Earl Sixteen

Earl Sixteen

Also known as: Earl 16

Earl Sixteen (born Earl John Daley, 9 May 1958) is a Jamaican reggae singer whose career began in the mid-1970s.

Biography
Daley grew up in Waltham Park Road, Kingston, and, influenced by American soul and Jamaican artists such as Dennis Brown, began his singing career by entering local talent shows. He became the lead vocalist for the group the Flaming Phonics, playing live around Jamaica. Daley decided to drop out of school to pursue his music career, which prompted his mother to throw him out of the family home. Needing to make some money, the group tried out for producer Duke Reid but left before finishing their recording due to his habit of firing live gunshots in the studio. They then worked with Herman Chin Loy, and Daley recorded his first solo track, "Hey Baby". The group split up, with Daley concentrating on his solo career. He recorded "Malcolm X" for producer Joe Gibbs in 1975-a track written by his school friend Winston McAnuff, and which was later successfully covered by Dennis Brown. In 1977, he joined Boris Gardiner's group, the Boris Gardiner Happening, which brought him into contact with Lee "Scratch" Perry. In the late 1970s, after a spell with Derrick Harriott, Daley recorded four tracks at Perry's Black Ark studio, including the original recording of "White Belly Rat", also meeting Earl Morgan of the Heptones, who later produced his album Shining Star. In the early 1980s, Daley recorded singles for a variety of producers, including Linval Thompson, Augustus Pablo, Clement Dodd, Sugar Minott, Yabby You, and Derrick Harriott, and recorded his debut album with Mikey Dread. He teamed up with Roy Cousins for two albums, Julie and Special Request. Earlier material recorded for Studio One was released as 1985's Showcase. In 1985, after spending time in the United States, Daley relocated to England, fathering a child. His child's mother knew Mad Professor, whom Daley began working with. He also worked with other British producers, including Stafford Douglas. One of his tracks from this era was a cover version of "Holding Back the Years", which had been a big hit for Simply Red. Returning to Jamaica, he worked briefly with King Jammy. In the 1990s, he made guest appearances on tracks by Leftfield, and he has been one of the two vocalists for the UK electronica/reggae band Dreadzone since 1995. He signed to WEA for his major label debut album, 1997's Steppin' Out, which was nominated for a MOBO award. Daley has continued touring and working with Dreadzone as well as joining Leftfield on tours.

Albums (9)

Artist Album Release Type Label Rec Rel
Phoenix Of Peace Earl Sixteen Phoenix Of Peace SLLP 8 LP Seven Leaves 197X 1993
Reggae Sound Earl Sixteen Reggae Sound DATCLP 003 LP DATC 1981 1981
Julia Earl Sixteen Julia TWLP 1003 LP Tamoki Wambesi 1982 1982
Showcase Earl Sixteen Showcase SOLP 3352 LP Studio 1 1982
Super Duper Earl Sixteen Super Duper JR 536 LP Time 1982 1982
Shining Star Earl Sixteen Shining Star VSLP 4023 LP Vista 1983 1983
Songs For A Reason Earl Sixteen Songs For A Reason VSLP 2011 LP Vista 1983 1983
Songs Of Love And Hardship Earl Sixteen Songs Of Love And Hardship KVL 9019 CD Kingdom 1984 1984
Year 2000 Earl Sixteen Year 2000 OM 106 LP Oswald Music 198X

Compilations (4)

Artist Album Release Type Label Rec Rel
Soldier Of Jah Army Earl Sixteen Soldier Of Jah Army PRP 014 CD Patate 197X
Special Request Earl Sixteen Special Request TWLP 1016 LP Tamoki Wambesi 1981-84
Earl Cunningham & Shining Star Earl Cunningham & Earl 16 Earl Cunningham & Shining Star BSRCD 913 CD Burning Sounds 1983 2019
Fusion Earl 16 & Ken Parker Fusion TWCD 1063 CD Tamoki Wambesi 198X 2016

Credits & Appearances (11)

Musicians
Backing Vocals 3
Artist Album Release Type Label Rec Rel
Jah Jah Way Yabby U Jah Jah Way ILPS 9615 LP Island 1980 1980
Presenting Mr Tuff Tony Tuff Presenting Mr Tuff BRLP 005 LP Black Roots 1981 1981
Johnny Dollar The Rolands Johnny Dollar LH-M LP 001 LP LH-M 1982 1982
Vocals 8
Artist Album Release Type Label Rec Rel
Phoenix Of Peace Earl Sixteen Phoenix Of Peace SLLP 8 LP Seven Leaves 197X 1993
Reggae Sound Earl Sixteen Reggae Sound DATCLP 003 LP DATC 1981 1981
Super Duper Earl Sixteen Super Duper JR 536 LP Time 1982 1982
Julia Earl Sixteen Julia TWLP 1003 LP Tamoki Wambesi 1982 1982
Songs For A Reason Earl Sixteen Songs For A Reason VSLP 2011 LP Vista 1983 1983
Shining Star Earl Sixteen Shining Star VSLP 4023 LP Vista 1983 1983
Songs Of Love And Hardship Earl Sixteen Songs Of Love And Hardship KVL 9019 CD Kingdom 1984 1984
Year 2000 Earl Sixteen Year 2000 OM 106 LP Oswald Music 198X

Also Appears On (45)

Artist Album Release Type Label Rec Rel
Dancehall Session Various Artists Dancehall Session RAS 9001 LP RAS
Dancehall Session Various Artists Dancehall Session RAS 9001 CD RAS
Studio One Power Mix Various Artists Studio One Power Mix SJRCD 549 CD Soul Jazz 2024
A Place Called Jamaica Various Artists A Place Called Jamaica MKS 02 (322302) CD Makasound 196X-7X 2002
Trojan Sunshine Reggae Box Set Various Artists Trojan Sunshine Reggae Box Set TJETD 185 CD Trojan 196X-7X 2004
Classic Rockers Various Artists Classic Rockers ILPS 9886 LP Island 1975-85 1987
Heart Of The Ark vol 2 Various Artists Heart Of The Ark vol 2 SLLP 3 LP Seven Leaves 1976-79 1982
Larks From The Ark Various Artists Larks From The Ark NTMCD 511 CD Nectar 1976-79 1995
Voodooism Various Artists Voodooism PSCD 09 CD Pressure Sounds 1976-79 1996
Vision Of Reggae Various Artists Vision Of Reggae TWLP 1007 LP Tamoki Wambesi 1977-82 1986
Irie Reggae Hits Various Artists Irie Reggae Hits JGML 063 LP Joe Gibbs 1979 1979
Strong Like Sampson Linval Thompson & Various Artists Strong Like Sampson KPSLSCD 1 CD Jet Star 1979-83 1997
History Of Tamoki Wambesi Various Artists History Of Tamoki Wambesi TWDV 1002 LP Tamoki Wambesi 1979-84 1985
Dancehall Explosion Various Artists Dancehall Explosion CDTRL 430 CD Trojan 1979-85 1999
Dancehall Stylee Various Artists Dancehall Stylee CDTRL 416 CD Trojan 1979-85 1998
Rare Roots Reggae Various Artists Rare Roots Reggae 323692 CD Makasound 197X 2004
Roots Of Dance Hall Various Artists Roots Of Dance Hall LUXXCD 006 CD Auralux 197X 2004
Sounds And Pressure Vol 4 Various Artists Sounds And Pressure Vol 4 PSCD 23 CD Pressure Sounds 197X 1999
Stand And Give Praise Various Artists Stand And Give Praise SPECXX 2043 CD Trojan 197X 2010
Studio One Rub-A-Dub Various Artists Studio One Rub-A-Dub SJRCD 154 CD Soul Jazz 197X 2007
Trojan Roots Reggae Boxset Various Artists Trojan Roots Reggae Boxset TJETD 296 CD Trojan 197X 2005
Tuff Cuts Various Artists Tuff Cuts PSCD 60 CD Pressure Sounds 197X 2008
Trojan Dancehall Box Set Various Artists Trojan Dancehall Box Set TRBCD 023 CD Trojan 197X-8X 2000
Trojan Dancehall Roots Box Set Various Artists Trojan Dancehall Roots Box Set TJETD 243 CD Trojan 197X-8X 2005
Master Showcase Various Artists Master Showcase DATCLP 001 LP DATC 1980 1980
Rockers International Various Artists Rockers International none LP Message 1980 1980
Rockers International Various Artists Rockers International CD Greensleeves 1980 2015
Rockers Vibration Various Artists Rockers Vibration DATCLP 004 LP DATC 1980-82 1982
Greensleeves 12" Rulers Linval Thompson & Friends Greensleeves 12" Rulers GRELCD 616 CD Greensleeves 1981-82 2008
Reggae Golden Classics Various Artists Reggae Golden Classics LP Crystal 1982 1982
Rub A Dubble Reggae Vol 1 Various Artists Rub A Dubble Reggae Vol 1 CSAP 102 LP CSA 1982-87 1988
Hypocrite Inna Dance Hall Style Various Artists Hypocrite Inna Dance Hall Style CD Channel One 1983
Roots To Roots, Soul To Soul Vol 2 Various Artists Roots To Roots, Soul To Soul Vol 2 TRDLP 41281 LP Tad's 1983 1981
Sly & Robbie Presents The Unmetered Taxi Various Artists Sly & Robbie Presents The Unmetered Taxi JJ 169 LP Empire 1984 1984
The CSA Collection Vol 2 Various Artists The CSA Collection Vol 2 CSLP 17 LP CSA 1984 1984
Two Time Girl Various Artists Two Time Girl DK 1010 LP Scorpio 1984 1984
Reggae Stars Explosion Vol 1 Various Artists Reggae Stars Explosion Vol 1 KVL 9022 LP Kingdom 1985 1985
Reggae Sunsplash Showcase Various Artists Reggae Sunsplash Showcase CD Tamoki Wambesi 198X
Romantic Nights Various Artists Romantic Nights CD CSA 198X 1987
Root Song Book Various Artists Root Song Book OLP 002 LP Our Land Sound 198X
Roy Cousins Presents Wambesi All Stars Various Artists Roy Cousins Presents Wambesi All Stars CDHB 35 CD Heartbeat 198X 1986
Various Artists Skengdon All Stars LP Skengdon 198X
Wambesi Showcase Various Artists Wambesi Showcase CDHB 3602 CD Heartbeat 198X 1995
Yabby You & King Tubby's All Stars Various Artists Yabby You & King Tubby's All Stars none LP Prophet 198X
Method To The Madness Various Artists Method To The Madness TJDDD273 CD Trojan 198X-9X 2005
13 albums
11 credits
13 labels
1980 - 1993