Little John

Little John

John McMorris (born March 30, 1965), better known as Little John, is a Jamaican dancehall musician best known for his 1980s recordings.

Biography
Born March 30, 1965 in Kingston, Jamaica, Little John was so called as he began performing and recording at the age of nine. He first recorded for Captain Sinbad's Youth in Progress label (including debut single "51 Storm"), and is regarded by some as the first dancehall singer, known for his ability to create lyrics over any backing track. Throughout the 1980s, he was backed by Roots Radics and Sly and Robbie, with frequent discomix vocal and dubwise production duties performed by Scientist. After joining Sugar Minott's Youth Promotion organisation, he performed with sound systems such as Romantic Hi Fi, ( notably, also the name of Little John's own record label) Kilimanjaro, Gemini, and Henry "Junjo" Lawes' Volcano Hi Power. He recorded for many producers in the 1980s, notably for Lawes, Joseph Hoo Kim, George Phang, Jah Thomas and King Jammy, also gaining an audience amongst the followers of Jah Shaka sound system due to the popularity of the Dubplate discomix cuts of his spiritually conscious composition The More we are Together, also known as Praising his Majesty. Little John's distinctive vocal styling had a significant influence on the emerging digital reggae scene of the mid 1980s, an influence that extended into the early Ragga, Jungle Music and drum and bass scenes in London in the early to mid 1990s. He performed at Reggae Sumfest in 2010, where he paid tribute to Sugar Minott. In 2025, Little John collected the rare digital roots reggae, ragga and dancehall discomix tunes from his own Romantic 45 record label onto a retrospective, comprehensive compilation entitled Various : In The Mood, Little John's Romantic Label 1986-1990. The album features discomix versions of The Abyssinians' Declaration of Rights tune as well as showcase vocal performances from Frankie Paul, Early B and other foundation roots digital artists from the mid to late 1980s.

Albums (20)

Compilations (1)

Artist Album Release Type Label Rec Rel
Early Days Little John Early Days DMRT 002 LP Jah Bible 198X 1984

Credits & Appearances (15)

Musicians
Vocals 14
Artist Album Release Type Label Rec Rel
Give The Youth A Try Little John Give The Youth A Try LL LP 6 LP Live & Learn 1983 1983
Sinbad & The Metric System Peter Metro & Captain Sinbad With Little John Sinbad & The Metric System CSLP 6 LP CSA 1983 1983
Ghetto Youth Little John Ghetto Youth VPRL 1016 LP Jah Guidance 1983 1983
Showdown Vol 1 Barry Brown & Little John Showdown Vol 1 JJ 135 LP Empire 1983 1984
English Woman Little John English Woman RVLP 002 LP Gorgon 1983 1983
True Confession Little John True Confession none LP Power House 1984 1984
Clarks Booty Little John Clarks Booty LALP 003 LP Live And Love 1985 1985
Worries & Trouble Little John Worries & Trouble BLSCLP 004 LP Black Scorpio 1985 1985
River To The Bank Little John River To The Bank none LP Power House 1985 1985
The Best Of Little John The Best Of RM 001 LP RM 1985 1985
Youth Of Today Little John Youth Of Today SKDLP 003 LP Skengdon 1986 1986
Dance Hall Clash Uglyman v/s Little John Dance Hall Clash LP Sunset 1986 1986
Early Days Little John Early Days DMRT 002 LP Jah Bible 198X 1984
Showcase Volume 1 Trevor Junior & Little John Showcase Volume 1 LP Sir Tommy's 198X

Also Appears On (51)

Artist Album Release Type Label Rec Rel
Dancehall Session Various Artists Dancehall Session RAS 9001 LP RAS
Dancehall Session Various Artists Dancehall Session RAS 9001 CD RAS
Roots Dancehall Party Various Artists Roots Dancehall Party SKCD 017 CD Silver Kamel 2003
Don Mais Presents Roots Tradition vineyard Various Artists Don Mais Presents Roots Tradition vineyard MRCD 1004 CD Munich 1977-80 1997
Kingston 13 All Stars Various Artists Kingston 13 All Stars none LP Corner Stone 1978-83
Grapevine Records Vault Classics Vol 1 Various Artists Grapevine Records Vault Classics Vol 1 CD Grapevine 1979-85
Roots Of Dance Hall Various Artists Roots Of Dance Hall LUXXCD 006 CD Auralux 197X 2004
Special Request To All Dance Hall Fans Various Artists Special Request To All Dance Hall Fans CD Channel One 197X 2001
Channel One Story Various Artists Channel One Story VPCD 1678 CD VP 197X-8X 2004
Channel One Story Chapter Two Various Artists Channel One Story Chapter Two VPCD 0422 CD VP 197X-8X 2008
Roots Tradition 70s and 80s Vintage Various Artists Roots Tradition 70s and 80s Vintage LP Roots Tradition 197X-8X
Trojan Dancehall Roots Box Set Various Artists Trojan Dancehall Roots Box Set TJETD 243 CD Trojan 197X-8X 2005
Clarks In Jamaica Various Artists Clarks In Jamaica VPGS 7034 CD Greensleeves 197X-9X 2015
Ready When You Ready Various Artists Ready When You Ready GUMSCDXX007 CD Smugg 197X-9X 2002
The Kings Of Reggae Various Artists The Kings Of Reggae RR 066-067 LP BBE 197X-9X 2007
The Very Best Of Me Billy Boyo The Very Best Of Me SVLP 001 LP Jah Guidance 1980-82 2006
Rub-A-Dub Soldiers Various Artists Rub-A-Dub Soldiers MKS 18 CD Makasound 1980-83 2007
Midnight Rock Presents Reggae Veterans Vol 1 Various Artists Midnight Rock Presents Reggae Veterans Vol 1 LP Clocktower 1980-84
Jah Thomas Greensleeves 12 Rulers Various Artists Jah Thomas Greensleeves 12 Rulers GRELCD 614 CD Greensleeves 1981-84 2008
Vintage Various Artists 70s-80s Various Artists Vintage Various Artists 70s-80s none LP Corner Stone 1981-84
Volcano Eruption Henry Junjo Lawes Volcano Eruption VPCD 4162 CD 17 North Parade 1981-85 2010
Junjo Presents A Live Session With Aces International Various Artists Junjo Presents A Live Session With Aces International GREL 48 LP Greensleeves 1982 1982
Scientist Wins The World Cup Scientist Scientist Wins The World Cup GRE 2107 CD Greensleeves 1982 2016
The CSA Collection Vol 1 Various Artists The CSA Collection Vol 1 CSLP 9 LP CSA 1982-83 1983
Cornerstone Connection Vol 2 Various Artists Cornerstone Connection Vol 2 none LP Corner Stone 1982-84
A Live Session With Kilimanjaro Various Artists A Live Session With Kilimanjaro LL LP 10 LP Live & Learn 1983 1983
Dancehall Showcase Vol 2 Sugar Minott Dancehall Showcase Vol 2 BRST 1002 LP Black Roots 1983 1983
General For All General Various Artists General For All General JJ 161 LP Hitbound 1983 1983
Midnight Rock Presents Ansa Riddim Various Artists Midnight Rock Presents Ansa Riddim MRLP 2001 LP Midnight Rock 1983 2006
Presenting The Posse Vol 2 Various Artists Presenting The Posse Vol 2 UTLP 002 LP Black Roots 1983-85
The CSA Collection Vol 3 Various Artists The CSA Collection Vol 3 CSLP 20 LP CSA 1984-85 1985
10 To 1 Various Artists 10 To 1 LP Jammys 1985 1985
Computer Various Artists Computer none LP Sunset 1985 1985
Ride The Rhythm Various Artists Ride The Rhythm LP 008 LP Top Rank 1985 1985
Stalag 17,18 & 19 Various Artists Stalag 17,18 & 19 VIF 001 CD Virgin 1985 1998
Firehouse Revolution King Tubby & Various Artists Firehouse Revolution PSCD 34 CD Pressure Sounds 1985-89 2001
King Jammy's Selector's Choice Vol 1 King Jammy & Friends King Jammy's Selector's Choice Vol 1 VPCD 1744 CD VP 1985-89 2007
King Jammy's Selector's Choice Vol 2 King Jammy & Friends King Jammy's Selector's Choice Vol 2 VPCD 1745 CD VP 1985-89 2007
King Jammy's Selector's Choice Vol 3 King Jammy & Friends King Jammy's Selector's Choice Vol 3 VPCD 1746 CD VP 1985-89 2007
King Jammy's Selector's Choice Vol 4 King Jammy & Friends King Jammy's Selector's Choice Vol 4 VPCD 1747 CD VP 1985-89 2007
The Final Mission Various Artists The Final Mission LP Power House 1986 1986
Antheng Various Artists Antheng LP Sonic Sounds 198X
Cornerstone Presents Battle Of The Superstars Various Artists Cornerstone Presents Battle Of The Superstars LP Corner Stone 198X
Dynamite Series #3 Various Artists Dynamite Series #3 CD Tabou 1 198X
Hidden Treasures Vol 2 Various Artists Hidden Treasures Vol 2 ES 1005 CD Easy Star 198X 2000
One-A-Way Style Various Artists One-A-Way Style LP Top Rank 198X
Presenting The Posse Vol 1 & 2 Various Artists Presenting The Posse Vol 1 & 2 UPTLP 21 LP Uptempo 198X 1992
The Rhythm King Prince Jammy & Various Artists The Rhythm King MPCD 003 CD Maximum Pressure 198X 2003
Total Recall - Volcano Vol 1 Various Artists Total Recall - Volcano Vol 1 VPCD 1189 CD VP 198X 1992
Wackies Sampler Vol 3 Various Artists Wackies Sampler Vol 3 WS 03 CD Wackies 198X 2008
King Jammy's Roots, Reality And Sleng Teng King Jammy King Jammy's Roots, Reality And Sleng Teng VPCD 5011 CD 17 North Parade 198X-9X 2015
21 albums
15 credits
22 labels
1982 - 1986