Jackie Opel

Jackie Opel

Dalton Sinclair Bishop (27 August 1937 - 9 March 1970), better known as Jackie Opel, was a Barbadian singer who possessed a rich, powerful voice with a high octave range. He was known as the "Jackie Wilson of Barbadian culture" and was also a gifted dancer. Bishop was born in Bridgetown, Barbados. In the early 1960s, he was discovered by Byron Lee, the band master of the Dragonaires, who brought him to Jamaica. His styles included ska, R&B, soul, gospel and calypso. He is credited with inventing spouge music, a fusion of ska, calypso, and R&B music. Opel performed duos with Doreen Shaffer and Hortense Ellis, and in 1964 was backed by Wailers Bob Marley and Peter Tosh on "Mill Man", "Hairy Mango" and "A Time to Cry". Jackie's height was about 5'3-5'4, and he was pigeon-toed. He was known as a great stage performer who could dance as well as James Brown. Opel eventually moved to Trinidad and then subsequently returned home to Barbados. On 9 March, 1970, he died in a car crash on Lower Bay Street, Bridgetown, Barbados. The night Jackie died he had just performed at Islands Inn hotel, and US music executives attending had inquired if Jackie had recordings or tapes. Jackie went home to get the recordings, but on his way back to the Islands Inn, a woman who was driving fast hit the edge of a pillar sticking out in the bend. Jackie was ejected head-first into a triangular wire fence and onto the concrete steps of Harry's Nightery. Jackie was singing with the Troubadours at the time of his death, and the group played music at his funeral.

Discography (3)

Artist Album Release Type Label Rec Rel
Cry Me A River Jackie Opel Cry Me A River SOL 9013 LP Studio 1
A Love To Share Jackie Opel & Ferdie Nelson A Love To Share WESM 510 CD Westside 196X
The Best Of Jackie Opel The Best Of SOLP 9020 LP Studio 1 1970 1970

Credits & Appearances (1)

Musicians
Vocals 1
Artist Album Release Type Label Rec Rel
A Love To Share Jackie Opel & Ferdie Nelson A Love To Share WESM 510 CD Westside 196X

Also Appears On (15)

Artist Album Release Type Label Rec Rel
Go Ska Go Various Artists Go Ska Go CDHB 199 CD Heartbeat 1995
Ska Authentic Vol 2 Various Artists Ska Authentic Vol 2 SOLP 0907 LP Studio 1
Studio One Rude Boy Various Artists Studio One Rude Boy SJRCD 148 CD Soul Jazz 2003
Oldies But Goodies Various Artists Oldies But Goodies GW 0002 LP Studio 1 1959-66 1969
Hisotry Of Ska Vol 1 Various Artists Hisotry Of Ska Vol 1 GW 0001 LP Studio 1 1960-65
Oldies But Goodies Vol 2 Various Artists Oldies But Goodies Vol 2 GW 0003 LP Studio 1 1960-66 1969
Studio One Ska Fever! Various Artists Studio One Ska Fever! SJRCD 271 CD Soul Jazz 1962-65 2014
Gaz Mayall Presents Top Ska ! Various Artists Gaz Mayall Presents Top Ska ! TJCCD 165 CD Trojan 196X 2004
History Of Ska Vol.1 Various Artists History Of Ska Vol.1 GW 001 LP Studio 1 196X
Ska Bonanza Various Artists Ska Bonanza CDHB 305 CD Heartbeat 196X 2006
Studio One Freedom Sounds Various Artists Studio One Freedom Sounds SJRCD 415 CD Soul Jazz 196X 2018
Studio One Jump-Up Various Artists Studio One Jump-Up SJRCD 296 CD Soul Jazz 196X 2015
Trojan Jamaica Box Set Various Artists Trojan Jamaica Box Set TJETD 199 CD Trojan 196X-7X 2004
Studio One Sound Various Artists Studio One Sound SJRCD 256 CD Soul Jazz 196X-8X 2015
Honeys Various Artists Honeys MLP 12-216 LP Melodisc 1974 1974
3 albums
1 credit
2 labels
1970 - 1970