Ranking Trevor

Ranking Trevor

Also known as: Ranking Superstar

Maxwell Grant (20 January 1960 - 7 August 2012), better known as Ranking Trevor and sometimes as Ranking Superstar, was a Jamaican reggae deejay.

Biography
Grant began deejaying as a teenager in the 1970s, and began his recording career at the age of fifteen. Regarded as a follower of U-Roy, Grant recorded at Channel One as Ranking Trevor in the mid-1970s, his first release being "Natty a Roots Man", and deejayed on the Socialist Roots sound system who were strongly aligned with the Jamaican People's National Party, instrumental in organising local communities and attempting to promote peace at a time when Jamaica was racked by political violence. He had success in 1977 with singles such as "Cave Man Skank" and "Three Piece Chicken and Chips" (a response to Trinity's "Three Piece Suit"), which were popular among British reggae fans, and these were followed by further hits on the British reggae charts in 1978 with "Pure & Clean" and "Rub a Dub Style" ( a toasting version of Cornell Campbell's "Queen of the Minstrel"), and he signed a record deal with Virgin Records' reggae label, Front Line, who released his debut album, In Fine Style. On the album, backed by The Revolutionaries, Ranking Trevor reworked Dennis Walks' "Drifter", Augustus Pablo and Jacob Miller's "Baby I Love You So", the Joe Frazier rhythm and The Abyssinians' Satta Massagana. Channel One Studios' producer, Joseph Hoo Kim, followed this by releasing the Three Piece Chicken and Chips album, compiling tracks by Trevor and Trinity. Backed by The Revolutionaries' spacious Rockers' drum and bass mixes, Ranking Trevor and Trinity reworked toasting versions of Ernest Wilson (singer) conscious sound system favourite "I Know Myself" ( popular with Jah Shaka and Lloyd Coxsone sound systems in UK ), Coxsone Dodd's "The Answer" rhythm, "Have Mercy" by The Mighty Diamonds, and The Meditations hit, "Woman is Like a Shadow." In 1977, Ranking Trevor teamed up with Carl Malcolm and The Revolutionaries to release the conscious Rockers Discomix, "Repatriation", backed by "Take a Tip From Me" on the "b" side, both tunes in demand with the followers of Jah Shaka and Lloyd Coxsone sound systems in England at the time, and released on Michael "Reuben" Campbell and King Sounds' Grove Music record label. In 1979 he recorded the Repatriation Time album with producer Linval Thompson, which was released the following year. He went on to work with Sugar Minott on the album Presenting Ranking Trevor, released in 1981 on Minott's Black Roots label. Ranking Trevor also recorded as part of a conscious roots harmony duo with King Everall called Natural Vibes, releasing vocal and dub excursion Discomix records like Be Wise and Can't Leave Jah with Johnny Osbourne and Dancehall artist Papa Tullo. Continuing popularity in the UK prompted his relocation to London in the mid-1980s, where he lived for more than twenty years before returning to Jamaica. He died on 7 August 2012 from injuries sustained from a collision while riding his motorcycle in Kingston.

Credits & Appearances (5)

Also Appears On (20)

Artist Album Release Type Label Rec Rel
Winston Riley Quintessential Techniques Various Artists Winston Riley Quintessential Techniques VPCD 4158 CD 17 North Parade 196X-XX 2009
Music Works Vol 1 Various Artists Music Works Vol 1 SPV CD 085-52132 CD Ambassa Music 1971-83 1996
Microphone Attack Various Artists Microphone Attack BAFCD 037 CD Blood And Fire 1974-78 2001
DJ Specials Various Artists DJ Specials LP 1905 LP VP 1977 1977
Duke Reid International Disco Series Various Artists Duke Reid International Disco Series DBCDDD 075 CD Doctor Bird 1977-78 2021
Front Line II Various Artists Front Line II FLB 3001 LP Virgin 1978 1978
Pick Up The Hits Various Artists Pick Up The Hits DRLP 1002 LP D-Roy 1978 1978
Strong Like Samson Linval Thompson & Various Artists Strong Like Samson MILKCD 9 CD Hot Milk 1979-80 2015
Hit Bound : The Revolutionary Sound Of Channel One Various Artists Hit Bound : The Revolutionary Sound Of Channel One CDHB 43 CD Heartbeat 197X 1989
Step Forward Youth Various Artists Step Forward Youth VPGS 7059 CD Greensleeves 197X 2018
The Front Line Box Set Various Artists The Front Line Box Set 8106782 CD Virgin 197X 2004
Wailing Souls At Channel One The Wailing Souls Wailing Souls At Channel One PSCD 42 CD Pressure Sounds 197X 2004
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 With Quality Niney The Observer Roots With Quality VPCD 4148 CD 17 North Parade 197X-9X 2009
Teach The Youth Barrington Levy & Friends Teach The Youth VPCD 4121 CD 17 North Parade 1980-85 2008
Late Night Movie Lui Lepki Late Night Movie DB2CD 149 CD Doctor Bird 1981 2024
Volcano Eruption Henry Junjo Lawes Volcano Eruption VPCD 4162 CD 17 North Parade 1981-85 2010
Roots Reggae Party Vol 2 Various Artists Roots Reggae Party Vol 2 SCLP 004 LP Silver Camel 1982 1982
Roots Rasta Party Various Artists Roots Rasta Party SKCD 018 CD Silver Kamel 198X 2003
6 albums
5 credits
6 labels
1978 - 1981