{"title":"Owen Gray","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOwen Gray, born on July 5, 1939 in Jamaica, is a highly influential artist in the music industry. With a career spanning several decades, Gray has made significant contributions to the development of Jamaican music. His unique style blends elements of ska, rocksteady, and reggae, captivating audiences worldwide.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eGray's talent and versatility have earned him comparisons to legendary performers such as Derrick Morgan and The Jamaicans. He has collaborated with esteemed artists like The Kingstonians and Pat Kelly, showcasing his ability to adapt and excel across various genres.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eKnown for his soulful vocals and charismatic stage presence, Gray has become an icon in the industry. His discography includes timeless hits like \"Please Let Me Go\" and \"Give Me Little Sign,\" which continue to resonate with fans today.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"dancing-on-the-beach-the-early-years-1960-62","title":"Dancing On The Beach The Early Years 1960-62","description":"\u003cp\u003eDancing On The Beach The Early Years 1960-62 Still going strong in 2023, pioneering Jamaican singer Owen Gray was one of the first local artists to get on record in the late 1950s and one of the first to top the local charts when they were introduced back in 1959 He was also the very first Jamaican popular vocalist to release an album comprising R\u0026amp;B and pop rather than the island's earlier indigenous music mento or calypso. \"Owen Gray Sings\" was a landmark release in the history of what became reggae and also in the history of Island Records' founder Chris Blackwell, who produced it in the days before Island existed. The album features here in its entirety in this Jasmine collection of early Owen - for the first time on CD, we believe - along with more than a dozen other examples of his work for other notable Jamaican producers of the pre-Ska era, among them Simeon 'Little Wonder' Smith, Clement 'Sir Coxson' Dodd and Prince Buster, all of them fine examples of how rapidly the Jamaican recording business was evolving in its early years. Jamaican popular music didn't really have a name in these times, but in the UK it became known as 'Blue Beat' after the record label on which so much of it was released between 1960 and 1967. Here on \"Dancing On The Beach\" are many of the very best of Owen's blue beat-era recordings presented, as with all Jasmine CDs, in the highest possible audio quality with expert remastering and copious annotation. There's plenty more to compile if a second volume is warranted.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Jasmine","offers":[{"title":"CD","offer_id":50402210218315,"sku":"2053849","price":12.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/0604988281125_254c764c_thumbnail_4096.webp?v=1726535589"},{"product_id":"fire-and-bullets","title":"Fire and Bullets","description":"\u003cp\u003eReissued for the first time on vinyl, an amazing showcase of roots and reggae lovers, originally released on Trojan in 1977. Although his place as a reggae pioneer cannot be questioned, Owen Gray has felt for many years that he never got his due from Jamaica, his homeland. On August 6 2023, the government finally recognized his contribution awarding him with the honor of Order Of Distinction, Jamaica’s sixth-highest honour. Gray, now 87, is ecstatic about what he considers an overdue and deserved reward. In the rocksteady era, he recorded for producer Sir Clancy Collins AKA sir collins .His popularity continued throughout the 1960s, working with producers such as Clement Dodd, Prince Buster, Sydney Crooks, Arthur \"Duke\" Reid, Leslie Kong, and Clancy Eccles, including work as a duo with Millie Small, with songs ranging from ska to ballads. He continued to record regularly, having a big hit in 1968 with \"Cupid\". His 1970 track \"Apollo 12\" found favour with the early skinheads, and in 1972 he returned to Island Records, recording reggae versions of The Rolling Stones' \"Tumblin' Dice\" and John Lennon's \"Jealous Guy\", although they met with little success. During this period, he regularly had releases on Pama and Pioneer Internacional label, Camel Records, and one single on Hot Lead Records. He had greater success in Jamaica, however, with \"Hail the Man\", a tribute to Emperor Haile Selassie, which was popular with the increasing Rastafari following. \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Lantern Rec","offers":[{"title":"Black LP.","offer_id":50403785703755,"sku":"2163873","price":24.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/8054757320074_e1f0ac46_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1726563779"},{"product_id":"sings-1","title":"Sings","description":"\u003cp\u003e180 gram vinyl reissue of 1961 album. This was the first Jamaican album to be manufactured and released in the UK. This re-issue commemorates the 60th anniversary of its release. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eLP: 1. I Feel Good \/ 2. Someone Help Me \/ 3. Far Love \/ 4. The Plea \/ 5. Mash It \/ 6. Let Me Go Free \/ 7. In My Dreams \/ 8. Please Let Me Go \/ 9. I'm Going Back \/ 10. Jenny Lee \/ 11. Farewell\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Burning Sounds","offers":[{"title":"LP","offer_id":50460837183819,"sku":"1119169","price":19.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/1a95486d-651d-4eeb-acff-a85f218dd783_thumbnail_4096.png?v=1727238995"},{"product_id":"songbook-revisited","title":"Songbook Revisited","description":"\u003cp\u003eNew stereo recordings including Three Little Birds, One Love and Apollo12. Booklet contains an in depth interview with Owen Gray.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOwen Gray was the island’s first home grown star to sing in a style that wasn’t mento, calypso or jazz. Bursting on the scene with a string of hits, repeatedly topping the Jamaican charts, some times for months at a time, he’s now eighty years of age... not eighty years old, and he has never, ever stopped making marvellous records. Further evidence of his continuing creativity can be found and greatly enjoyed on this collection\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTracks: If I Needed Someone \/ Three Little Birds \/ Jealous Guy \/ Ballistic Affair \/ Guava Jelly \/ One Love \/ Tumblin’ Dice \/ Confidential To You \/ Fussing \u0026amp; Fighting \/ Let’s Start All Over \/ Disc 2: I Can’t Stop Loving You \/ Apollo 12 \/ Give Me A Little Sign Girl \/ Running Around \/ The Fool On the Hill \/ Darling Patricia \/ One Love (Dub) \/ Three Little Birds (Dub)\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Burning Sounds","offers":[{"title":"CD | x2","offer_id":50526515626315,"sku":"1084372","price":8.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/7d5fbc0e-a7aa-49dc-830a-0832068493d5_thumbnail_4096.png?v=1728044569"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/collections\/test_18c5b920_thumbnail_4096_0ca15295-dd1a-4894-bb6e-7565993ea571.jpg?v=1726535573","url":"https:\/\/shop.roughtrade.com\/de\/collections\/owen-gray.oembed","provider":"Rough Trade","version":"1.0","type":"link"}