Leroy Sibbles facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Leroy Sibbles
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Leroy Sibbles performing at the Irie Music Festival in Toronto, Ontario, 2006
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| Background information | |
| Born | 29 January 1949 |
| Origin | Jamaica |
| Genres | Reggae |
| Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter, musician |
| Instruments | Vocals, bass guitar |
| Years active | 1960s–present |
| Labels | Studio One, Heartbeat, Trojan, Island, A&M, Micron |
| Associated acts | The Heptones, Sound Dimension, VP |
Leroy Sibbles (born Leroy Sibblies on January 29, 1949) is a talented Jamaican reggae musician and producer. He is best known as the lead singer for the famous group The Heptones during the 1960s and 1970s.
Besides singing with The Heptones, Leroy was also a very important bass guitar player and music arranger. He worked at Clement "Coxsone" Dodd's Studio One label in Jamaica. Many people say he was one of the most talented people in reggae music history.
Contents
Leroy Sibbles' Early Life and Music Journey
Leroy Sibbles grew up as the son of a grocer. He started singing in the 1950s. He also learned to play the guitar from Rastafarian musicians in Trench Town.
Joining The Heptones
In 1965, Leroy joined a group called The Heptones. This group was formed by Barry Llewellyn and Earl Morgan in 1958. Leroy joined them after their groups competed in a singing contest on the street.
The Heptones made their first songs in 1966. They recorded "School Girls" and "Gun Man Coming to Town." Even though these songs weren't big hits, "Gun Man Coming to Town" was played on the radio. After this, they started working with Clement "Coxsone" Dodd at his famous Studio One. They stayed there until 1971.
The Heptones' Influence
The Heptones became one of the most important groups during the rocksteady music era. Other popular groups at that time included The Pioneers and The Paragons. The Heptones had many popular songs like "Baby," "Get in the Groove," and "Party Time." Their music from Studio One was later put together on albums like The Heptones and On Top.
Leroy's Work at Studio One
Leroy Sibbles was not just a singer and songwriter. He also played a huge role as a bass player at Studio One in the late 1960s. The studio's keyboard player, Jackie Mittoo, encouraged Leroy to play the bass guitar.
Playing Bass for Famous Artists
When Jackie Mittoo left Studio One, Leroy took on more responsibilities. He helped find new singers, arranged music sessions, sang harmony, and played bass. He was part of the studio's house band, known as Sound Dimension or Soul Vendors. These musicians played the background music for many famous singers.
Leroy played bass on many classic reggae songs. Some of these include "Love Me Forever" by Carlton & The Shoes and "Satta Massagana" by The Abyssinians. He also played on the instrumental song "Full Up." This song's rhythm was later used for the worldwide hit "Pass the Dutchie" by Musical Youth.
The "Full Up" Bassline
The "Full Up" bassline is one of Leroy's most famous contributions. It became very popular around the world. Many reggae artists still use or refer to the rhythms and melodies that Leroy and others created during the rocksteady era. Leroy explained that his bass playing style involved playing the notes slightly behind the main beat. This gave the music a special feel.
Other talented musicians who worked at Studio One during this time included Richard Ace on keyboards and Ernest Ranglin on guitar.
Working with Other Producers and Solo Career
After leaving Studio One, Leroy Sibbles and The Heptones recorded music for many other producers. These included Lee Perry and Harry J.
International Success
The Heptones' music became known around the world thanks to Island Records. Albums like Night Food and Party Time helped them reach a wider audience.
As a solo artist, Leroy Sibbles worked with various producers. However, he mostly produced his own music. In 1973, Leroy moved to Canada, where he lived for twenty years. While in Canada, he won awards for his music, including a U-Know Award in 1983 and a Juno Award in 1987 for best reggae album.
He left The Heptones in 1976 during a tour in the United States. He recorded albums for A&M and Micron labels, such as Now and Strictly Roots. In 1990, he joined a group of Toronto musicians called Dance Appeal. They recorded a song called "Can't Repress the Cause" to support hip hop music in Canada.
Leroy continued to visit Jamaica and performed at the Reggae Sunsplash festival many times. He rejoined The Heptones in 1991. In 1996, he recorded "Original Full Up" with Beenie Man. Leroy Sibbles was also featured in the 2009 documentary Rocksteady: The Roots of Reggae. He continued to perform and record music into the 2010s.
Leroy's Production Work
In 2009, Leroy Sibbles started his own record label called Bright Beam. He began producing music for other singers like Sagitar and Chapter. He also produced his own songs, including a popular cover of "Harry Hippy."
Solo Discography
- Now (1980), Micron
- Strictly Roots (1980), Micron
- On Top (1982), Micron
- The Champions Clash (1985), Kingdom – with Frankie Paul
- Selections (1985), Leggo Sounds – also released as Mean While (1986), Attic
- It's Not Over (1995), VP
- Come Rock With Me (1999), Heartbeat
- Reggae Hit Bass Lines (2009), Ernie B
