Derrick Morgan

Derrick Morgan

Derrick Morgan OD (born 27 March 1940) is a Jamaican musical artist who was popular in the 1960s and 1970s. He worked with Desmond Dekker, Bob Marley, and Jimmy Cliff in the rhythm and blues and ska genres, and he also performed rocksteady and skinhead reggae.

Biography
In 1957, Morgan entered the Vere Johns Opportunity Hour, a talent show held at the Palace Theatre in Kingston. He won with rousing impressions of Little Richard and, shortly after that, was recruited to perform around the island with the popular Jamaican comedy team Bim and Bam. In 1959, Morgan entered the recording studio for the first time. Duke Reid, the sound system boss, was looking for talent to record for his Treasure Isle record label. Morgan cut two popular shuffle-boogie sides "Lover Boy", a.k.a. "S-Corner Rock", and "Oh My". Soon after, Morgan cut the bolero-tinged boogie "Fat Man", which also became a hit. He also found time to record for Coxsone Dodd. In 1960 Morgan became the only artist ever to fill the places from one to seven on the Jamaican pop chart simultaneously. Among those hits were "Don't Call Me Daddy", "In My Heart", "Be Still", and "Meekly Wait and Murmur Not". But it was the following year that Morgan released the biggest hit of his career, the Leslie Kong production of "Don't You Know", later retitled "Housewives' Choice" by a local DJ. The song featured a bouncing ska riddim, along with a duet by Morgan and Millicent "Patsy" Todd. "Housewives' Choice" began the rivalry between Morgan and Prince Buster, who accused Morgan of stealing his ideas. Buster quickly released "Blackhead Chiney Man", chiding Morgan with the sarcastic put-down "I did not know your parents were from Hong Kong" - a swipe at Kong. Morgan returned with the classic "Blazing Fire", in which he warns Buster to "Live and let others live, and your days will be much longer. You said it. Now it's the Blazing Fire". Buster shot back with, "Watch It Blackhead", which Morgan countered with "No Raise No Praise" and "Still Insist". Followers of the two artists often clashed, and eventually the government had to step in with a staged photo shoot depicting the rivals as friends. Morgan had a major success in 1962 with "Forward March", a song celebrating Jamaican independence from Great Britain. In the mid-1960s, when ska evolved into rocksteady, Morgan continued to release top quality material, including the seminal rude boy songs, "Tougher Than Tough", "Do the Beng Beng", "Conquering Ruler", and a cover of Ben E. King's soul hit, "Seven Letters". Produced by Bunny Lee, "Seven Letters" is often cited as the first true reggae single. In 1969 Morgan recorded the skinhead anthem "Moon Hop" (on Crab Records). However, failing eyesight then forced him to give up regular stage appearances. He remained popular in Jamaica and the UK into the early 1970s, and has lived primarily in the UK or the US since the late 1960s. Morgan has written several songs that have won the Festival Song Contest for other artists, including "Jamaica Whoa" (1998, Neville Martin), "Fi Wi Island A Boom" (2000, Stanley Beckford), and "Progress" (2002, Devon Black). In July 2002 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, a two-night "Legends of Ska" concert was held. Reuniting were The Skatalites, Lloyd Knibb, Rico Rodriguez, Lloyd Brevett, Lester Sterling, Johnny Moore and Lynn Taitt; along with Prince Buster, Alton Ellis, Owen Gray, Lord Creator, Justin Hinds, Derrick Harriott, Winston Samuels, Roy Wilson, Patsy Todd, Doreen Shaffer, Stranger Cole, Lord Tanamo, and Derrick Morgan. In 2007, Morgan appeared on the bill at the annual Augustibuller music festival. His song "Tougher Than Tough" was featured in the video game Scarface: The World is Yours. Morgan continued to perform occasionally at ska revival shows across the world, often backed by the guitarist Lynn Taitt until the latter's death in 2010. He retired from the music industry because of illness in the 2010s, but returned in 2016 to collaborate with Kirk Diamond on a remake of Morgan's song 1960s "Conqueror". Morgan headlined the Supernova International Ska Festival, in Fredericksburg, Virginia from 27 to 28 May 2017.

Albums (13)

Credits & Appearances (19)

Production
Producer 6
Artist Album Release Type Label Rec Rel
Red Bumb Ball Various Artists Red Bumb Ball PSCD 40 CD Pressure Sounds 1966-68 2003
The Best Of Derrick Morgan Derrick Morgan The Best Of Derrick Morgan DLM 5014 LP Doctor Bird 1967-68 1969
Original Reggae Recordings Derrick Morgan Original Reggae Recordings TRRCD 03 CD Trybute 1968-70 1997
Moon Hop Derrick Morgan Moon Hop PSP 1006 LP Pama 1970 1970
Development Derrick Morgan Development JAG 5407 LP Jaguar 1972 1972
Moving Reggae Hits Various Artists Moving Reggae Hits DMLP 1081 LP Black Rose 1981 1981
Musicians

Also Appears On (96)

Artist Album Release Type Label Rec Rel
Tougher Than Tough Various Artists Tougher Than Tough IBXCD 1 CD Island 1958-93 1993
Rough And Tough Various Artists Rough And Tough TJDDD 019 CD Trojan 1960-66 2002
Trojan Jamaican Hits Box Set Various Artists Trojan Jamaican Hits Box Set TRBCD 017 CD Trojan 1960-73 2000
This Is Reggae Music Various Artists This Is Reggae Music TJNBX 254 CD Trojan 1960-75 2005
Good Times Skank Various Artists Good Times Skank TJCCD 039 CD Trojan 1963-84 2002
Red Bumb Ball Various Artists Red Bumb Ball PSCD 40 CD Pressure Sounds 1966-68 2003
20 Reggae Classics Vol 2 Various Artists 20 Reggae Classics Vol 2 CDTRL 224 CD Trojan 1966-74 1988
Baba Boom ! Various Artists Baba Boom ! TJDDD 175 CD Trojan 1966-75 2004
Explosive Rock Steady Various Artists Explosive Rock Steady DBCDD 082 CD Doctor Bird 1967-68 2021
Jumping With Mr Lee Various Artists Jumping With Mr Lee TRLS 270 LP Trojan 1967-68 1989
Trojan Reggae Brothers Box Set Various Artists Trojan Reggae Brothers Box Set TJETD 072 CD Trojan 1967-77 2003
Rock Steady Cool Various Artists Rock Steady Cool PMLP 7 SP LP Pama 1968 1968
Tighten Up Vol 1 Various Artists Tighten Up Vol 1 TTL 1 LP Trojan 1968 1969
Reggae Pressure Various Artists Reggae Pressure TJCCD 366 CD Trojan 1968-70 2007
Tighten Up Various Artists Tighten Up TJBDD 011 CD Trojan 1968-74 2002
Trojan Singles Box Set Various Artists Trojan Singles Box Set TRBCD 012 CD Trojan 1968-78 1999
Crab's Biggest Hits Various Artists Crab's Biggest Hits ECO 2 LP Pama 1969 1969
Dancehall '69 Various Artists Dancehall '69 TJDDD 081 CD Trojan 1969 2003
Hey Boy Hey Girl Various Artists Hey Boy Hey Girl PSP 1002 LP Pama 1969 1969
Nu-Beat's Greatest Hits Various Artists Nu-Beat's Greatest Hits ECO 6 LP Pama 1969 1969
Reggae Chartbusters Various Artists Reggae Chartbusters 2711271 CD Trojan 1969 2009
Reggae Hit The Town Various Artists Reggae Hit The Town PMLP 1001 LP Pama 1969 1969
The Lovely Dozen Various Artists The Lovely Dozen PSP 1001 LP Pama 1969 1969
Tighten Up Vol 2 Various Artists Tighten Up Vol 2 TBL 131 LP Trojan 1969 1970
Tighten Up Vol 2 Various Artists Tighten Up Vol 2 TJDCD 506 CD Trojan 1969 2015
101 Orange Street Various Artists 101 Orange Street KS 007 LP Jamaican Recordings 196X 2005
Copasetic! Various Artists Copasetic! TJDCD 564 CD Trojan 196X 2017
First Class Rock Steady Various Artists First Class Rock Steady VPCD 4205 CD 17 North Parade 196X 2016
Independent Jamaica Various Artists Independent Jamaica TJACD 043 CD Trojan 196X 2002
Mark Lamarr Presents Nuclear Weapon Various Artists Mark Lamarr Presents Nuclear Weapon TJCCD 090 CD Trojan 196X 2003
Studio One Jump-Up Various Artists Studio One Jump-Up SJRCD 296 CD Soul Jazz 196X 2015
The Original Golden Oldies Vol.2 Various Artists The Original Golden Oldies Vol.2 PB 10 LP Prince Buster 196X
Treasure Isle Records Various Artists Treasure Isle Records ATKCDBOX 1 CD Attack 196X 2008
Treasure Isle Ska Rarities Various Artists Treasure Isle Ska Rarities TJTCD 575 CD Trojan 196X 2019
Trojan Jamaican R&B Box Set Various Artists Trojan Jamaican R&B Box Set TJETD 042 CD Trojan 196X 2002
Trojan Mod Reggae Box Set Various Artists Trojan Mod Reggae Box Set TJETD 020 CD Trojan 196X 2002
Trojan Mod Reggae Box Set Vol 2 Various Artists Trojan Mod Reggae Box Set Vol 2 TJETD 287 CD Trojan 196X 2005
Trojan Rocksteady Box Set Various Artists Trojan Rocksteady Box Set TRBCD 003 CD Trojan 196X 1998
Trojan Rude Boy Box Set Various Artists Trojan Rude Boy Box Set TJETD 055 CD Trojan 196X 2002
Trojan Ska Box Set Various Artists Trojan Ska Box Set TRBCD 001 CD Trojan 196X 1998
Trojan Ska Box Set Volume 2 Various Artists Trojan Ska Box Set Volume 2 TRBCD 014 CD Trojan 196X 2000
Trojan Skinhead Reggae Box Set Various Artists Trojan Skinhead Reggae Box Set TJETD 003 CD Trojan 196X 2002
A Place Called Jamaica Part 2 Various Artists A Place Called Jamaica Part 2 MKS 11 CD Makasound 196X-7X 2004
Do The Reggae Various Artists Do The Reggae TJDCD 575 CD Trojan 196X-7X 2019
I'm So Proud Various Artists I'm So Proud CDTRL 376 CD Trojan 196X-7X 1997
Lee's Gold Vol 1 Various Artists Lee's Gold Vol 1 ATTACKCD 028 CD Attack 196X-7X 2006
Monkey Business Various Artists Monkey Business TJDCD 541 CD Trojan 196X-7X 2016
More Monkey Business Various Artists More Monkey Business TJDCD 563 CD Trojan 196X-7X 2017
Oldies Greatest Hits Various Artists Oldies Greatest Hits SONCD 0059 CD Sonic Sounds 196X-7X 1994
Rude Boy Scorchers Various Artists Rude Boy Scorchers KSCD 069 CD Jamaican Recordings 196X-7x 2017
The Story Of Trojan Records Various Artists The Story Of Trojan Records 2775354 CD Trojan 196X-7X 2011
The Treasure Isle Story Various Artists The Treasure Isle Story TJDCD 560 CD Trojan 196X-7X 2017
The Trojan Story Vol 1&2 Various Artists The Trojan Story Vol 1&2 TALL 100-200 LP Trojan 196X-7X
Trojan 'Tighten Up' Box Set Various Artists Trojan 'Tighten Up' Box Set TRBCD 018 CD Trojan 196X-7X 2000
Trojan Carnival Box Set Various Artists Trojan Carnival Box Set TJETD 132 CD Trojan 196X-7X 2003
Trojan Club Reggae Box Set Various Artists Trojan Club Reggae Box Set TRBCD 020 CD Trojan 196X-7X 2000
Trojan X-Rated Box Set Various Artists Trojan X-Rated Box Set TJETD 048 CD Trojan 196X-7X 2002
Wet Dream Max Romeo Wet Dream CC2-705 CD Crocodisc 196X-7X 1993
DJ Andy Smith Presents Trojan Document Various Artists DJ Andy Smith Presents Trojan Document TJZCD 317 CD Trojan 196X-8X 2006
Riot Radio Broadcast Various Artists Riot Radio Broadcast TJCCD 374 CD Trojan 196X-8X 2007
Trojan Explosion Various Artists Trojan Explosion TJCCD 141 CD Trojan 196X-8X 2004
Trojan Slack Reggae Box Set Various Artists Trojan Slack Reggae Box Set TJETD 348 CD Trojan 196X-8X 2007
Trojan Legends Box Set Various Artists Trojan Legends Box Set TJETD 271 CD Trojan 196X-9X 2005
Something Sweet The Lady Various Artists Something Sweet The Lady PMP 2003 LP Pama 1970 1971
Straighten Up Vol 2 Various Artists Straighten Up Vol 2 PMP 2007 LP Pama 1971 1971
Hot Bomb Various Artists Hot Bomb WESA 836 CD Westside 1971-74 2000
16 Dynamic Reggae Hits Various Artists 16 Dynamic Reggae Hits PMP 2015 LP Pama 1972 1972
From 'Bam-Bam' To 'Cherry Oh! Baby' Various Artists From 'Bam-Bam' To 'Cherry Oh! Baby' DY 3332 LP Dynamic Sounds 1972
Joe Gibbs Record Globe Presents Money In My Pocket Various Artists Joe Gibbs Record Globe Presents Money In My Pocket DBCDD 097 CD Doctor Bird 1972-73 2022
Dynamic Sound Of Jamaica Various Artists Dynamic Sound Of Jamaica HELP 9 LP Dragon 1973 1973
20 Tighten Ups Vol 2 Various Artists 20 Tighten Ups Vol 2 TRLS 111 LP Trojan 1974-75 1975
Club Reggae 1974 Various Artists Club Reggae 1974 TRLS 97 LP Trojan 1975 1975
Top 20 Hits Various Artists Top 20 Hits TWLP 105 LP Third World 1975 1975
Grass Roots Vol 1 Various Artists Grass Roots Vol 1 LALP 9 LP LA 1975-89 1990
Straight To Babylon Chest Various Artists Straight To Babylon Chest LALP 06 LP Live And Love 1976 1976
T.T. Ross & Friends Various Artists T.T. Ross & Friends TWLP 201 LP Third World 1976 1976
Third World Disco Vol 3 Various Artists Third World Disco Vol 3 TWLP 206 LP Third World 1977 1977
Barry Myers Presents Scratchy Sounds Various Artists Barry Myers Presents Scratchy Sounds TJDDD 218 CD Trojan 197X 2004
Bunny Striker Lee : The Cool Operator Various Artists Bunny Striker Lee : The Cool Operator GUMSCDXX020 CD Smugg 197X 2003
DJ Derek Presents... Sweet Memory Sounds Various Artists DJ Derek Presents... Sweet Memory Sounds TJZCD 304 CD Trojan 197X 2006
Once Upon A Time At King Tubbys Various Artists Once Upon A Time At King Tubbys PSCD 62 CD Pressure Sounds 197X 2009
Pablo & Friends Augustus Pablo & Friends Pablo & Friends RASCD 3220 CD RAS 197X 1992
Party Time At Studio 1 Various Artists Party Time At Studio 1 RNCD 7018 CD Rhino 197X 1997
Queens Of Jamaica Various Artists Queens Of Jamaica CD Jahslams 197X 2008
Scratchy Sounds Various Artists Scratchy Sounds TJDDD 218 CD Trojan 197X 2004
Sucker Punch Various Artists Sucker Punch TJCCD 186 CD Trojan 197X 2004
The Bunny Striker Lee Story Various Artists The Bunny Striker Lee Story CRCDB 3138 CD Jet Star 197X 2005
This Is Reggae Various Artists This Is Reggae PMLM 1003 LP Pama 197X 1969
This Is Reggae vol 3 Various Artists This Is Reggae vol 3 PMP 2008 LP Pama 197X 1971
Trojan Selecta Vol 4 Various Artists Trojan Selecta Vol 4 TJJCD 333 CD Trojan 197X-0X 2006
70's Hits Reggae Style Various Artists 70's Hits Reggae Style CD Castle Pulse 197X-8X 2007
Trojan Bob Marley Covers Box Set Various Artists Trojan Bob Marley Covers Box Set TJETD 323 CD Trojan 197X-8X 2006
Trojan Ganja Reggae Box Set Various Artists Trojan Ganja Reggae Box Set TJETD 102 CD Trojan 197X-8X 2003
Trojan Tribute To Bob Marley Box Set Various Artists Trojan Tribute To Bob Marley Box Set TRBCD 006 CD Trojan 197X-8X 1999
Moving Reggae Hits Various Artists Moving Reggae Hits DMLP 1081 LP Black Rose 1981 1981
Sly & Robbie + The Taxi Gang v Purpleman & Friends Sly & Robbie + The Taxi Gang v Purpleman & Friends Sly & Robbie + The Taxi Gang v Purpleman & Friends VSLP 4012 LP Vista 1983 1983
20 albums
19 credits
16 labels
1968 - 2003