Prince Mohammed

Prince Mohammed

Also known as: George Nooks, Prince Mohammad

George Nooks, a.k.a. Prince Mohamed, Prince Mohammed, or George Knooks (born c. 1958) is a Jamaican reggae singer who initially found fame as a deejay.

Biography
Nooks started his musical career in the youth choir at his church, and moved on to perform at school concerts and talent shows. After first recording professionally in 1974, Nooks first found success performing under the name Prince Mohamed, as a deejay on discomix tracks for producer Joe Gibbs, notably on Dennis Brown's 1978 hit "Money in my Pocket", and "How Could I Leave", as well as "Light Up Your Spliff" for producer Prince Tony Robinson, founder of the Groovemaster roots record label, which also featured popular releases by Barrington Spence and Big Youth. He moved on to work with other producers such as Alvin Ranglin and Bunny Riley. His first album, a joint effort with General Echo, People Are You Ready, was released on the United Artists subsidiary Ballistic in 1978. Nooks also guested on Augustus Pablo's Rockers All Stars album, Dub With The Help Of His Majesty : released on Everton Da Silva's Hungry Town label, Jah No Partial in particular, is a much sought after rarity amongst the spiritual roots reggae sound system fraternity. Nooks also guested on Horace Andy's Give up the Land discomix on Hungry Town label. He also featured on Leonard Dillon and The Ethiopians Buck Me Toe released on Alvin Ranglin's GG Records This was followed by African Roots, recorded the following year for producer Linval Thompson. He had a hit in Jamaica with "Forty Legs Dread", which was a toast on Zion Gate written by Culture (band) and Joseph Hill (musician) and released by Joe Gibbs (producer) and Errol Thompson (audio engineer), and the increasing violence in Kingston prompted Nooks to record a version of Little Roy's "Tribal War", now singing rather than deejaying, and released under his real name, which he followed with a cover version of Errol Dunkley's "Darling Ooh". Nooks also recorded Lightning and Thunder for Roy Cousins Phase One record label, using the Prince Mohamed title. These releases have been reissued by reggae-revive label Motion Records. He also toasted on the Winston Riley and Pat Kelly (musician) Techniques label discomix of I'm in the Mood for Love. Nooks would subsequently concentrate on his singing, releasing the Today album in 1981, although he reverted to Prince Mohamed in 1982 for an album with June Lodge. His singing gained comparisons with Dennis Brown, who he would later pay tribute to with a double album of Brown covers. His 1996 single "Real Man" reached number 55 on the Billboard R&B Singles Sales chart. In 1997 Nooks released his first album in 15 years, a self-titled collection resulting in three Tamika Reggae Music awards, but since 1997 he has been quite prolific, releasing a string of solo albums, as well as albums shared with Glen Washington, Roland Burrell, Singing Melody and Lukie D. Since the death of his grandmother in 2001, Nooks has primarily recorded Gospel music material. His 2016 album Ride Out Your Storm reached number 4 on the Billboard Reggae Albums chart, and number 22 on the Gospel chart. Nooks also works as a producer, and has run his own Total Records label since the early 1990s. In 2022 he won the ABGMA Collaboration-Duo of the Year Award together with Dingy Danejah

Discography (6)

Artist Album Release Type Label Rec Rel
People Are You Ready Prince Mohammed & General Echo People Are You Ready UAG 30192 LP Ballistic 1978 1978
African Roots Prince Mohamed African Roots BR 1005 LP Burning Rockers 1979 1979
No One Remember Africa Prince Mohammed No One Remember Africa LP Unity House Music 1979 1979
Bubbling Prince Mohammed Bubbling none LP Techniques 1979-82
Inna Him Head Prince Mohammed Inna Him Head JGML 8041 LP Joe Gibbs 1980 1980
Today George Nooks Today JW&L 842 LP Jimpy's 1981 1981

Credits & Appearances (5)

Musicians
Vocals 5
Artist Album Release Type Label Rec Rel
People Are You Ready Prince Mohammed & General Echo People Are You Ready UAG 30192 LP Ballistic 1978 1978
African Roots Prince Mohamed African Roots BR 1005 LP Burning Rockers 1979 1979
Bubbling Prince Mohammed Bubbling none LP Techniques 1979-82
Inna Him Head Prince Mohammed Inna Him Head JGML 8041 LP Joe Gibbs 1980 1980
Today George Nooks Today JW&L 842 LP Jimpy's 1981 1981

Also Appears On (44)

Artist Album Release Type Label Rec Rel
600%  Dynamite Various Artists 600% Dynamite SJRCD 084 CD Soul Jazz 196X-8X 2003
Punky Reggae Party Various Artists Punky Reggae Party TJDDD 040 CD Trojan 1975-80 2002
United Dreadlocks Vol 1&2 Various Artists United Dreadlocks Vol 1&2 DBCDD 105 CD Doctor Bird 1976-77 2022
Birth Of Dancehall Various Artists Birth Of Dancehall KSCD 031 CD Kingston Sounds 1976-79 2012
The Joe Gibbs DJ Albums Collection Various Artists The Joe Gibbs DJ Albums Collection DBCDD 119 CD Doctor Bird 1976-80 2023
Spotlight On Reggae Vol 3 Various Artists Spotlight On Reggae Vol 3 LP Rocky One 1977 1977
Culture And The Deejays At Joe Gibbs Culture & Friends Culture And The Deejays At Joe Gibbs VPCD 4116 CD 17 North Parade 1977-79 2008
Let Me Love You Dennis Brown Let Me Love You DBCDD 108 CD Doctor Bird 1977-81 2023
Ballistic 2nd Assault Various Artists Ballistic 2nd Assault SAM 101 LP Ballistic 1978 1978
Jamaica's Reggae Stars Various Artists Jamaica's Reggae Stars DBD 121 LP Dr. Buster Dynamite 1978-83 2001
Irie Reggae Hits Various Artists Irie Reggae Hits DBCDD 106 CD Doctor Bird 1979 2022
Rockers In Hungry Town Various Artists Rockers In Hungry Town HTLP 010 LP Hungry Town 1979 1979
Top Ranking DJ Session Vol 1&2 Various Artists Top Ranking DJ Session Vol 1&2 DBCDD 110 CD Doctor Bird 1979-80 2022
Joe Gibbs Presents Dancehall Stylee Various Artists Joe Gibbs Presents Dancehall Stylee DBCDD 117 CD Doctor Bird 1979-81 2023
12'' Reggae Discomix Showcase Vol. 1 Joe Gibbs 12'' Reggae Discomix Showcase Vol. 1 VPCD 4159 CD 17 North Parade 197X 2009
12'' Reggae Discomix Showcase Vol. 2 Joe Gibbs 12'' Reggae Discomix Showcase Vol. 2 VPCD 4160 CD 17 North Parade 197X 2009
12'' Reggae Discomix Showcase Vol. 3 Joe Gibbs 12'' Reggae Discomix Showcase Vol. 3 VPCD 4161 CD 17 North Parade 197X 2009
12'' Reggae Discomix Showcase Vol. 4 Joe Gibbs 12'' Reggae Discomix Showcase Vol. 4 VPCD 4168 CD 17 North Parade 197X 2010
12'' Reggae Discomix Showcase Vol. 5 Joe Gibbs 12'' Reggae Discomix Showcase Vol. 5 VPCD 4169 CD 17 North Parade 197X 2010
Best Of Vintage Various Artists Best Of Vintage CD Joe Gibbs 197X
Jamaica's Reggae Stars Vol 2 Various Artists Jamaica's Reggae Stars Vol 2 CD Jamaican Gold 197X 1997
Laser Reggae Hits Various Artists Laser Reggae Hits LP Blue Moon 197X 1982
Lightning And Thunder Augustus Pablo & The Rockers All Stars Lightning And Thunder DOLP 01 LP Only Roots 197X 2022
Roots Of Dance Hall Various Artists Roots Of Dance Hall LUXXCD 006 CD Auralux 197X 2004
Spotlight On Reggae Vol 1 Various Artists Spotlight On Reggae Vol 1 CD Rocky One 197X
Spotlight On Reggae Vol 2 Various Artists Spotlight On Reggae Vol 2 CD Rocky One 197X
Spotlight On Reggae Vol 7 Various Artists Spotlight On Reggae Vol 7 CD Rocky One 197X
Step Forward Youth Various Artists Step Forward Youth VPGS 7059 CD Greensleeves 197X 2018
The Mighty Two Joe Gibbs & Errol Thompson & Various Artists The Mighty Two CDHB 73 CD Heartbeat 197X 1992
Trojan 12" Box Set Various Artists Trojan 12" Box Set TJETD 084 CD Trojan 197X 2003
We Are Getting Bad Various Artists We Are Getting Bad FASTCD 013 CD Motion 197X 2003
Old To The New Steelie And Clevie Various Artists Old To The New Steelie And Clevie VPCD 4139 CD 17 North Parade 197X-200X 2008
Bamboo Fence & Curry Goat - Foundation Dancehall Various Artists Bamboo Fence & Curry Goat - Foundation Dancehall BS1LP50 LP Black Solidarity 197X-8X
Bamboo Fence & Curry Goat - Foundation Dancehall Various Artists Bamboo Fence & Curry Goat - Foundation Dancehall BS1CD50 CD Black Solidarity 197X-8X 1999
Joe Gibbs Original DJ Classics Vol 3 Various Artists Joe Gibbs Original DJ Classics Vol 3 RGCD 0019 CD Rocky One 197X-8X
Scorchers From The Mighty Two Various Artists Scorchers From The Mighty Two VPCD 4130 CD VP 197X-8X 2008
United Dreadlocks Vol 2 Various Artists United Dreadlocks Vol 2 KJG 011 LP Joe Gibbs 1980 1980
First Time Around Ruddy Thomas First Time Around DBCDD 114 CD Doctor Bird 1981 2022
Reggae Impact & Someone Loves You Honey Marcia Aitken & June Lodge Reggae Impact & Someone Loves You Honey DBCDD 116 CD Doctor Bird 1981-82 2022
Africa Iron Gate Showcase Various Artists Africa Iron Gate Showcase PH 100 LP Berris 1982 1982
Crucial Reggae Driven By Sly & Robbie Various Artists Crucial Reggae Driven By Sly & Robbie MLPS 9730 LP Island 1982 1982
Reggae Hits Of The 80's Various Artists Reggae Hits Of The 80's JGML 6059 LP Joe Gibbs 1982 1982
Shining Stars Various Artists Shining Stars JGML 60076 LP Joe Gibbs 1983 1983
Sly & Robbie Presents The Speeding Taxi Various Artists Sly & Robbie Presents The Speeding Taxi CD Sonic Sounds 198X
6 albums
5 credits
6 labels
1978 - 1981