David Isaacs

David Isaacs

Also known as: Bruce Bennett

David Isaacs (9 June 1946 - c. 21 December 2009) was a Jamaican reggae singer who worked with Lee "Scratch" Perry in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and went on to release several albums between the mid-1970s and early 1980s.

Biography
Isaacs was born in Denham Town in 1946, and was the first of 16 children for his mother. Isaacs recorded a version of Stevie Wonder's "A Place in the Sun" in 1968 for producer Lee Perry, and this was one of the records that established Trojan Records as a major force in reggae. The song was later re-recorded and included in Isaacs' album Place in the Sun, issued in the 1980s. In 1979, Isaacs recorded "Just Like a Sea", in combination with Roots Radics and deejay Jah Thomas, and released his debut album of the same name (also issued as More Love), produced by Witty Reid. In 1982, he teamed up with Winston "Niney" Holness for the album Happy Ending, released on Dynamic Sounds, which had been preceded by the Love & Devotion set. Isaacs also toured extensively with The Itals, as Lloyd Ricketts was unable to tour. In 1987, upon the nomination of the Itals for the American Grammy Awards, David toured extensively with the Itals line up of Keith Porter and Ronnie Davis. This line-up would continue for over two decades, and the last tour was in 2009, with a cross-country tour that ended in the fall. Because Lloyd Ricketts was unable to get a visa for all of these years, David supported the three-part harmony, and added his own special qualities. The "Itals" also toured without Ronnie Davis often, as Keith Porter, living in the United States did try various line-ups, including his family to perform under the "Itals" name. However, over the course of time, the importance of having David Isaacs and Ronnie Davis tour with the band became known by audience response. David Isaacs toured more over the years than Ronnie Davis or, of course, Lloyd Ricketts because he did work with Keith Porter when Keith Porter was promoting the Itals as his particular line-up which consisted of his daughter and usually included David Isaacs. Articles in the Gleaner and other places are reporting that David Isaacs along with his great personal achievements did a "brief stint" with the Itals, however that brief stint was over two decades, and his contributions to the Itals touring group cannot be described as brief. Isaacs died in December 2009. His sister Beverley found him dead at their Denham Town home on the morning of 21 December.

Discography (5)

Artist Album Release Type Label Rec Rel
Till I Can't Take It David Isaacs Till I Can't Take It HULP 2 LP Hulk 1976
More Love David Isaacs More Love JM 001 LP J&M 1979 1979
Happy Ending David Isaacs Happy Ending DY 3422 LP Dynamic Sounds 1982 1982
Love & Devotion David Isaacs Love & Devotion IC 8015 LP Imperial 198X 1981
To Sir With Love David Isaacs To Sir With Love 1838-2 CD Jamaica Authentic 198X

Credits & Appearances (7)

Musicians
Vocals 5
Artist Album Release Type Label Rec Rel
Till I Can't Take It David Isaacs Till I Can't Take It HULP 2 LP Hulk 1976
More Love David Isaacs More Love LP Steppers 1979 1979
Happy Ending David Isaacs Happy Ending DY 3422 LP Dynamic Sounds 1982 1982
Love & Devotion David Isaacs Love & Devotion IC 8015 LP Imperial 198X 1981
To Sir With Love David Isaacs To Sir With Love 1838-2 CD Jamaica Authentic 198X

Also Appears On (44)

Artist Album Release Type Label Rec Rel
BMN Ska & Rock Steady Various Artists BMN Ska & Rock Steady DSRCD 021 CD Dub Store 1964-68 2018
From The Dynamic Treasury Vol 1 Various Artists From The Dynamic Treasury Vol 1 JMC 200.119 LP Jamaican Gold 1964-68 1995
Sir J.J. Special Various Artists Sir J.J. Special DBCDD 064 CD Doctor Bird 1966-68 2020
Trojan Reggae Brothers Box Set Various Artists Trojan Reggae Brothers Box Set TJETD 072 CD Trojan 1967-77 2003
Rock Steady Intensified ! Various Artists Rock Steady Intensified ! LP 1060 LP Wirl 1968 1968
Tighten Up Vol 1 Various Artists Tighten Up Vol 1 TTL 1 LP Trojan 1968 1969
Dry Acid Various Artists Dry Acid CDTRL 398 CD Trojan 1968-69 1998
People Funny Boy Lee Scratch Perry People Funny Boy DB2CD 146 CD Doctor Bird 1968-69 2024
People Funny Boy Various Artists People Funny Boy CDTRL 339 CD Trojan 1968-70 1994
Tighten Up Various Artists Tighten Up TJBDD 011 CD Trojan 1968-74 2002
Complete UK Upsetter Singles Collection Vol 1 Various Artists Complete UK Upsetter Singles Collection Vol 1 CDTAL 902 CD Trojan 1969 1998
The Upsetter The Upsetters The Upsetter TTL 13 LP Trojan 1969 1969
Clint Eastwood & Many Moods Of The Upsetters Lee Scratch Perry & The Upsetters Clint Eastwood & Many Moods Of The Upsetters DBCDD 034 CD Doctor Bird 1969-70 2019
Soulful Lee Scratch Perry Soulful DB2CD 152 CD Doctor Bird 1969-70 2024
The Upsetter Shop vol 2 Various Artists The Upsetter Shop vol 2 CDHB 101 CD Heartbeat 1969-73 1999
Trojan Sixties Box Set Various Artists Trojan Sixties Box Set TJETD 174 CD Trojan 196X 2004
Collectorama Alton Ellis Collectorama JS 279 CD Jahslams 196X-7X 2009
Monkey Business Various Artists Monkey Business TJDCD 541 CD Trojan 196X-7X 2016
Trojan 'Tighten Up' Box Set Various Artists Trojan 'Tighten Up' Box Set TRBCD 018 CD Trojan 196X-7X 2000
Trojan Reggae Country Box Set Various Artists Trojan Reggae Country Box Set TJETD 365 CD Trojan 196X-7X 2007
Trojan Sunshine Reggae Box Set Various Artists Trojan Sunshine Reggae Box Set TJETD 185 CD Trojan 196X-7X 2004
Trojan Reggae For Kids Box Set Various Artists Trojan Reggae For Kids Box Set TJETD 262 CD Trojan 196X-8X 2005
Complete UK Upsetter Singles Collection Vol 3 Various Artists Complete UK Upsetter Singles Collection Vol 3 CDTAL 904 CD Trojan 1970-71 1998
Hot Numbers Volume 2 Various Artists Hot Numbers Volume 2 PMP 2009 LP Pama 1971
Presents Better Times Lee Scratch Perry Presents Better Times DB2CD168 CD Doctor Bird 1971 2025
Presents Confusion Lee Scratch Perry Presents Confusion DB2CD161 CD Doctor Bird 1971 2025
Complete UK Upsetter Singles Collection Vol 4 Various Artists Complete UK Upsetter Singles Collection Vol 4 CDTAL 905 CD Trojan 1971-73 1998
The Trojan Albums Collection Lee Scratch Perry & The Upsetters The Trojan Albums Collection TJDCD 565 CD Trojan 1971-73 2017
History Of Trojan Records 1972-95 Various Artists History Of Trojan Records 1972-95 CDTAL 900 CD Trojan 1972-95 1996
Clancy Eccles Reggae Revue At The Carib Theatre Various Artists Clancy Eccles Reggae Revue At The Carib Theatre JMC 200.254 CD Jamaican Gold 1973-86 2001
Double Seven Various Artists Double Seven TRLS 70 LP Trojan 1974 1973
Star Time Various Artists Star Time SS 1003 LP Sunshot 1975 1975
The Magnificent 7 & Rough Road Various Artists The Magnificent 7 & Rough Road BSRCD 967 CD Burning Sounds 1978 2017
Irie Reggae Hits Various Artists Irie Reggae Hits DBCDD 106 CD Doctor Bird 1979 2022
30 Wicked Hearts Various Artists 30 Wicked Hearts BFMCD 112 CD Bushranger 197X 1997
Café Jamaica Various Artists Café Jamaica METRCD 165 CD Union Square Music 197X 2005
Producers : Lee Perry vs Niney The Observer Lee Perry vs Niney The Observer Producers : Lee Perry vs Niney The Observer ROXS 5 CD Trojan 197X 2002
Rough Road Various Artists Rough Road BS 1018 LP Burning Sounds 197X 1978
The Best Of Lee Perry & The Upsetters Various Artists The Best Of Lee Perry & The Upsetters PTLP 1023 LP Pama 197X
The Upsetter Box Set Various Artists The Upsetter Box Set PERRY 1 LP Trojan 197X 1985
Trojan 12" Box Set Various Artists Trojan 12" Box Set TJETD 084 CD Trojan 197X 2003
Trojan Lovers Box Set Various Artists Trojan Lovers Box Set TRBCD 005 CD Trojan 197X 1999
70's Hits Reggae Style Various Artists 70's Hits Reggae Style CD Castle Pulse 197X-8X 2007
First Time Around Ruddy Thomas First Time Around DBCDD 114 CD Doctor Bird 1981 2022
5 albums
7 credits
7 labels
1976 - 1982