RAS Records, also known as Real Authentic Sound, is a reggae record label.

History[link]

RAS Records was founded in 1979 by Doctor Dread. In his travels to Jamaica he created a network within the reggae artist community there. By the early to mid 1980s RAS had signed artists such as Black Uhuru, Inner Circle, Culture, Junior Reid, Yellowman, and Freddie McGregor. This allowed RAS to grow significantly throughout the world. To date the label has also signed artists like Luciano, The Wailers Band, Sizzla and Tony Rebel.

Awards[link]

Over the years, several RAS artists have been nominated for Grammy Awards. In 1996 Bunny Wailer received an award for his tribute album Hall of Fame: A Tribute to Bob Marley's 50th Anniversary.

RAS artists[link]

• Luciano
• The Wailers Band
• Junior Reid
• Culture
• Black Uhuru
• Inner Circle
• Don Carlos
• Yellowman
• J.C. Lodge
• Freddie McGregor
• Israel Vibration
• Steel Pulse
• Mad Cobra
• Mikey Spice
• Sanchez

See also[link]

List of record labels

External links[link]

• RAS Records Web Site

Half-Pint stands for:

Measurement[link]

• half-pint, a unit of measure of volume, specifically a part of a pint.

Persons[link]

• Half Pint, the stage name of the Jamaican reggae singer Lindon Roberts.
• "Half-Pint", the affectionate nickname of the character Le Van Hawke, age 12, portrayed by the American (U.S.A.) boy actor Roland Harrah III in 2 episodes of the television series Airwolf.
• "Half-Pint", the affectionate nickname of the character Laura Ingalls Wilder, portrayed by the American (U.S.A.) girl actor Melissa Gilbert in the television series Little House on the Prairie.
• Half-Pint, the stage name of Cassandra Jackson, female rapper in the hip-hop band Son of Bazerk.

Slang[link]

• "half-pint" or "half pint", a small or short person; usually referring to a child. I.e. runt, squirt, pewee.

Most commonly used in an endearing/ familiar sense.

This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the same title. If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article.

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (October 2010)

Gregory Isaacs
Performing at the Sierra Nevada World Music Festival in 2010
Background information
Birth name	Gregory Anthony Isaacs
Also known as	Cool Ruler Lonely Lover
Born	(1951-07-15)15 July 1951 Kingston, Jamaica
Died	25 October 2010(2010-10-25) (aged 59) London, England, UK
Genres	Reggae
Occupations	Singer-songwriter
Years active	1968–2010

Gregory Anthony Isaacs (15 July 1951 – 25 October 2010)^[1] was a Jamaican reggae musician. Milo Miles, writing in the New York Times, described Isaacs as "the most exquisite vocalist in reggae".^[2] His nicknames include Cool Ruler^[3] and Lonely Lover.

Biography[link]

In his teens, Isaacs became a veteran of the talent contests that regularly took place in Jamaica. In 1968, he made his recording debut with a duet with Winston Sinclair, "Another Heartache", recorded for producer Byron Lee.^[1] The single sold poorly and Isaacs went on to team up with two other vocalists (Penroe and Bramwell) in the short-lived trio The Concords, recording for Rupie Edwards and Prince Buster.^[1] The trio split up in 1970 and Isaacs launched his solo career, initially self-producing recordings and also recording further for Edwards.^[1] In 1973 he teamed up with another young singer, Errol Dunkley to start the African Museum record label and shop, and soon had a massive hit with "My Only Lover", credited as the first lovers rock record ever made.^[1] He recorded for other producers to finance further African Museum recordings, having a string of hits in the three years that followed, ranging from ballads to roots reggae, including "All I Have Is Love", "Lonely Soldier", "Black a Kill Black", "Extra Classic" and his cover version of Dobby Dobson's "Loving Pauper".^[1] In 1974 he began working with producer Alvin Ranglin, and that year he had his first Jamaican number one single with "Love Is Overdue".^[1] Isaacs recorded for many of Jamaica's top producers during the 1970s, including Winston "Niney" Holness, Gussie Clarke ("My Time"), Lloyd Campbell ("Slavemaster"), Glen Brown ("One One Cocoa Fill Basket"), Harry Mudie, Roy Cousins, Sidney Crooks and Lee "Scratch" Perry ("Mr. Cop").^[4] By the late 1970s, Isaacs was one of the biggest reggae performers in the world, regularly touring the US and the UK, and only challenged by Dennis Brown and Bob Marley.^[4][5] Between 1977 and 1978, Isaacs again teamed up with Alvin Ranglin, recording a string of hits including "Border" and "Number One" for Ranglin's GG's label.

International stardom seemed assured in 1978 when Isaacs signed to the Virgin Records offshoot Front Line Records, and appeared in the film Rockers, in which he performed "Slavemaster".^[4] The Cool Ruler (which became one of his nicknames) and Soon Forward albums, however, failed to sell as well as expected,^[4] although they are now considered among his best work.^[6] In 1981, he made his first appearance at the Reggae Sunsplash festival (returning annually until 1991), and he moved on to the Charisma Records offshoot Pre, who released his The Lonely Lover (another nickname that stuck) and More Gregory albums along with a string of increasingly successful singles including "Tune In", "Permanent Lover", "Wailing Rudy" and "Tribute to Waddy".^[7] He signed to Island Records and released the record that finally saw him break through to a wider audience, "Night Nurse", the title track from his first album for the label (Night Nurse (1982)).^[7] Although "Night Nurse" was not a chart hit in either the UK or US, it was hugely popular in clubs and received heavy radio play, and the album reached #32 in the UK.^[8] This success for Isaacs coincided with drug problems with cocaine which saw him serve a six-month prison sentence in Kingston in 1982 for possession of unlicensed firearms.^[7][9] Isaacs claimed that he had the weapons only for protection, but it emerged that this was his 27th arrest and that Isaacs had become involved in drug dealing and had become addicted to crack cocaine.^[9] He celebrated his release from prison with his second album for Island, Out Deh! (1983).^[7] Isaacs was featured in the 1982 documentary Land of Look Behind.

When his contract with Island ended, Isaacs returned in 1984 with the "Kool Ruler Come Again" single, and began a period of prolific recording, working with producers including Prince Jammy, Hugh "Redman" James, Bobby Digital, Tad Dawkins and Steely & Clevie, maintaining a consistent standard despite the volume of work produced.^[5][7] Isaacs then built a strong relationship with Gussie Clarke of the Music Works label. They began with Isaacs' 1985 album Private Beach Party, and had a massive hit with "Rumours" in 1988, which was followed by further popular singles including "Mind Yu Dis", "Rough Neck", "Too Good To Be True" and "Report to Me".^[7] The association with Clarke continued into the early 1990s, teaming up with singers including Freddie McGregor, Ninjaman and JC Lodge.^[7] He dueted with Beres Hammond on the 1993 Philip "Fatis" Burrell-produced "One Good Turn", Burrell also producing Isaacs' 1994 album Midnight Confidential.^[7]

In the 1990s the African Museum label continued to release all of Isaacs' music, and that of artists he produced. In 1997 Simply Red covered "Night Nurse^{[disambiguation needed ]}" and had a hit with it. Isaacs continued to record and perform live in the 2000s. In 2005 Lady Saw produced another version of "Night Nurse" with her toasting over the original lyrics.

Isaacs' drug addiction had a major impact on his voice, with most of his teeth falling out as a result.^[9] Isaacs said of his addiction in 2007: "Drugs are a debasing weapon. It was the greatest college ever, but the most expensive school fee ever paid – the Cocaine High School. I learnt everything, and now I've put it on the side."^[9]

He also performed at the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 Inauguration at Jamaica.

In 2007 he collaborated with the Spanish rap group Flowklorikos / Rafael Lechowski album Donde Duele Inspira.

In 2008, after some 40 years as a recording artist, Isaacs released a new studio album Brand New Me, which was nominated for the Grammy Awards for 2010. The album received positive reviews from critics, such as this review from Reggae Vibes: "Gregory is back, and how! 'Brand New Me' is a very suitable album title for the cool ruler's new album. He is back in a different style, more or less like we were used to from this great 'lovers & roots' artist"^[10] This was followed in 2009 by the album My Kind Of Lady.

In 2010, Gregory Isaacs put out the last of his albums to be released while he was still living; Isaacs Meets Isaac, with Zimbabwean reggae singer, King Isaac. In November 2010, Isaacs Meets Isaac was nominated for Best Reggae Album for the 2011 Grammy Awards, giving Gregory Isaacs his fourth Grammy Nomination, and Zimbabwe's King Isaac, his first.

An advertisement for a Gregory Isaacs concert in Negril

Death[link]

After a long battle with lung cancer, Isaacs died on 25 October 2010 at his home in south London.^[11] A memorial service was held on 20 November at Kingston's National Indoor Sports Centre, including a musical tribute from artists including Lloyd Parks and We the People Band, Ken Boothe, Freddie McGregor, Shaggy, Judy Mowatt, Mavado, The Tamlins and Bongo Herman, before his remains were interred at the Dovecot Cemetery.^[12]

Discography[link]

More than 500 Gregory Isaacs albums have been released during his career, many being compilations. Studio albums of original material are listed below:

• In Person (1975) Trojan
• All I Have Is Love (1976) Trojan
• The Best Of Vol. 1 (1977) GG's
• Extra Classic (1977) African Museum
• Mr Isaacs (1977) DEB
• Cool Ruler (1978) Front Line
• Soon Forward (1979) Front Line
• Slum (Gregory Isaacs in Dub) (1978) Burning Sounds
• Gregory Isaacs Meets Ronnie Davis (1979) Plant (with Ronnie Davis)
• Showcase (1980) Taxi
• Lonely Lover (1980) Pre
• More Gregory (1981) Pre
• The Best Of Vol. 2 (1981) GG's
• Night Nurse (1982) Island/Mango
• Out Deh! (1983) Island/Mango
• Let's Go Dancing (1984)
• Judge Not (1985) Greensleeves (with Dennis Brown)
• Private Beach Party (1985) Greensleeves & RAS
• Easy (1985) Tad's
• Double Dose (1986) Blue Trac (with Sugar Minott)
• All I Have is Love Love Love (1987) Tad's
• Victim (1987) VP
• Watchman of the City (1987) Rohit
• Come Along (1988), Live & Love
• Red Rose for Gregory (1988) Greensleeves & RAS
• Warning (1989) Firehouse
• Feature Attraction (1989) VP for Mixing Lab records
• No Contest (1989) Greensleeves & VP (with Dennis Brown)
• I.O.U. (1989) Greensleeves & RAS
• On The Dance Floor (1990) Heartbeat
• Call Me Collect (1990) RAS
• Set Me Free (1991) VP, Digital B & Vine Yard
• No Intention (1991) VP
• Boom Shot (1991) Shanachie
• State of Shock (1991) RAS
• Past and Future (1991) VP
• Pardon Me! (1992) RAS
• Cooyah! (1992) Label Unknown...
• Can't Stay Away (1992) VP & Xterminator
• Rudie Boo (1992) Star Trail
• Unattended // Absent (1993) Pow Wow & Greensleeves
• Unlocked (1993) RAS
• Midnight Confidential (1994) Greensleeves for Xterminator records
• Dreaming (1995) Heartbeat
• Not a One Man Thing (1995) RAS
• Private Lesson (1996) Heartbeat
• Mr. Cool (1996) VP
• Maximum Respect (1996) House of Reggae
• Hold Tight (1997) Heartbeat
• Hardcore Hits (1997) Ikus
• Dance Curfew (1997), Acid Jazz – with Dread Flimstone
• Kingston 14 Denham Town (1998) Jamaican Vibes
• Do Lord (1998) Xterminator
• New Dance (1999) Prestige
• Turn Down The Lights (1999) Artists Only
• So Much Love (2000) Joe Gibbs Music
• Future Attraction (2000) VP
• Father & Son (2000), 2B1 – Gregory Isaacs & Son
• It Go Now (2002), 2B1
• Life's Lonely Road (2004)
• Give It All Up (2004) Heartbeat
• Rat Patrol (2004) African Museum
• Masterclass (2004) Greensleeves for Blacker Dread records
• Revenge (2005) P.O.T.
• Substance Free (2005) Vizion Sounds
• Come take my hand (2006) Mun Mun
• Hold Tight (2008) Mafia & Fluxy
• Brand New Me (2008) African Museum
• My Kind Of Lady (2009) Rude Productions
• Isaacs Meets Isaac with King Isaac (2010) King Isaac Music

Notes[link]

References[link]

• Barrow, Steve & Dalton, Peter (2004) The Rough Guide to Reggae, 3rd edn., Rough Guides, ISBN 1-84353-329-4
• Kiviat, Steve (1996) "Gregory Isaacs", Washington City Paper, December 6 – 12, 1996 (Vol. 16, #49)
• Larkin, Colin (1998) The Virgin Encyclopedia of Reggae, Virgin Books, ISBN 0-7535-0242-9
• Miles, Milo (1992) "RECORDINGS VIEW; Gregory Isaacs, the Ruler of Reggae", New York Times, 2 February 1992
• Perry, Andrew (2007) "The cool ruler of reggae makes a comeback", The Daily Telegraph, 11 January 2007
• Thomspon, Dave (2003) Reggae & Caribbean Music, Backbeat Books, ISBN 0-87930-655-6

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Gregory Isaacs

• Profile @ Reggaeville.com
• Biography: Reggae Vibes
• Biography: Greensleeves Records
• RAS Records discography
• Gregory Isaacs Vinyl Page Some of Isaacs' vinyl releases
• Free Downloads @ JahSmoke.com Isaacs' albums and vinyls

Dean Fraser
Background information
Birth name	Dean Ivanhoe Fraser
Born	c.1955, Kingston, Jamaica
Genres	Reggae, Jazz
Occupations	Saxophonist
Instruments	Saxophone, Vocals
Years active	mid 1970s – present
Labels	Joe Gibbs, Germain, Island, Greensleeves, Shanachie, VP, RAS
Associated acts	We The People Band, Sly & Robbie, Luciano, Tarrus Riley

Dean Fraser (sometimes appearing as Dean Frazer) (b. Dean Ivanhoe Fraser, Kingston, Jamaica c.1955)^[1] is a Jamaican saxophonist who has contributed to hundreds of reggae recordings since the mid-1970s. He was awarded the Musgrave Medal by the Jamaican government in 1993 in recognition of his services to music.^[2]

Biography[link]

Fraser started to play the clarinet at the age of 12. Around this time he met Ronald 'Nambo' Robinson and Junior 'Chico' Chinn at a youthclub in Jonestown and the three boys would eventually form a brass section.^[2] Fraser took up saxophone at the age of 15.^[1] The trio became the foremost horn section in Jamaica in the 1980s. In 1977 he joined Lloyd Parks' We The People Band, backing Dennis Brown on several of his recordings for Joe Gibbs.^[2] Fraser's first album, 1978's Black Horn Man was produced by Gibbs. This was followed in 1979 by Pure Horns and Double Dynamite, and in 1980 by Revolutionary Sounds for producer Donovan Germain. Fraser provided horns for Sly & Robbie in the 1980s, both on record and on tour.^[2] Fraser appeared at the 1981 Reggae Sunsplash, performing an instrumental version of the recently-deceased Bob Marley's "Redemption Song", which led to the 1984 album Pumping Air on Island Records' Mango label.^[2] Fraser went on to record two albums of Marley covers, Dean Plays Bob and Dean Plays Bob volume II.^[1]

The digital era of reggae, which is defined by the use of computers and drum machines to create the backing track, did not affect his output since acoustic instruments such as the saxophone were still in demand. Fraser has released several more albums since and he is recognized as one of Jamaica's top musicians. He toured extensively with Luciano from the late 1990s to the mid-2000s,^[3] as well as performing on and adding production to several of the singer's albums, including A New Day, Serious Times and Jah Is My Navigator.^[4][5] More recently, Fraser has been recording, producing and touring with singers Tarrus Riley and Duane Stephenson.^[6][7] Also, Dean Fraser has redone 16 tracks on CD 2 of "We Remember Gregory Isaacs" which was recorded in 2011 on VP Records.

He is Uncle to Hip Hop Mc Reggiimental.^{[citation needed]}

References[link]

External links[link]

• RAS Records artist profile
• Dean Fraser at Roots Archives
• Dean Fraser album discography

Anthony B
Anthony B performing in 2005
Background information
Birth name	Keith Blair
Born	(1976-03-31) March 31, 1976 (age 36) Trelawny, Jamaica
Genres	Reggae
Instruments	vocals
Years active	1996–present
Labels	VP, Greensleeves Records

Anthony B is the stage name of Keith Blair (born March 31, 1976,^[1] Clark's Town, Trelawny, Jamaica),^[2] a Jamaican musician and member of the Rastafari movement.

Talking of his faith and music, Anthony B commented, "When we say 'burn fire' we don't mean take a match and light somebody, we are saying 'get rid of these things that are no good for humanity'".^[3]

Biography[link]

Early life[link]

Blair grew up in rural Clark's Town in the northwestern parish of Trelawny in Jamaica.^[2] His deeply religious family life (his mother was a Seventh-day Adventist and his grandmother a Revivalist) imbued him with a profound spirituality. During his youth, his favorite singers were reggae legends Bob Marley and Peter Tosh, musicians who strongly influenced his own style.^[4] Peter Tosh's influence can definitely be heard in Anthony B's vocal delivery and revolutionary stance.^[4]

Anthony B adopted Rastafari movement beliefs as a teenager, a decision which was not well-received by his family. The stubborn and determined Anthony B refused to give up his new religion and his dreadlocks and moved to the home of his aunt and uncle in the Kingston suburb, Portmore. He is a member of the Bobo Ashanti branch of the movement. "Bobo Dreads", as they are known, are recognizable by their long robes and turbans. The strong Afrocentric pride and the other Rastafarian beliefs (or "overstandings" as Rastafarians prefer to call them) are reflected in his songs.

Career[link]

Anthony B performing in 2005

While attending high school, Anthony B debuted as a deejay for the local sound system, Shaggy Hi-Power.^[2] In 1988, he befriended reggae artists such as Determine, Mega Banton, Ricky General and Terror Fabulous.

At this point in the reggae industry, singing "slack" songs about women was the popular thing to do. Anthony B did not believe in degrading women and chose to pen politically-slanted songs instead. He collaborated with Little Devon and made his debut single "The Living is Hard" on the Wizard label in 1993. Anthony B tried many different producers before joining with Richard Bell,^[4] creating hits such as "Fire Pon Rome", "Raid Di Barn", "Rumour", and "Repentance Time".^[5] Anthony B's 1996 debut album entitled Real Revolutionary in the UK and So Many Things in the US was highly acclaimed in the reggae community.^{[citation needed]} In late 1997, Anthony B released Universal Struggle, followed by a large number of albums since including 1999's Seven Seals, 2003's Street Knowledge, 2004's Untouchable which featured collaborations with artists including Wyclef Jean, Snoop Dogg & Bone Crusher, 2005's Black Star plus My Hope, and more recently, Life Over Death (2008).

Anthony B tours extensively in Europe and North America.

Discography[link]

Albums[link]

• Predator & Prey (1996, Alpha Enterprises)
• Real Revolutionary - UK / So Many Things - US (1996, Greensleeves)
• Universal Struggle (1997, VP Records)
• Seven Seals (1999, VP Records)
• That's Life (2001, VP Records)
• More Love (2001, AO ! Records)
• Live On The Battlefield (2002, Jahmin' Records)
• Street Knowledge (2003, VP Records)
• Judgment Time (2003, 2B1 Records)
• Smoke Free (2003, Bogalusa Records)
• Voice Of Jamaica vol. 2 (2003, Nocturne)
• Wise Man Chant (2004, Black Scorpio)
• Justice Fight (2004, Nocturne)
• Untouchable (2004, Togetherness Records)
• Powers Of Creation (2004, Nocturne)
• Black Star (2005, Greensleeves)
• My Hope (2005, AL.TA.FA.AN. / Minor 7 Flat 5)
• Confused Times (2005, Penitentiary)
• Gather and Come (2006 Penitentiary)
• Suffering Man (2006 Tad's Records)
• Higher Meditation (2007 Greensleeves)
• True Rastaman (2008 Penitentiary Records)
• Life Over Death (2008 Trendsetter)
• Rise Up (2009)
• Rasta Love (2011)
• Freedom Fighter (2012)

Compilations[link]

• Chanting Down Babylon (1997, Power Play); live, with Buju Banton
• 2 Strong (1998, Star Trail/VP Records); with Sizzla
• Anthony B & Idren (1998, Jamaican Vibes)
• Anthony B & Friends (1998, Rhino Records)
• Nazarene Vow (1999, Records Factory); with Junior Timba
• 3 Wise Men (1999, J&D); with Sizzla and Luciano
• One Mission (1999, J&D); with Capleton
• Saddle To The East (2001, Brick Wall); with Jah Mason and Steve Machete
• 4 Rebels (2001, VP Records); with Sizzla, Luciano, and Yami Bolo
• The Five Disciples (2001, Penitentiary / Jet Star); with Sizzla, Luciano, Junior Kelly, and Capleton
• We Three Kings (2001, AO ! Records); with Sizzla
• We Three Kings (2002, Navarre); with Capleton and Luciano
• Four The Hard Way (2002, City Hall); with Capleton, Sizzla, and Luciano
• Kings Of Zion (2002, Jet Star); with Capleton, Sizzla, and Junior Kelly
• Reggae Max (2002, Jet Star)
• 5 Blazing Fires (2002, Fire Ball); with Admiral Tibbett, Sizzla, Capleton, and Michael Fabulous
• Five Disciples Part II (2003, Jet Star); with Capleton, Luciano, Sizzla, and Jr. Kelly
• Kings Of Zion vol. 3 (2005, Charm); with Capleton, Sizzla, and Turbulence
• Jah Warriors vol. III (2005, Penitentiary); with Luciano
• Encore (2010)
• NYC-2-Africa (2010, Suatomic Sound); with Subatomic Sound System, Nomadic Wax, Jahdan Blakkamoore, and Bajah

References[link]

External links[link]

• Music videos
• News, Bio, Latest songs and Video's