Completely satisfied instances are spilling over for Shinehead, who’s celebrating each the fortieth anniversary of his debut document “Billie Jean” and his birthday.
“The traditional recording on the African Love label signifies Shinehead’s unprecedented foray into the world of recorded music from sound techniques,” Caribbean leisure publicist Aptitude Lindsey, of Acclaim PR, informed Caribbean Life on Monday.
“Notably, the Michael Jackson cowl, together with different vibrant songs from Shinehead on the traditional riddim, helped catapult Shinehead to worldwide stardom,” she added. “There’s a variety of wealthy historical past behind ‘Billie Jean’ and the riddim, which Shinehead is anxious to share in the course of the year-long celebration.”
Shinehead stated: “To be blessed with a document, which has performed a pivotal position in reggae and dancehall music and tradition for 40 years, and one other yr of life in my youthful 60s are really milestones to me.”
Lindsey stated Shinehead, “a multihyphenate, who was born in England and raised in Jamaica and the Bronx,” obtained his begin performing stay with Tony Screw’s Downbeat the Ruler sound system and later African Love.
She stated Shinehead wowed new immigrants from Jamaica and different Caribbean nations with a mix of his speedy hearth deejaying, crooning of pop ballads, rapping Hip Hop fashion and even whistling.
“As ‘Billie Jean’ was first carried out by Shinehead stay on a sound system, the then rising artist integrated the respective methods into the debut document and finally his complete model,” Lindsey stated.
“The ‘Billie Jean’ riddim was a seamless match for Shinehead’s many abilities, as he crammed the sparse riddim along with his infectious musical kinds,” she added. “Either side used totally different mixes of the identical riddim. The riddim was minimal, incorporating a drum machine pushed easy sample, heavy snare accents, offbeat fills and a few keyboard stabs.
“It was the powerhouse bassline that rocked many a dancehall with its jarring and surprising impact — the riddim had an intense ‘Jamaican’ sound, however the slap of the snares had a layer of Hip Hop grit,” Lindsey continued. “The Shinehead impact was certainly natural. The inventive unimaginably remodeled two large US radio hits into one thing that was uniquely Shinehead, and furthermore, uniquely New York Jamaican.”
She stated Shinehead gained notoriety with the “Billie Jean” cowl and went on to launch his debut album “Tough & Rugged” in 1986.
Lindsey stated this LP included one other Michael Jackson cowl, “Girl in My Life,” which was additionally primarily based on the “Billie Jean” riddim and featured a whistle channeling Fiddler On The Roof’s “If I Have been a Wealthy Man!”
She stated “Tough & Rugged” scored widespread recognition in New York and finally reached mainstream listeners within the US, the UK and Jamaica.
On account of this success, Lindsey stated Shinehead grew to become the primary New York-based reggae artist to signal to a serious label when he signed a cope with Elektra Information.
Along with the fortieth anniversary of “Billie Jean”, different 2024 milestones embody the thirtieth anniversary of his album “Troddin” and twenty fifth Anniversary of the album “Praises,” Lindsey stated.
The charismatic entertainer, who launched the bangers “By no means Had a Dream Come True” and “The Makings of You” in the course of the pandemic, stated he’s overdue for brand new music.
“Whereas Shinehead envisions a Rocksteady venture this calendar yr, he’s additionally set on extra stay reveals, particularly following the thrill of his landmark ‘Welcome to Jamrock Reggae Cruise,’” Lindsey stated.
