Phyllis Dillon

Phyllis Dillon

Also known as: Phillis Dillion, Phillis Dillon, Shirley Kay

Phyllis Dillon (27 December 1944 - 15 April 2004) was a Jamaican rocksteady and reggae singer who recorded for Duke Reid's lucrative Treasure Isle record label in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

Life and career
Dillon was born in 1944 in Linstead, St. Catherine, Jamaica, and attended the Linstead Primary School. Influenced by American singers Connie Francis, Patti Page and Dionne Warwick, she began singing in talent contests. It was during a performance at the Glass Bucket Club in Kingston, Jamaica with the group The Vulcans, that Duke Reid's session guitarist Lynn Taitt discovered Dillon. Dillon was introduced to Treasure Isle studios by Tommy McCook, and recorded her first record for Duke Reid, "Don't Stay Away", in late 1966, a recording that has been described as "perhaps the finest female performance in Jamaican music". While most of Dillon's subsequent recordings would be covers of popular and obscure American songs including Bettye Swann's "Make Me Yours", Perry Como's "Tulips and Heather," The Grass Roots' "Midnight Confessions," and Stephen Stills's "Love the One You're With"; "Don't Stay Away" was an original composition featuring Tommy McCook and the Supersonics as the backing band. Another original song, "It's Rocking Time" would later be turned into the Alton Ellis' hit "Rocksteady". While these early recordings demonstrate Dillon's mastery of the rocksteady sound, a much slower, soulful, response to the sultry weather that made ska's upbeat rhythm and tempo undesirable, even impracticable, it was no indication of her performance, 1967's "Perfidia". Popularized by the American surf rock band The Ventures, "Perfidia" is a 1940 song written by Alberto Domínguez and made popular by the Cuban bandleader, Xavier Cugat. Dillon also recorded duets with Ellis (as 'Alton and Phyllis'), including "Why Did You Leave Me To Cry" and "Remember that Sunday". Dillon is regarded as one of the key singers of the rocksteady era. At the end of 1967, Dillon moved to New York. The following five years were spent living a double life. She had a family and career in banking in the United States, flying frequently back to Kingston, Jamaica to continue recording for Reid. After a number of singles and an album entitled Living in Love, Dillon ended her recording career in 1971. In 1991, Michael Bonnet, the entertainment director for the Oceanea Hotel in Kingston approached Dillon inviting her to sing. Her refusal at first was later rescinded and sparked a revitalized interest in performing and recording. In the years following, Dillion would tour the UK, Germany and Japan. In 1998 Dillon returned to the recording studio with Lynn Taitt, marked by reinterest in ska music in the United States. She remained active until illness took hold. Dillon died on 15 April 2004 in Long Island, New York, after a two-year battle with cancer, at the age of 59. She was posthumously awarded the Order of Distinction in 2009 by the Jamaican government.

Credits & Appearances (1)

Musicians
Vocals 1
Artist Album Release Type Label Rec Rel
Midnight Confessions Phyllis Dillon Midnight Confessions CD Westside 1967-71 2000

Also Appears On (58)

Artist Album Release Type Label Rec Rel
Tougher Than Tough Various Artists Tougher Than Tough IBXCD 1 CD Island 1958-93 1993
Baba Boom Time Various Artists Baba Boom Time NEMCD 473 CD Sequel 1966-68 2000
Gems From Treasure Isle Various Artists Gems From Treasure Isle TRLS 206 LP Trojan 1966-68 1982
Work Your Soul Various Artists Work Your Soul TJDDV 069 CD Trojan 1966-74 2003
Duke Reid Rock's Steady Various Artists Duke Reid Rock's Steady TJDDD 363 CD Trojan 1967 2007
The Birth Of Trojan Various Artists The Birth Of Trojan TJACD 034 CD Trojan 1967 2002
Ba Ba Boom Duke Reid Various Artists Ba Ba Boom Duke Reid CDTRL 265 CD Trojan 1967-72 1994
The Hottest Hits Albums Collection Various Artists The Hottest Hits Albums Collection DBCDDD 090 CD Doctor Bird 1967-81 2021
Come Rock With Me In Jamaica Various Artists Come Rock With Me In Jamaica DSK 3507 LP Treasure Isle 1968 1968
Come Rock With Me In Jamaica Various Artists Come Rock With Me In Jamaica TRL 3 LP Trojan 1968 1968
Greatest Jamaican Beat Various Artists Greatest Jamaican Beat TI 102 LP Treasure Isle 1968 1968
Greatest Jamaican Beat Various Artists Greatest Jamaican Beat DBCDD 033 CD Doctor Bird 1968 2019
Soul For Sale Various Artists Soul For Sale CD 44412-2 CD Jet Set 1968 1997
Soul Of Jamaica & Here Comes The Duke Various Artists Soul Of Jamaica & Here Comes The Duke DBCD 024 CD Doctor Bird 1968 2018
Soul Power '68 Various Artists Soul Power '68 DBCDD 074 CD Doctor Bird 1968 2021
Moonwalk Various Artists Moonwalk NEMCD 472 CD Sequel 1968-70 2000
Boom Shaka Lacka Various Artists Boom Shaka Lacka NEMCD 474 CD Sequel 1968-74 2000
Funky Kingston Reggae Dancefloor Grooves Various Artists Funky Kingston Reggae Dancefloor Grooves TJDCD 054 CD Trojan 1968-74 2002
Tighten Up Vol 2 Various Artists Tighten Up Vol 2 TJDCD 506 CD Trojan 1969 2015
Hottest Hits Vol 2 Various Artists Hottest Hits Vol 2 LP Treasure Isle 196X
Hottest Hits Vol 3 Various Artists Hottest Hits Vol 3 LP Treasure Isle 196X
Treasure Isle Presents Tribute To Peckings Various Artists Treasure Isle Presents Tribute To Peckings LP Treasure Isle 196X
Treasure Isle Records Various Artists Treasure Isle Records ATKCDBOX 1 CD Attack 196X 2008
Trojan Calypso Box Set Various Artists Trojan Calypso Box Set TJETD 033 CD Trojan 196X 2002
Trojan Rocksteady Box Set Various Artists Trojan Rocksteady Box Set TRBCD 003 CD Trojan 196X 1998
A Tribute To The Beatles Reggae Style Various Artists A Tribute To The Beatles Reggae Style CDTALL 501 CD Trojan 196X-7X 2001
By Special Request Various Artists By Special Request CDHB 229 CD Heartbeat 196X-7X 2001
Collectorama Alton Ellis Collectorama JS 279 CD Jahslams 196X-7X 2009
Duke Reid's Treasure Chest Various Artists Duke Reid's Treasure Chest CDHB 95 CD Heartbeat 196X-7X 1992
More Monkey Business Various Artists More Monkey Business TJDCD 563 CD Trojan 196X-7X 2017
Rude Boy Scorchers Various Artists Rude Boy Scorchers KSCD 069 CD Jamaican Recordings 196X-7x 2017
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 Reggae Sisters Box Set Various Artists Trojan Reggae Sisters Box Set TJETD 073 CD Trojan 196X-7X 2003
Trojan X-Rated Box Set Various Artists Trojan X-Rated Box Set TJETD 048 CD Trojan 196X-7X 2002
100% Dynamite Various Artists 100% Dynamite SJRCD 040 CD Soul Jazz 196X-8X 1999
100% Dynamite Various Artists 100% Dynamite SJRCD 321 CD Soul Jazz 196X-8X 2015
DJ Andy Smith Presents Trojan Document Various Artists DJ Andy Smith Presents Trojan Document TJZCD 317 CD Trojan 196X-8X 2006
Version Galore U Roy Version Galore DBCDD 093 CD Doctor Bird 1970 2021
Version Galore U Roy Version Galore TJDDD 056 CD Trojan 1970 2002
Club Reggae Vol 2 Various Artists Club Reggae Vol 2 TBL 164 LP Trojan 1971 1971
Best Of The London Based ''Sioux'' Label Various Artists Best Of The London Based ''Sioux'' Label 44 421 CD Jet Set 1971-72 1997
Heavy Reggae Various Artists Heavy Reggae CD Jet Set 1971-72
Here Comes Ken Parker Ken Parker Backed By Tommy McCook & The Supersonics Here Comes Ken Parker TRLS 80 LP Trojan 1974 1974
Duke Reid International Disco Series Various Artists Duke Reid International Disco Series DBCDDD 075 CD Doctor Bird 1977-78 2021
Adults Only Vol 1 Various Artists Adults Only Vol 1 CDTRL 305 CD Trojan 197X 1992
DJ Spooky Presents Riddim Come Forward Various Artists DJ Spooky Presents Riddim Come Forward TJDDD 334 CD Trojan 197X 2006
Here Comes That Feeling Various Artists Here Comes That Feeling TJDDD 140X CD Trojan 197X 2004
Hottest Hits Various Artists Hottest Hits FL 1034 LP Virgin 197X 1979
Let Me Tell You Boy Various Artists Let Me Tell You Boy TJCCD 312 CD Trojan 197X 2006
Queens Of Jamaica Various Artists Queens Of Jamaica CD Jahslams 197X 2008
Trojan Lovers Box Set Various Artists Trojan Lovers Box Set TRBCD 005 CD Trojan 197X 1999
Trojan Selecta Vol 2 Various Artists Trojan Selecta Vol 2 TJJCD 315 CD Trojan 197X 2006
Version Affair Vol 1 Various Artists Version Affair Vol 1 LG2-1062 CD Lagoon 197X 1992
Your Ace From Space U Roy & Friends Your Ace From Space CDTRL 359 CD Trojan 197X 1995
Dread Broadcasting Corp. Various Artists Dread Broadcasting Corp. TJDDD 167 CD Trojan 197X-8X 2004
Trojan Tribute To Bob Marley Box Set Various Artists Trojan Tribute To Bob Marley Box Set TRBCD 006 CD Trojan 197X-8X 1999
Love Is All I Bring Various Artists Love Is All I Bring TJDCD 576 CD Trojan 197X-9X 2019
4 albums
1 credit
4 labels
2000 - 2000