Lee "Scratch" Perry facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lee "Scratch" Perry
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Perry performing in Munich, 2016
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Rainford Hugh Perry |
| Also known as | "Pipecock Jackson" "The Upsetter" |
| Born | 20 March 1936 Kendal, Jamaica |
| Origin | Kingston, Jamaica |
| Died | 29 August 2021 (aged 85) Lucea, Jamaica |
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| Years active | 1958–2021 |
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Lee "Scratch" Perry OD (born Rainford Hugh Perry; 20 March 1936 – 29 August 2021) was a famous Jamaican record producer, composer, and singer. He was known for his creative ways of making music in the studio.
Perry was a leader in developing dub music in the 1970s. He was one of the first to use remixing and special studio effects. He used these to create new instrumental or vocal versions of existing reggae songs. He worked with many artists, including Bob Marley and the Wailers, Beastie Boys, and The Clash.
Contents
Early Life
Rainford Hugh Perry was born on March 20, 1936, in Kendal, Jamaica. He was the third child of Ina Davis and Henry Perry. His mother had strong African traditions from her Yoruba family. She passed these traditions on to her son. His parents both worked hard, and his father later became a professional dancer.
Lee left school when he was 15. He lived in Hanover but did not like working much. He preferred to play dominoes and live life his own way. He later moved to Clarendon. There, he got involved in the dance and music scene. He earned the nickname "The Neat Little Thing."
Lee then moved to Kingston. He felt a special connection to stones, which he said guided him there. In Kingston, he learned about music production at Studio One.
Career
Starting Out in Music
Perry's music journey began in the late 1950s. He sold records for Clement Coxsone Dodd's sound system. He later did many important jobs at Dodd's Studio One studio. He recorded almost 30 songs for the label.
However, he had disagreements with Dodd over money and their personalities. So, he left the studio to find new music opportunities. He soon joined Joe Gibbs's Amalgamated Records.
Working with Gibbs, Perry continued to record music. But again, money problems caused conflicts. Perry left Gibbs and started his own label, Upsetter Records, in 1968. His first big song, "People Funny Boy," was an insult to Joe Gibbs. It sold very well, with 60,000 copies sold in Jamaica alone. This song was special because it used a sample of a crying baby. It also had a fast, chugging beat that soon became known as "reggae."
From 1968 to 1972, he worked with his studio band, the Upsetters. In the 1970s, Perry released many songs on his own record labels. Many of his songs were popular in Jamaica and the United Kingdom. His instrumental song "The Return of Django" was a top five hit in 1969. He became known for his new ways of producing music and his unique personality.
In 1970, Perry produced "Mr. Brown" for the Wailers. This song used unusual studio effects and a spooky opening. It showed his special way of making music.
The Black Ark Studio
In 1973, Perry built his own studio called the Black Ark in his backyard. This gave him more control over his music. He continued to produce famous musicians like Bob Marley and the Wailers, Junior Murvin, and the Congos. He also started the Black Ark record label. Many songs from his studio were released on this label.
With his own studio, Perry could spend as much time as he wanted on his music. He made his productions more detailed. He recorded almost everything at The Black Ark using simple equipment. But he used clever tricks to make the sound unique.
Perry worked as a mixing engineer for many years. He produced songs and albums that are considered highlights in reggae music history.
By 1978, stress and outside problems started to affect him. Both Perry and the Black Ark studio began to fall apart. Eventually, the studio burned down. Perry always said that he burned the Black Ark himself in a fit of anger.
After the Black Ark
After the Black Ark studio was destroyed in the early 1980s, Perry spent time in England and the United States. He performed live and made new music with different artists. His career changed in 1984 when he met Mark Downie. They worked together on the 1986 album Battle of Armagideon.
His career improved in the late 1980s. He started working with British producers Adrian Sherwood and Neil Fraser, also known as Mad Professor.
In 1998, Perry became known to more people around the world. He was the singer on the song "Dr. Lee, PhD" from the Beastie Boys' album Hello Nasty.
Later Career and Awards
In 2003, Perry won a Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album for his album Jamaican E.T.. In 2004, Rolling Stone magazine put Perry at number 100 on their list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.
He worked with Swiss musicians and toured the United States in 2006 and 2007. He also invited Andrew W.K. to help produce his album Repentance, released in 2008. This album featured guest artists like Moby.
In 2007, Perry's song "Enter the Dragon" was used in the song "Carrots" by Panda Bear. In 2011, Perry recorded Rise Again with producer Bill Laswell.
In 2008, Perry worked again with Adrian Sherwood on The Mighty Upsetter. Between 2007 and 2010, he recorded three albums with British producer Steve Marshall. These albums included performances by Keith Richards and George Clinton. Two of these albums, End of an American Dream (2008) and Revelation (2010), were nominated for Grammy Awards.
In 2009, Perry worked with Dubblestandart on their album Return from Planet Dub. He revisited some of his older songs and made new ones. He also worked with Subatomic Sound System on several dubstep songs. One of these was "Iron Devil" in 2008.
In 2010, Perry had his first art show in Los Angeles, California. The show was called "Secret Education" and featured his paintings and a video.
In 2011, a documentary film about Perry called The Upsetter was released. It was narrated by Benicio Del Toro. The film showed his life and music.
In 2012, Perry worked with the Orb to create The Orbserver in the Star House. This album was recorded in Berlin and received good reviews. The same year, Perry received Jamaica's sixth highest honor, the Order of Distinction.
Perry performed at the Dub Champions Festival in Vienna in 2013. He also performed at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, California.
Perry is featured as a DJ on "The Blue Ark" radio station in the video game Grand Theft Auto V. This station plays many of his dub songs. In October 2013, Perry was awarded a Gold Musgrave Medal by the Institute of Jamaica.
In May 2014, Perry released the album Lee "Scratch" Perry – Back on the Controls. It was recorded with Daniel Boyle in London. This album also received a Grammy nomination.
In 2015, a documentary called Lee Scratch Perry's Vision of Paradise was released. It showed his spiritual world and the building of his "Secret Laboratory" in Switzerland. This studio was later destroyed by fire in 2015.
In September 2015, Perry and Subatomic Sound System started a tour to celebrate the 40th anniversary of his 1976 album Super Ape. The tour was very successful. It ended with the release of the Super Ape Returns to Conquer album in 2017.
In October 2018, Perry and Subatomic Sound System began a tour for the 45th anniversary of his 1973 album Blackboard Jungle Dub. This album is known as the world's first dub album.
In 2019, a film called The Revelation of Lee "Scratch" Perry was released. It showed how his 2010 album Revelation was made. The film included scenes of Perry working in his home studio in the Swiss Alps.
In July 2019, Perry announced a new record with hip hop producer Mr. Green. The album, Super Ape vs. 緑: Open Door, combined over 20 different music styles. It reached the Top 10 on the iTunes reggae chart.
A few weeks before he passed away, Perry released his last song, "No Bloody Friends," on August 13, 2021. His final album was with New Age Doom, titled Lee "Scratch" Perry's Guide to the Universe (2021).
Personal Life
Perry lived in Switzerland with his wife, Mireille, and their two children. He had four other children named Cleopatra, Marsha, Omar, and Marvin (Sean) from other relationships. In 2015, his new studio in Switzerland, the "Secret Laboratory," was damaged by a fire. The fire also destroyed his stage costumes and unreleased music.
Death
Lee "Scratch" Perry passed away on August 29, 2021. He was 85 years old. He died at the Noel Holmes hospital in Lucea, Jamaica, from an illness that was not specified.
Discography
Albums
- The Upsetters – The Upsetter (1969)
- The Upsetters – Return of Django (1969)
- The Upsetters – Clint Eastwood (1970)
- The Upsetters – Many Moods of the Upsetters (1970)
- The Upsetters – Scratch the Upsetter Again (1970)
- The Upsetters – Eastwood Rides Again (1970)
- Lee "Scratch" Perry – Africa's Blood (1972)
- The Upsetters – Scratch the Upsetter – Cloak and Dagger (1973)
- The Upsetters – Rhythm Shower (1973)
- The Upsetters – 14 Dub Blackboard Jungle (1973)
- The Upsetters – Double Seven (1974)
- King Tubby Meets the Upsetter – At the Grass Roots of Dub (1974)
- The Upsetters – Musical Bones (1975)
- The Upsetters – Return of Wax (1975)
- The Mighty Upsetter – Kung Fu Meets the Dragon (1975)
- Lee Perry & The Upsetters – Revolution Dub (1975)
- The Upsetters – Super Ape (1976)
- Lee Perry – Roast Fish Collie Weed & Corn Bread (1978)
- The Upsetters – Return of the Super Ape (1978)
- Lee "Scratch" Perry – The Return of Pipecock Jackxon (1980)
- Lee "Scratch" Perry – Black Ark In Dub (1981)
- Lee "Scratch" Perry & The Majestics – Mystic Miracle Star (1982)
- Lee "Scratch" Perry – History, Mystery & Prophesy (1984)
- Lee 'Scratch' Perry and The Upsetters – Battle of Armagideon (Millionaire Liquidator) (1986)
- Lee 'Scratch' Perry + Dub Syndicate – Time Boom X De Devil Dead (1987)
- Lee "Scratch" Perry – Satan Kicked the Bucket (1988)
- Lee "Scratch" Perry with Mad Professor – Mystic Warrior (1989)
- Lee "Scratch" Perry with Mad Professor – Mystic Warrior Dub (1989)
- Lee "Scratch" Perry – Message from Yard (1990)
- Lee "Scratch" Perry – From the Secret Laboratory (1990)
- Lee "Scratch" Perry Meets Bullwackie – Satan's Dub (1990)
- Lee "Scratch" Perry – Spiritual Healing (1990)
- Lee "Scratch" Perry – Lord God Muzik (1991)
- Lee "Scratch" Perry – The Upsetter and the Beat (1992)
- Lee "Scratch" Perry & Mad Professor – Black Ark Experryments (1995)
- Lee "Scratch" Perry – Experryments at the Grass Roots of Dub (1995)
- Lee "Scratch" Perry featuring Mad Professor/Douggie Digital/Juggler – Super Ape Inna Jungle (1996)
- Lee "Scratch" Perry – Who Put the Voodoo Pon Reggae (1996)
- Mad Professor & Lee " Scratch" Perry – Dub Take the Voodoo Out of Reggae (1996)
- Lee "Scratch" Perry – Technomajikal (1997)
- Lee "Scratch" Perry – Dub Fire (1998)
- Lee "Scratch" Perry – Fire in Dub (1998)
- Lee "Scratch" Perry – On the Wire (2000)
- Mad Professor & Lee "Scratch" Perry – Techno Party (2000)
- Lee "Scratch" Perry & Niney the Observer – Station Underground Report (2001)
- Lee "Scratch" Perry – Jamaican E.T. (2002)
- Lee "Scratch" Perry – Alien Starman (2003)
- Lee "Scratch" Perry and the Whitebellyrats – Panic in Babylon (2004)
- Lee "Scratch" Perry – End of an American Dream (2007)
- Lee "Scratch" Perry – The Mighty Upsetter (2008)
- Lee "$cratch" Perry – Repentance (2008)
- Lee "Scratch" Perry – Scratch Came Scratch Saw Scratch Conquered (2008)
- Lee "Scratch" Perry & Adrian Sherwood – Dub Setter (2009)
- Lee "Scratch" Perry – The Unfinished Master Piece (2010)
- Lee "Scratch" Perry – Revelation (2010)
- Lee "Scratch" Perry & Bill Laswell – Rise Again (2011)
- Lee "Scratch" Perry – Master Piece (2012)
- Lee "Scratch" Perry & ERM – Humanicity (2012)
- The Orb feat. Lee "Scratch" Perry – The Orbserver in the Star House (2012)
- The Orb feat. Lee "Scratch" Perry – More Tales from the Orbservatory (2013)
- Lee "Scratch" Perry – Back on the Controls (2014)
- Lee "Scratch" Perry & Pura Vida – The Super Ape Strikes Again (2015)
- Lee "Scratch" Perry – Must Be Free (2016)
- Lee "Scratch" Perry – Science, Magic, Logic (2017)
- Lee "Scratch" Perry & Subatomic Sound System – Super Ape Returns to Conquer (2017)
- Lee "Scratch" Perry – The Black Album (2018)
- Lee "Scratch" Perry – Alien Dub Massive (2019)
- Lee "Scratch" Perry & Woodie Taylor – Big Ben Rock (2019)
- Lee "Scratch" Perry – Rainford (2019)
- Lee "Scratch" Perry & Mr. Green – Super Ape vs. 緑: Open Door (2019)
- Lee "Scratch" Perry – Life of Plants (2019)
- Lee "Scratch" Perry – Heavy Rain (2019)
- Lee "Scratch" Perry – Live in Brighton (2020)
- Lee "Scratch" Perry – Lee Scratch Perry Presents The Full Experience (2020)
- Lee "Scratch" Perry and Spacewave – Dubz of the Root (2021)
- Lee "Scratch" Perry & Ral Ston – Friends (2021)
- Lee "Scratch" Perry & Ral Ston & Scientist – Scratch & Scientist Meet Ral Ston To Conquer The Evil Duppies (2021)
- Lee "Scratch" Perry & New Age Doom – Lee "Scratch" Perry's Guide to the Universe (2021)
Compilation Albums
- DIP Presents the Upsetter (1975)
- Scratch on the Wire (1979)
- The Upsetter Collection (1981)
- Megaton Dub (1983)
- Arkology (1997)
- Ape-ology (2007)
- King Scratch Musical (2022)
Other Music Appearances
- Co-wrote "Police and Thieves" with Junior Murvin. The Clash later covered this song.
- "The Only Alternative" on the album Roots of Innovation – 15 And X Years On-U Sound (1994) by Dub Syndicate.
- "Dr. Lee, PhD" on the album Hello Nasty (1998) by Beastie Boys.
- Appeared on two songs on the album Whaa! (2005) by Zuco 103.
- Starred in a series of Guinness advertisements (2008).
- Appeared on two songs on the album Nairobi meets Mad Professor: Wu Wei (2009) by Nairobi.
- Appeared on the song Golden Clouds (2012) by The Orb.
- Appeared on the album Aquarium in Dub (2020) by Aquarium.
- Appeared on the album Sly & Robbie vs Roots Radics - The Final Battle (2019).
- Appeared on the album Sly & Robbie vs Roots Radics - The Dub Battle (2021).
Films About Lee Perry
- Lee Perry: Return of the Super Ape by Rick Elgood and Don Letts.
- Lee Scratch Perry's Vision of Paradise (2015) directed by Volker Schaner.
- Scratch in Deutschland (1992).
- Ich sende aus dem All (1995).
- The Upsetter (2011) narrated by Benicio del Toro.
- Tracks: Lee Perry (2005) by Arte.
Music Videos
- Jesus Perry Live (2013)
- Golden Clouds (2012) with The Orb
- Lee Scratch Perry: The Unlimited Destruction (2002)
- Lee Scratch Perry: In Concert – The Ultimate Alien (2003)
- Lee Scratch Perry with Mad Professor (2004)
- Roots Rock Reggae – Inside the Jamaican Music Scene (1977)
- Carrying the Swing (1998)
- Reggae: The Story of Jamaican Music (Part 2 – Rebel Music) (2002)
- Rock & Roll – Punk (1995)
- Tribute to Sister D (1995)
- Portraits of Jamaican Music (2003)
- Jools in Jamaica
- Full Moon, plant a tree
- The Gates of dub
Images for kids
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Perry performing in Munich, 2016
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Perry performing in 1998
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Perry in 2009
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Perry performing in Saint Petersburg, Russia, in August 2015
