Born in 1958 in Kingston, Jamaica, Junior Hibbert (as he was then known) performed in talent shows before forming the group Time Unlimited in the early 1970s, the group recording for Lee Perry and Duke Reid and having a hit with "Reaction".[1][2][3][4]
He recorded solo material in the mid-1970s with Rupie Edwards (both as Junior Hibbert and The Heaven Singers), and the group also recorded for Tommy Cowan and Bunny Lee before Hibbert left the group and began recording as Junior Delgado.[2] He recorded for Winston Holness ("Everyday Natty") and recorded "Every Natty" under the name Jooks, before finally finding success with Dennis Brown's DEB label.[2]
He recorded "Tition" (short for "politician") for DEB in 1975, giving him his first of several hits in Jamaica, leading up to the release of his debut solo album, Taste of the Young Heart, co-produced with Brown in 1978.[2] In 1979 he set up his own label, Incredible Jux, and was a regular visitor to Britain.[5] He recorded with producer Prince Jammy and Augustus Pablo before starting to produce his own work in the early 1980s.[2] He returned to work with Perry on one of his best known tracks, "Sons of Slaves".[1][2]
His career was put on hold in 1983 when he was imprisoned for 18 months for a drugs offence.[2][5] After his release in 1985 he attracted controversy by releasing "Broadwater Farm", the lyrics dealing with life on the London housing estate.[2] When a riot broke out shortly afterwards, culminating in the murder of PC Keith Blakelock, the record was reportedly banned.[2]
Delgado reunited successfully with Pablo to record "Raggamuffin Year" in 1986, which embraced the new style of music emerging from Jamaica, with an album of the same name following.[1][2][3][6]
As well as working on his own music, Junior was also involved with the development of new artists such as Yami Bolo and the White Mice.[1][2] He made his first appearance at Reggae Sunsplash in 1988.[2]
Delgado was less prolific in the 1990s, but returned in 1998 with the album Fearless, featuring rapper Maxi Jazz from Faithless and Jerry Dammers of the Specials as well as many of the new wave of UK electronica stars such as the Jungle Brothers, Kid Loops, and Naked Funk.[2] He performed at the Glastonbury and Roskilde festivals in 1999.[2][5]
Reasons followed in 2000, produced by the On-U sound system's Adrian Sherwood and featured performances by Doug Wimbish, Skip McDonald and Keith LeBlanc.[2] In 2001 he released a tribute to his late friend and mentor, Junior Delgado Sings Dennis Brown.[2]
Delgado died in his sleep on 10/11 April 2005 in South London, England.[1] His spokesman said the death had been unexpected but was believed to have been from natural causes. He was survived by his widow Janet, and seven children.[7]
^Williams, Andre (2016) "Time Unlimited releases Love Made Us", Jamaica Star, 14 January 2016. Retrieved 25 April 2016
^ abcTalevski, Nick (2006) Knocking on Heaven's Door: Rock Obituaries, Omnibus Press, ISBN978-1846090912, p. 127
^Barrow, Steve & Dalton, Peter (2004) The Rough Guide to Reggae, Rough Guides, ISBN978-1843533290
^"Reggae singer Junior Delgado dies", BBC, 14 April 2005. Retrieved 25 April 2016
^Katz, David (2000) People Funny Boy: the Genius of Lee "Scratch" Perry, Payback Press, ISBN0-86241-854-2, p. 210
External linksEdit
at Roots Archives
Incredible Jux on Small Axe
October 20, 2023
junior, delgado, oscar, hibbert, august, 1958, april, 2005, better, known, reggae, singer, famed, roots, style, birth, nameoscar, hibbertalso, known, asjunior, hibbert, jooksborn, 1958, august, 1958kingston, jamaicadied11, april, 2005, 2005, aged, south, londo. Oscar Hibbert 25 August 1958 11 April 2005 1 better known as Junior Delgado was a reggae singer famed for his roots style Junior DelgadoBirth nameOscar HibbertAlso known asJunior Hibbert JooksBorn 1958 08 25 25 August 1958Kingston JamaicaDied11 April 2005 2005 04 11 aged 46 South London EnglandGenresReggaeYears activeEarly 1970s 2005LabelsDEB Incredible Music Contents 1 Biography 2 Discography 3 References 4 External linksBiography EditBorn in 1958 in Kingston Jamaica Junior Hibbert as he was then known performed in talent shows before forming the group Time Unlimited in the early 1970s the group recording for Lee Perry and Duke Reid and having a hit with Reaction 1 2 3 4 He recorded solo material in the mid 1970s with Rupie Edwards both as Junior Hibbert and The Heaven Singers and the group also recorded for Tommy Cowan and Bunny Lee before Hibbert left the group and began recording as Junior Delgado 2 He recorded for Winston Holness Everyday Natty and recorded Every Natty under the name Jooks before finally finding success with Dennis Brown s DEB label 2 He recorded Tition short for politician for DEB in 1975 giving him his first of several hits in Jamaica leading up to the release of his debut solo album Taste of the Young Heart co produced with Brown in 1978 2 In 1979 he set up his own label Incredible Jux and was a regular visitor to Britain 5 He recorded with producer Prince Jammy and Augustus Pablo before starting to produce his own work in the early 1980s 2 He returned to work with Perry on one of his best known tracks Sons of Slaves 1 2 His career was put on hold in 1983 when he was imprisoned for 18 months for a drugs offence 2 5 After his release in 1985 he attracted controversy by releasing Broadwater Farm the lyrics dealing with life on the London housing estate 2 When a riot broke out shortly afterwards culminating in the murder of PC Keith Blakelock the record was reportedly banned 2 Delgado reunited successfully with Pablo to record Raggamuffin Year in 1986 which embraced the new style of music emerging from Jamaica with an album of the same name following 1 2 3 6 As well as working on his own music Junior was also involved with the development of new artists such as Yami Bolo and the White Mice 1 2 He made his first appearance at Reggae Sunsplash in 1988 2 Delgado was less prolific in the 1990s but returned in 1998 with the album Fearless featuring rapper Maxi Jazz from Faithless and Jerry Dammers of the Specials as well as many of the new wave of UK electronica stars such as the Jungle Brothers Kid Loops and Naked Funk 2 He performed at the Glastonbury and Roskilde festivals in 1999 2 5 Reasons followed in 2000 produced by the On U sound system s Adrian Sherwood and featured performances by Doug Wimbish Skip McDonald and Keith LeBlanc 2 In 2001 he released a tribute to his late friend and mentor Junior Delgado Sings Dennis Brown 2 Delgado died in his sleep on 10 11 April 2005 in South London England 1 His spokesman said the death had been unexpected but was believed to have been from natural causes He was survived by his widow Janet and seven children 7 Delgado was the nephew of Alpha Boys School bandmaster and vibraphone player Lennie Hibbert 8 Discography EditDance a Dub 1978 Incredible Jux Effort 1979 DEB re released as Sisters and Brothers Taste of the Young Heart 1979 DEB More She Love It 1981 Yvonne s Special Bush Master Revolution 1982 Incredible Jux Classics 1984 Maccabees Moving down the Road 1986 World Enterprise Raggamuffin Year 1986 Mango Stranger 1986 Skengdon It Takes Two to Tango 1986 Fashion Road Block 1987 Blue Trac Dub School A Junior Delgado Showcase 1989 Buffalo Music Production Run Away Love A Junior Delgado Showcase 1991 Incredible Music Showcase 1992 Message with Augustus Pablo One Step More 1998 Mango Fearless 1998 Big Cat Reasons 1999 Big Cat Sings Dennis Brown 2000 Incredible Music Freedom Has Its Price 2003 Incredible Music Invisible Music 2005 Incredible Music Hot Stepping Sip A Cup Showcase Vol 8 2009 Gussie PCompilations20 Classic Hits 1991 Treasure Found 1995 Incredible Music More Treasure Found 1997 Incredible Muzic Tichen 1999 Rhino No Baby Lion Treasure Found 3 2000 Incredible Music Original Guerilla Music 2003 Sound Boy Sons of Slaves 2005 Trojan Brothers 2006 DEBReferences Edit a b c d e f Greene Jo Ann Junior Delgado Biography AllMusic Retrieved 25 April 2016 a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Thompson Dave 2002 Reggae amp Caribbean Music Backbeat Books ISBN 0 87930 655 6 pp 92 94 a b Junior Delgado Encyclopaedia Britannica Retrieved 25 April 2016 Williams Andre 2016 Time Unlimited releases Love Made Us Jamaica Star 14 January 2016 Retrieved 25 April 2016 a b c Talevski Nick 2006 Knocking on Heaven s Door Rock Obituaries Omnibus Press ISBN 978 1846090912 p 127 Barrow Steve amp Dalton Peter 2004 The Rough Guide to Reggae Rough Guides ISBN 978 1843533290 Reggae singer Junior Delgado dies BBC 14 April 2005 Retrieved 25 April 2016 Katz David 2000 People Funny Boy the Genius of Lee Scratch Perry Payback Press ISBN 0 86241 854 2 p 210External links EditJamaican Observer Obituary Discography at Roots Archives Junior Delgado at DEB Music Incredible Jux on Small Axe Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Junior Delgado amp oldid 1018151958, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
