Josey Wales

Josey Wales

Josey Wales (born Joseph Winston Sterling, 9 October 1958) is a Jamaican dancehall singer. He has been called, along with Brigadier Jerry, Yellowman and sound system partner Charlie Chaplin, one of the best Jamaican dancehall deejays of the 1980s. Wales is named after the 1976 Western movie character from The Outlaw Josey Wales, played by Clint Eastwood, and subsequently nicknamed "The Outlaw". His career began in 1977, first starting as a deejay on the Roots Unlimited sound-system where he often sparred with Burro Banton, and later performing over U-Roy-owned King Sturgav sound system. He gained even more popularity in the early 1980s performing over Henry "Junjo" Lawes's Volcano sound system, and recording singles such as "Bobo Dread" and "Leggo Mi Hand" (which peaked at number four on the Jamaican singles chart) for Lawes' label of the same name, as well as later hits for George Phang's Power House label, most noticeably "Undercover Lover". He was shot and robbed in a Kingston bar in 1997, an incident that he dealt with in the country and western song "Bushwacked". He survived the robbery, and after his discharge from a hospital, he went to the United States and bought an ambulance to donate for the Kingston Public Hospital. He appeared in Shaggy's "Bad Man Don't Cry" video, and by 2014 had begun recording new material. In October 2017, he was awarded the Order of Distinction by the Jamaican government.

Personal life
Josey is a Rastafarian and has been since 1975 but also retains a major influence of Christianity. He was baptized in May 1959. He currently resides in Kingston.

Albums (6)

The Outlaw
Greensleeves • 1983
Two Giants Clash
Greensleeves • 1984
Undercover Lover
Power House • 1985
Ruling
Sonic Sounds • 1986
Artist Album Release Type Label Rec Rel
No Way Better Than Yard Josey Wales No Way Better Than Yard GREL 76 LP Greensleeves 1983 1984
The Outlaw Josey Wales The Outlaw GREL 55 LP Greensleeves 1983 1983
The Outlaw + No Way No Better Than Yard Josey Wales The Outlaw + No Way No Better Than Yard GRELCD 511 CD Greensleeves 1983-84 1991
Two Giants Clash Yellowman versus Josey Wales Two Giants Clash GRELCD 63 CD Greensleeves 1984
Undercover Lover Josey Wales Undercover Lover LP Power House 1985 1985
Ruling Josie Wales Ruling LP Sonic Sounds 1986 1986

Credits & Appearances (7)

Production
Producer 2
Artist Album Release Type Label Rec Rel
No Way Better Than Yard Josey Wales No Way Better Than Yard GREL 76 LP Greensleeves 1983 1984
The Outlaw + No Way No Better Than Yard Josey Wales The Outlaw + No Way No Better Than Yard GRELCD 511 CD Greensleeves 1983-84 1991
Musicians
Vocals 5
The Outlaw
Greensleeves • 1983
Two Giants Clash
Greensleeves • 1984
Ruling
Sonic Sounds • 1986
Artist Album Release Type Label Rec Rel
Clash Of The 80's Vol 2 Josie Wales Meets Early B Clash Of The 80's Vol 2 LP Sonic Sounds 1982-84
The Outlaw Josey Wales The Outlaw GREL 55 LP Greensleeves 1983 1983
Two Giants Clash Yellowman versus Josey Wales Two Giants Clash GREL 63 LP Greensleeves 1984 1984
Ruling Josie Wales Ruling LP Sonic Sounds 1986 1986
The Teacher Meets The Student U Roy & Josie Wales The Teacher Meets The Student SON 0028 CD Sonic Sounds 198X 1992

Also Appears On (18)

11 albums
7 credits
5 labels
1983 - 1992