Rupie Edwards

Rupie Edwards

Rupert Lloyd Edwards (born 4 July 1945) is a Jamaican reggae singer and record producer.

Biography
Rupie Edwards was born in Goshen, in Saint Ann Parish. The family moved to Kingston in 1958, where he sang in talent contests, including those run by Vere Johns. He was spotted by producer S.L. Smith, for whom he recorded his debut single, "Guilty Convict" b/w "Just Because", released on Smith's Hi=Lite label nd licensed to Blue Beat Records in 1962. After recording a few further singles, he formed the Ambassadors in 1965 with Paragons singer Junior Menz and guitarist Eric Frater, becoming the Virtues with the addition of Dobby Dobson. They recorded several singles for Harry J, as well as Edwards' first self-production, "Burning Love", credited to Rupie Edwards and the Virtues. The Virtues broke up in 1968, and Edwards started to focus mainly on his work as a producer, although he continued to release his own records in the late 1960s and early 1970s. By the beginning of the 1970s, he had recorded artists like The Heptones, The Mighty Diamonds, Bob Andy, Johnny Clarke, Joe Higgs, Gregory Isaacs ("Lonely Man") and The Ethiopians on his own record labels 'Success' and 'Opportunity', based at his Success record shop in Orange Street, and on the Trojan Records sub-labels Big Records and Cactus. He also worked with DJs such as U-Roy, Dennis Alcapone and I-Roy, and released some instrumental versions with his studio band, The Rupie Edwards All Stars. The group included musicians such as saxophonist Tommy McCook, trombone player Vin Gordon, drummer Carlton 'Santa' Davis, guitarist Hux Brown, pianist Gladstone Anderson, bassist Clifton 'Jackie' Jackson and organist Winston Wright. In 1974, he released an album (Yamaha Skank) containing solely of tracks based on the Uniques' "My Conversation" riddim, credited as the first single-riddim album. In 1974 and 1975, he scored hits in the UK Singles Chart with "Ire Feelings" and "Leggo Skanga". Both tracks were based on the same riddim, first used for Johnny Clarke's "Everyday Wondering", and the Ire Feelings album followed in 1975. Another one-riddim album based on these tracks, Ire Feelings - Chapter and Version, was released by Trojan in 1990. After these successes, Edwards moved to London, and since then has continued producing and recording, working with artists such as Jah Woosh, Gladstone Anderson, Errol Dunkley, Dobby Dobson, and Shorty the President, and releasing a series of Dub Basket albums culled from his earlier productions. He later mainly recorded gospel music.

Discography (5)

Credits & Appearances (27)

Production
Producer 22
Artist Album Release Type Label Rec Rel
Rupie's Scorchers Various Artists Rupie's Scorchers CD Trybute 1969-71 2002
You Can't Wine Various Artists You Can't Wine TBL 142 LP Trojan 1970 1970
That Wonderful Sound Dobby Dobson That Wonderful Sound TBL 145 LP Trojan 1970 1970
Want Some Freedom The African Brothers Want Some Freedom ES 1009 CD Easy Star 1970-78 2001
Music Alone Shall Live Various Artists Music Alone Shall Live TBL 158 LP Success 1971 1971
You Can't Wine & Music Alone Shall Live Various Artists You Can't Wine & Music Alone Shall Live DBCD 042 CD Doctor Bird 1971 2019
Rupie's Gems Various Artists Rupie's Gems CTLP 104 LP Cactus 1972-74 1974
Ire Feelings, Chapter & Version Various Artists Ire Feelings, Chapter & Version TRLS 281 LP Trojan 1973-75 1990
Let There Be Version Rupie Edwards & Friends Let There Be Version TRLS 280 LP Trojan 1974 1990
Jah Woosh Jah Woosh Jah Woosh CTLP 103 LP Cactus 1974 1974
Hit Picks Rupie Edwards & Various Artists Hit Picks HRLP 704 LP Horse 1974 1974
Jah Jah Dey Dey Jah Woosh Jah Jah Dey Dey CTLP 116 LP Cactus 1974-76 1976
Dub Basket The Rupie Edwards All Stars Dub Basket CTLP 107 LP Cactus 1975 1975
Presenting Shorty The President Presenting CTLP 118 LP Cactus 1976 1976
Jamaica Serenade Rupie Edwards Jamaica Serenade CTLP 120 LP Cactus 1976 1976
Dub Basket Chapter II The Rupie Edwards All Stars Dub Basket Chapter II CTLP 117 LP Cactus 1976 1976
Something Old Something New Dobby Dobson Something Old Something New DDLP 222 LP Double D 1977 1977
Dub Classic Rupie Edwards Dub Classic LP Success 1977 1977
The African Brothers Meets King Tubby In Dub The African Brothers & King Tubby The African Brothers Meets King Tubby In Dub NSD 116 CD Nature Sounds 197X 2005
Pure Gold The Rupie Edwards All Stars & Various Artists Pure Gold Success 162 LP Success 197X
House Of Lovers Various Artists House Of Lovers CD Rupie Edwards 197X
For Everyone Gregory Isaacs For Everyone SRLLP 012 LP Success 1980 1980
Musicians
Percussions 1
Artist Album Release Type Label Rec Rel
Ire Feelings Rupie Edwards Ire Feelings CTLP 106 LP Cactus 1975 1975
Piano 1
Artist Album Release Type Label Rec Rel
Ire Feelings Rupie Edwards Ire Feelings CTLP 106 LP Cactus 1975 1975

Also Appears On (25)

Artist Album Release Type Label Rec Rel
Young Gifted And Black Various Artists Young Gifted And Black TJDDD 006 CD Trojan 1968-75 2002
Rupie's Scorchers Various Artists Rupie's Scorchers CD Trybute 1969-71 2002
Ska & Reggae Classics Various Artists Ska & Reggae Classics TJTCD 572 CD Trojan 196X-7X 2018
Trojan Records Sampler 2002 Various Artists Trojan Records Sampler 2002 TJPCD 001 CD Trojan 196X-7X 2002
Trojan Selecta Vol 6 Various Artists Trojan Selecta Vol 6 TJJCD 362 CD Trojan 196X-7X 2007
Trojan UK Hits Box Set Various Artists Trojan UK Hits Box Set TJETD 010 CD Trojan 196X-7X 2002
Flashing Echo Various Artists Flashing Echo TJDDD 051 CD Trojan 1970-80 2002
Music Alone Shall Live Various Artists Music Alone Shall Live TBL 158 LP Success 1971 1971
Reggae To Reggae Various Artists Reggae To Reggae PMP 2012 LP Pama 1971 1971
You Can't Wine & Music Alone Shall Live Various Artists You Can't Wine & Music Alone Shall Live DBCD 042 CD Doctor Bird 1971 2019
Rupie's Gems Various Artists Rupie's Gems CTLP 104 LP Cactus 1972-74 1974
Rupie's Gems Various Artists Rupie's Gems RNCD 2009 CD Rhino 1972-74 1993
In Fine Style King Tubby In Fine Style TJDDD 063 CD Trojan 1972-77 2004
History Of Trojan Records 1972-95 Various Artists History Of Trojan Records 1972-95 CDTAL 900 CD Trojan 1972-95 1996
Ire Feelings, Chapter & Version Various Artists Ire Feelings, Chapter & Version TRLS 281 LP Trojan 1973-75 1990
20 Reggae Disco Hits Various Artists 20 Reggae Disco Hits CTLP 108 LP Cactus 1975 1975
Reggae Midnight Rider Various Artists Reggae Midnight Rider PE 822013 LP Pink Elephant 1976 1976
Adventures In Dub Various Artists Adventures In Dub METRDCD 596 CD Metro 197X 2006
Dub Massive Chapter 2 Various Artists Dub Massive Chapter 2 TJCCD 256 CD Trojan 197X 2005
House Of Lovers Various Artists House Of Lovers CD Rupie Edwards 197X
Original Reggae Greats Vol 2 Various Artists Original Reggae Greats Vol 2 SHM 827 LP Hallmark 197X 1974
Reggae Chartbusters Vol 5 Various Artists Reggae Chartbusters Vol 5 2711952 CD Trojan 197X 2009
The Dub Master King Tubby The Dub Master SPEC 2063 CD Spectrum 197X 2011
Trojan Singles Collection Part 2 Various Artists Trojan Singles Collection Part 2 CDTRL 373 CD Trojan 197X 1996
Trojan Ganja Reggae Box Set Various Artists Trojan Ganja Reggae Box Set TJETD 102 CD Trojan 197X-8X 2003
5 albums
27 credits
12 labels
1970 - 2019