LOS ANGELES – Completely happy instances are spilling over for Shinehead, who’s celebrating each the fortieth Anniversary of his debut file “Billie Jean” and his birthday! The basic recording on the African Love label signifies Shinehead’s unprecedented foray into the world of recorded music from sound techniques. Notably, the Michael Jackson cowl, together with different vibrant songs from Shinehead on the basic riddim, helped catapult Shinehead to worldwide stardom. 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 yr lengthy celebration.
International music star Shinehead is celebrating the fortieth Anniversary of his debut file “Billie Jean” and his birthday. (Picture Credit score: Allyson Ione)
“To be blessed with a file, 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 actually milestones to me,” says Shinehead gratefully.
Shinehead, a multihyphenate who was born in England and raised in Jamaica and the Bronx, obtained his begin performing dwell with Tony Screw’s Downbeat the Ruler sound system and later African Love. 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 model and even whistling, As “Billie Jean” was first carried out by Shinehead dwell on a sound system, the then rising artist included the respective strategies into the debut file and finally his whole model.
“Billie Jean” Riddim
“Billie Jean” was a favourite amongst followers, music fans and naturally, sound boys. From the whistled begin (a la Sergio Leone’s “The Good, the Dangerous, and the Ugly”) to pitch good imitations of Michael Jackson’s yelps and a lovely, but uncooked, voice that spoke of a profound admiration for Pop excellence. Shinehead’s rendition of UK R&B artist Junior’s “Mama Used to Say” on the flip facet of the “Billie Jean” 12 inch additional cemented his legendary standing as a musician. The latter equally beamed with a gap whistle. This time round, the various artist drew for the sung intro to Tenor Noticed’s “Who’s Gonna Assist Me (Reward Jahovia).”
“If ever there was a riddim constructed for an artist – Billie Jean was constructed for Shinehead,” says music journalist Jeremy Freeman for www.dub-stuy.com.
The Billie Jean riddim was a seamless match for Shinehead’s many expertise, as he stuffed the sparse riddim together with his infectious musical kinds. Each side used completely 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 it’s jarring and surprising impact — the riddim had an intense “Jamaican” sound, however the slap of the snares had a layer of Hip Hop grit.
Shinehead Impact
The Shinehead impact was certainly organic. The inventive unimaginably reworked two large US radio hits into one thing that was uniquely Shinehead, and furthermore, uniquely New York Jamaican. Shinehead gained notoriety with the ‘Billie Jean’ cowl and went on to launch his debut album “Tough & Rugged” in 1986. This LP included one other Michael Jackson cowl, “Woman 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!”
“Tough & Rugged” scored widespread recognition in New York and finally reached mainstream listeners within the US, the UK, and Jamaica. Because of this success, Shinehead grew to become the primary New York-based Reggae artist to signal to a significant label when he signed a take care of Elektra Data.
Shinehead Milestones
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.” 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, says he’s overdue for brand spanking new music. Whereas Shinehead envisions a Rocksteady challenge this calendar yr, he’s additionally set on extra dwell reveals, particularly following the excitement of his landmark “Welcome to Jamrock Reggae Cruise.”