Amos Edwards (born 13 December 1960)[1][2][3][4] better known by his stage name General Trees, is a Jamaicandancehalldeejay who was considered one of the most popular deejays of the 1980s, best known for his hits in the latter half of the decade.
Born in Drews Land, Kingston, on December 13, 1960, General Trees is widely regarded as the best Jamaican speed rapper of his era, the "fast style" of delivery commonly accepted as arriving in Jamaica from the UK, through London-born Phillip Papa Levi.[5] In his early years after working as a shoemaker in his father's shop, he first found fame as a sound system star, working on Maurice Johnson's Black Scorpio system, which he had followed since the 1970s, his brother having preceded him as a deejay on the system.[1][2][6] His name was given to him by Barry G, who thought he sounded like "a General with three voices in one".[7] His fellow deejay Lord Sassafrass was known as "The Horseman", with the Black Scorpio system also known as the "Horseman" sound system, and when Trees joined he was known as "the younger horseman" and dressed as a jockey to perform.[6]
When Johnson opened his own studio, also named Black Scorpio, he began producing recordings, including those by artists that had performed with his sound system, including Trees and Lord Sassafrass.[1] General Trees' had a string of hits followed, including "Heel And Toe", "Monkey And Ape", "Ghost Rider", and "Crucifixion", although his best-remembered song is "Mini Bus", which lamented the demise of the "jolly bus",[8] and which was awarded the title "Song Of The Year" in 1986 from the Jamaica Broadcasting Corporation.[5] The award raised his profile and he went on to record for a variety of producers in Jamaica.
Further hits followed with "Gone A Negril" (#2 in 1986)[9] and "Calling All Higglers", and he contributed to a "clash" album, Battle Of The Generals, that featured versions of "Lambada" and "Think Twice".[5] Trees also recorded combination hits including "Coke Pipe" with Fancy Black, and "Nightmare" with Little John. In the early 1990s he again worked with Johnson, who also acted as his manager,[5] but a falling-out between the two led Trees to work for other producers.[2] Although he never repeated his earlier popularity, he had some success with "Eye Nah See", "Great Jamaican Jockeys" and "Goodie Goodie".[5] He was less active during the late 1990s, although he recorded "Lik Him But Nuh Kill Him" for Linval Edwards in 1999.[2] After that he was largely silent until he reunited again with Johnson in 2005, recording new songs including "Run di Place Again", "Mother of the Land", and "She Says She Loves Me".[2] A tour of Europe with the Black Scorpio sound system followed in December 2005.[2] He then began working with the Stur-Gav sound system.[7] In late-2019, Trees suffered numerous strokes that has hindered his vocal performance.[10] (specifically vocal-cord paresis) This is not the only time a medical condition has effected a deejay, such like Yellowman's skin cancer, subsequent surgery and disfigurement of his jaw, and Tiger's motorcycle accident causing vocal-cord damage.
^David V. Moskowitz (2006) Caribbean Popular Music: An Encyclopedia of Reggae,Mento, Ska, Rock Steady, and Dancehall, Greenwood Press, ISBN0-313-33158-8, p. 120.
^Other sources, e.g. the Encyclopedia of Popular Music and Moskowitz, state that his real name is Anthony Edwards.
^ abcdeColin Larkin The Encyclopedia of Popular Music, Muze Ltd
^ abLesser, Beth (2008) Dancehall: The Rise of Jamaican Dancehall Culture, Soul Jazz, ISBN978-0-9554817-1-0, p. 81.
^ abKrista Henry (2007) "GLORY DAYS: General Trees pulls music from the deck", Jamaica Gleaner, 9 September 2007,
^Mel Cooke (2008) "General Trees makes, marks history with 'Minibus'", Jamaica Gleaner, 23 November 2008.
^Mel Cooke (2008), "Story of the song: General Trees' 'Gone a Negril'", Jamaica Gleaner, 30 November 2008.
^Loop News (2020), "Rebel Salute 2020: General Trees makes return to stage after stroke", Loop News, 18 January 2020.
August 25, 2023
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Amos Edwards born 13 December 1960 1 2 3 4 better known by his stage name General Trees is a Jamaican dancehall deejay who was considered one of the most popular deejays of the 1980s best known for his hits in the latter half of the decade General TreesBirth nameAmos EdwardsBorn 1960 12 13 13 December 1960 age 62 OriginKingston JamaicaGenresReggaeYears active1980s presentBiography EditBorn in Drews Land Kingston on December 13 1960 General Trees is widely regarded as the best Jamaican speed rapper of his era the fast style of delivery commonly accepted as arriving in Jamaica from the UK through London born Phillip Papa Levi 5 In his early years after working as a shoemaker in his father s shop he first found fame as a sound system star working on Maurice Johnson s Black Scorpio system which he had followed since the 1970s his brother having preceded him as a deejay on the system 1 2 6 His name was given to him by Barry G who thought he sounded like a General with three voices in one 7 His fellow deejay Lord Sassafrass was known as The Horseman with the Black Scorpio system also known as the Horseman sound system and when Trees joined he was known as the younger horseman and dressed as a jockey to perform 6 When Johnson opened his own studio also named Black Scorpio he began producing recordings including those by artists that had performed with his sound system including Trees and Lord Sassafrass 1 General Trees had a string of hits followed including Heel And Toe Monkey And Ape Ghost Rider and Crucifixion although his best remembered song is Mini Bus which lamented the demise of the jolly bus 8 and which was awarded the title Song Of The Year in 1986 from the Jamaica Broadcasting Corporation 5 The award raised his profile and he went on to record for a variety of producers in Jamaica Further hits followed with Gone A Negril 2 in 1986 9 and Calling All Higglers and he contributed to a clash album Battle Of The Generals that featured versions of Lambada and Think Twice 5 Trees also recorded combination hits including Coke Pipe with Fancy Black and Nightmare with Little John In the early 1990s he again worked with Johnson who also acted as his manager 5 but a falling out between the two led Trees to work for other producers 2 Although he never repeated his earlier popularity he had some success with Eye Nah See Great Jamaican Jockeys and Goodie Goodie 5 He was less active during the late 1990s although he recorded Lik Him But Nuh Kill Him for Linval Edwards in 1999 2 After that he was largely silent until he reunited again with Johnson in 2005 recording new songs including Run di Place Again Mother of the Land and She Says She Loves Me 2 A tour of Europe with the Black Scorpio sound system followed in December 2005 2 He then began working with the Stur Gav sound system 7 In late 2019 Trees suffered numerous strokes that has hindered his vocal performance 10 specifically vocal cord paresis This is not the only time a medical condition has effected a deejay such like Yellowman s skin cancer subsequent surgery and disfigurement of his jaw and Tiger s motorcycle accident causing vocal cord damage Discography EditHeart Mind amp Soul 1985 Ghost Rider 1985 Sunset The Younger Horseman 1985 Sunset Negril 1986 Black Scorpio Nuff Respect 1987 Shanachie Battle Of The Generals 1987 King Dragon A Reggae Calypso Encounter 1987 Rohit Ragga Ragga Raggamuffin 1988 JA Kingstonian Man 1988 CSA Records Everything So So 1990 World Reggae Calypso Encounter 1990 Rohit Yellowman amp General Trees References Edit a b c Steve Barrow and Peter Dalton 2004 The Rough Guide to Reggae 3rd edn Rough Guides ISBN 1 84353 329 4 p 284 a b c d e f Patrick Foster 2005 General Trees back on the local bus permanent dead link Jamaica Observer 16 December 2005 David V Moskowitz 2006 Caribbean Popular Music An Encyclopedia of Reggae Mento Ska Rock Steady and Dancehall Greenwood Press ISBN 0 313 33158 8 p 120 Other sources e g the Encyclopedia of Popular Music and Moskowitz state that his real name is Anthony Edwards a b c d e Colin Larkin The Encyclopedia of Popular Music Muze Ltd a b Lesser Beth 2008 Dancehall The Rise of Jamaican Dancehall Culture Soul Jazz ISBN 978 0 9554817 1 0 p 81 a b Krista Henry 2007 GLORY DAYS General Trees pulls music from the deck Jamaica Gleaner 9 September 2007 Mel Cooke 2008 General Trees makes marks history with Minibus Jamaica Gleaner 23 November 2008 Mel Cooke 2008 Story of the song General Trees Gone a Negril Jamaica Gleaner 30 November 2008 Loop News 2020 Rebel Salute 2020 General Trees makes return to stage after stroke Loop News 18 January 2020 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title General Trees amp oldid 1040317071, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
