna". This song was a hit in the UK and was banned by the South African government because of its anti-apartheid message. In the late 1980s, Eddy also focused on other businesses, like music publishing and a nightclub. His Blue Wave studio became very popular and was used by famous bands like the Rolling Stones and artists like Sting.
Eddy Grant continued to release albums in the 1990s. In 1994, he introduced a new music style called "ringbang" at a festival in Barbados. He said that ringbang aims to bring together all the rhythms that came from Africa. In 2001, a new version of "Electric Avenue" became a top 5 hit in the UK. In 2006, he released the album Reparation, which called for restitution for the transatlantic slave trade. His most recent album, Plaisance, was released in 2017.
In 2008, Eddy Grant performed at Nelson Mandela's 90th birthday concert. He also played at the Glastonbury Festival in the UK. As of 2023, Eddy Grant has chosen not to have his music on most streaming platforms like Apple Music and Spotify. He does this to protest how these platforms pay artists. However, in early 2024, his album Killer on the Rampage, including the original "Electric Avenue," became available on streaming services again.
Copyright Lawsuit
In September 2020, Eddy Grant filed a lawsuit against a political campaign. This was because the campaign used his 1983 hit song "Electric Avenue" in a video without his permission. The video was shared online and viewed millions of times before it was taken down due to Eddy Grant's complaint.
Eddy Grant asked for money for the unauthorized use of his song. The campaign tried to have the lawsuit dismissed, saying they had the right to use the song. However, in September 2024, the court decided that the campaign did not have the right to use the song. The judge said the video was "a wholesale copying of music to accompany a political campaign ad." The court ruled that the campaign had to pay Eddy Grant damages, which would be decided by a jury, as well as his legal fees. In November 2024, both sides settled the lawsuit, meaning they reached an agreement outside of court. The details of the agreement were not made public.
Awards and Recognition
In 2016, Eddy Grant was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the government of Guyana. Before that, in 2005, the Guyana Post Office Corporation released a postage stamp featuring his picture and his Ringbang logo. Eddy Grant was also nominated for a Grammy Award for his song "Electric Avenue."
Discography
- Eddy Grant (1975)
- Message Man (1977)
- Walking on Sunshine (1979)
- Love in Exile (1980)
- Can't Get Enough (1981)
- Killer on the Rampage (1982)
- Going for Broke (1984)
- Born Tuff (1986)
- File Under Rock (1988)
- Barefoot Soldier (1990)
- Paintings of the Soul (1992)
- Soca Baptism (1993)
- Hearts and Diamonds (1999)
- Reparation (2006)
- Plaisance (2017)
See also
In Spanish: Eddy Grant para niños
- Black British people
- Music of Guyana
- Caribbean music in the United Kingdom
