Tenor Saw

Tenor Saw

Clive Bright (2 December 1966 - 13 August 1988), better known as Tenor Saw, was a Jamaican dancehall singjay in the 1980s, considered one of the most influential singers of the early digital reggae era. His best-known song was the 1985 hit "Ring the Alarm" on the "Stalag" riddim.

Biography
Born in Victoria Jubilee Hospital, Kingston, Jamaica, Bright was raised as the fourth of six children in the Payne Land, Maverley and Olympic Gardens areas of West Kingston before the family settled in Duhaney Park. Bright had a religious upbringing and sang in the Seventh-day Adventist Church of God choir in Olympic Gardens. Seeking to make it as a recording artist, Bright approached several of Kingston's producers. After being rejected by several others, George Phang gave the youngster a chance; His first single, "Roll Call" was recorded in 1984 for Phang's Powerhouse label, on the "Queen Majesty" riddim. He moved on, with his friend Nitty Gritty, to work with Sugar Minott's Youth Promotion sound system and Black Roots Records label, having hits in Jamaica with "Lots of Sign", "Pumpkin Belly", "Run Come Call Me", and "Fever". His most successful single, however, was "Ring the Alarm", voiced over the "Stalag" riddim for Winston Riley's Techniques label. The singles' success saw Tenor Saw work with King Jammy, recording "Pumpkin Belly" on Jammy's (then) new "Sleng Teng" rhythm. Further hits followed in 1986 with "Golden Hen" (on the Uptempo label), and Minott issued Tenor Saw's debut album, Fever, that year. In common with most dancehall albums of the period, most of the rhythms were digital adaptions of older tunes from the 1960s and 1970s, usually produced originally by Coxsone Dodd or Duke Reid. Thus, "Shirley Jones" is based on the "Rougher Yet" riddim (named after Keith "Slim" Smith's "Rougher Yet"), and "Eeni Meeni Mini Mo" uses the "Real Rock" riddim from Studio One, while "Roll Call" versions The Techniques' "Queen Majesty" from Duke Reid, and "Lots of Sign" uses the bassline of "Tonight" by Keith & Tex, produced by Derrick Harriott. By the time the album was released, Tenor Saw had relocated to Miami, joining the Skengdon crew, where he recorded "Dancehall Feeling" and "Bad Boys". He recorded "No Work On a Sunday" for Donovan Germain, before moving to New York, where he recorded with Freddie McGregor ("Victory Train"). His last recording, "Chill Out Chill Out", was a duet with General Doggie. On 31 July 1988, Tenor Saw was seriously injured in a hit and run accident in Houston, Texas. He received treatment at the Ben Taub General Hospital, but succumbed to his injuries two weeks later, on 13 August 1988. He died at 21 years of age. Although other sources insist that he was murdered, his official cause of death was a closed head injury and bumper injuries complicated by a lung infection. Strangely on 26 October 1988, the newspaper Jamaica Gleaner reported that Tenor Saw was shot and killed in New York City (Tenor Saw had been dead for around two months by this point). Tenor Saw is regarded as one of the most influential singers of the early digital reggae era of the mid-1980s.

Influence
Tenor Saw's friends and colleagues Nitty Gritty ("Who Killed Tenor Saw?") and King Kong ("He was a Friend") both recorded tributes the year after his death. Super Cat's song "Nuff man a Dead" is about the death of Tenor Saw and other superstars of the time. Big Audio Dynamite sampled "Ring the Alarm" in their song "Rewind" on their 1989 album Megatop Phoenix. English Hip Hop duo The Nextmen also references Tenor Saw, as well as the song "Ring the Alarm" on their 2000 composition Amongst the Madness. A short excerpt from "Ring the Alarm" ("Watch the soundman a-tremble, watch the soundman afraid...") is used in the opening credits of Mark Ronson's 2021 six-episode docuseries Watch the Sound with Mark Ronson, about the use of various types of technology in modern pop music. Sublime's cover of the Bob Marley and Wailers song "Jailhouse", is essentially a medley, heavily borrowing from the song "Roll Call". Sublime's song "Caress Me Down" uses the Sleng Teng riddim - which Tenor Saw helped to popularize with his song "Pumpkin Belly".

Discography (4)

Artist Album Release Type Label Rec Rel
Clash Tenor Saw & Cocoa Tea Clash HLP 012 LP Hawkeye 1985 1985
Fever Tenor Saw Fever SFCD 009 CD Sprint 1985
Tenor Saw Meets Nitty Gritty Tenor Saw & Nitty Gritty Tenor Saw Meets Nitty Gritty VPCD 4132 CD 17 North Parade 1985 2008
The Golden Hen Tenor Saw Meets Don Angelo The Golden Hen UTLP 004 LP Uptempo 1986 1986

Credits & Appearances (4)

Musicians
Vocals 4
Fever
Blue Moutain • 1985
Clash
Hawkeye • 1985
The Golden Hen
Uptempo • 1986
Artist Album Release Type Label Rec Rel
Fever Tenor Saw Fever BM 013 LP Blue Moutain 1985 1985
Clash Tenor Saw & Cocoa Tea Clash HLP 012 LP Hawkeye 1985 1985
Tenor Saw Meets Nitty Gritty Tenor Saw & Nitty Gritty Tenor Saw Meets Nitty Gritty VPCD 4132 CD 17 North Parade 1985 2008
The Golden Hen Tenor Saw Meets Don Angelo The Golden Hen UTLP 004 LP Uptempo 1986 1986

Also Appears On (23)

Artist Album Release Type Label Rec Rel
Tougher Than Tough Various Artists Tougher Than Tough IBXCD 1 CD Island 1958-93 1993
200% Dynamite Various Artists 200% Dynamite SJRCD 041 CD Soul Jazz 196X-8X 1999
400% Dynamite Various Artists 400% Dynamite SJRCD 046 CD Soul Jazz 196X-8X 2000
600%  Dynamite Various Artists 600% Dynamite SJRCD 084 CD Soul Jazz 196X-8X 2003
Riot Radio Broadcast Various Artists Riot Radio Broadcast TJCCD 374 CD Trojan 196X-8X 2007
Winston Riley Quintessential Techniques Various Artists Winston Riley Quintessential Techniques VPCD 4158 CD 17 North Parade 196X-XX 2009
Get Up Stand Up Various Artists Get Up Stand Up RZDCD 022 CD RAS 197X-8X 2005
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
Under Mi Sleng Teng Various Artists Under Mi Sleng Teng TJBDD 301 CD Trojan 1982-93 2007
1985 Master Mega Hits Various Artists 1985 Master Mega Hits none LP Jammys 1985 1985
Powerhouse Presents Strictly Live Stock Various Artists Powerhouse Presents Strictly Live Stock GREL 81 LP Greensleeves 1985 1985
Stalag 17,18 & 19 Various Artists Stalag 17,18 & 19 VIF 001 CD Virgin 1985 1998
Under Me Sleng Teng Extravaganza Various Artists Under Me Sleng Teng Extravaganza TRD 2385 LP Tad's 1985 1985
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
What One "Riddim" Can Do Various Artists What One "Riddim" Can Do DGLP 186 LP Germain 1986 1986
Jah Children Invasion Chapter IV Various Artists Jah Children Invasion Chapter IV LP Tachyon 1987 1987
Dancehall Various Artists Dancehall SJRCD 196 CD Soul Jazz 198X 2008
Hidden Treasures Various Artists Hidden Treasures ES 1003 CD Easy Star 198X 1999
Hidden Treasures Vol 2 Various Artists Hidden Treasures Vol 2 ES 1005 CD Easy Star 198X 2000
King Jammy - A Man And His Music Vol 2 Various Artists King Jammy - A Man And His Music Vol 2 CD 79202 CD RAS 198X
Presenting The Posse Vol 1 & 2 Various Artists Presenting The Posse Vol 1 & 2 UPTLP 21 LP Uptempo 198X 1992
Trojan Ras Reggae Box Set Various Artists Trojan Ras Reggae Box Set TJETD 152 CD Trojan 198X-9X 2004
4 albums
4 credits
5 labels
1985 - 2008