He soon became known for his innovative production techniques as well as his eccentric character. During the 1970s, Perry released numerous recordings on a variety of record labels that he controlled, and many of his songs were popular in both Jamaica and the United Kingdom. Similarly his acrimonious 1967 single as Lee 'King' Perry, ' Run for Cover', was likewise aimed at Sir Coxsone.įrom 1968 until 1972, he worked with his studio band the Upsetters.

It is notable for its innovative use of a sample (a crying baby) as well as a fast, chugging beat that would soon become identifiable as 'reggae'. His first major single 'People Funny Boy', which was an insult directed at Gibbs, sold well with 60,000 copies sold in Jamaica alone. Perry broke ranks with Gibbs and formed his own label, Upsetter Records, in 1968. Working with Gibbs, Perry continued his recording career but, once again, financial problems caused conflict. He soon found a new home at Joe Gibbs's Amalgamated Records. Disagreements between the pair due to personality and financial conflicts led him to leave the studio and seek new musical outlets. As his sometimes turbulent relationship with Dodd developed, he found himself performing a variety of important tasks at Dodd's Studio One hit factory, going on to record nearly thirty songs for the label. Perry's musical career began in the late 1950s as a record seller for Clement Coxsone Dodd's sound system. the stone that I was throwing in Negril send me to King Stone for my graduation.') where he apprenticed at Studio One. Kingston means King's Stone, the Son of the King. Lee later moved to Kingston after experiencing a mystical connection to stones ('When the stones clash, I hear like the thunder clash. He eventually wound up in Clarendon where he got into the dance and music scene and earned the nickname 'The Neat Little Thing'. Lee left school at age 15 and lived in Hanover where he did not have much regard for working, and preferred to play dominoes and live according to his own desires. His parents were both laborers, but his father later became a professional dancer.

His mother had strong African traditions originating from her Yoruba ancestry that she passed on to her son. Rainford Hugh Perry was born on 20 March 1936 in Kendal, Jamaica, in the parish of Hanover, the third child of Ina Davis and Henry Perry.

Torrent lee scratch perry discography