I just found out that deejay legend Jah Woosh, real name Neville Beckford, passed away last month. He is reported to have died in the UK of cancer on February 11th, aged 58. He is probably best known for his late-seventies Channel One recordings, the Religious Dread LP in particular, though his initial releases early in the decade for producers like Keith Hudson, Phil Pratt, Blacka Morwell and Rupie Edwards were perhaps his freshest and most original. His work stands alongside the music of contemporaries Big Youth, I-Roy, Prince Jazzbo, Dennis Alcapone, Jah Lloyd, Prince Hammer and Dillinger.
After a long stint as MC on Prince Lloyd's sound system Jah Woosh recorded his first tune in 1971, Angela Davis, on Little Roy's Prophesy riddim by Blacka Morwell. His first LP, Jah Woosh, was released by Rupie Edwards in 1974 on Cactus. He went on to voice LPs and singles for several other producers (Leonard Chin, Dudley Swarby, Dread & Dread, Brad Osbourne, Sidney Crooks) while setting up in self-production. The first of several of his self-produced LPs, Dreadlocks Affair with the Mighty Cloud Band, came out in 1976. He went on to release many productions on his Original Music label into the 1990s, working with Larry Marshall, Reggae George, Bim Sherman, Trinity, Flabba Holt and Horace Andy among others. The 1978 12'' with Ras Ibuna - Diverse Doctrine/Pay Dem Dues was an absolute roots classic. A move to the UK in 1979 began a long lasting collaboration with the musical collective Creation Rebel, recording the Marijuana World Tour LP and playing live. A creative association was also formed with Adrien Sherwood's On-U Sound and Jah Woosh contributed to several projects with Creation Rebel, New Age Steppas and Singers & Players, alongside fellow chanters Prince Far-I and Prince Hammer.
By the late 80s disillusionment with digital music and the industry sparked a move to Ghana where Woosh continued to run Original Music and do local things. He was coaxed out of 'retirement' from time to time in the 1990s, doing some sound nights and stage shows in the UK and releasing an album with Mixman (Fire Inna Blackamix) in 1993. He continued to perform live right up until last year. I was lucky to check him live in London twice in the 1990s, sharing the stage with various 70s toasters and singers. He was a lively performer and treated the audience to some classic mid-late seventies roots n culture with obvious enjoyment....
(Grove Music GMDM7A-B) Ras Ibuna & Jah Woosh - Diverse Doctrine/Pay Dem Dues 12'' 1978.
Jah Woosh Special - mixtape
After a long stint as MC on Prince Lloyd's sound system Jah Woosh recorded his first tune in 1971, Angela Davis, on Little Roy's Prophesy riddim by Blacka Morwell. His first LP, Jah Woosh, was released by Rupie Edwards in 1974 on Cactus. He went on to voice LPs and singles for several other producers (Leonard Chin, Dudley Swarby, Dread & Dread, Brad Osbourne, Sidney Crooks) while setting up in self-production. The first of several of his self-produced LPs, Dreadlocks Affair with the Mighty Cloud Band, came out in 1976. He went on to release many productions on his Original Music label into the 1990s, working with Larry Marshall, Reggae George, Bim Sherman, Trinity, Flabba Holt and Horace Andy among others. The 1978 12'' with Ras Ibuna - Diverse Doctrine/Pay Dem Dues was an absolute roots classic. A move to the UK in 1979 began a long lasting collaboration with the musical collective Creation Rebel, recording the Marijuana World Tour LP and playing live. A creative association was also formed with Adrien Sherwood's On-U Sound and Jah Woosh contributed to several projects with Creation Rebel, New Age Steppas and Singers & Players, alongside fellow chanters Prince Far-I and Prince Hammer.
By the late 80s disillusionment with digital music and the industry sparked a move to Ghana where Woosh continued to run Original Music and do local things. He was coaxed out of 'retirement' from time to time in the 1990s, doing some sound nights and stage shows in the UK and releasing an album with Mixman (Fire Inna Blackamix) in 1993. He continued to perform live right up until last year. I was lucky to check him live in London twice in the 1990s, sharing the stage with various 70s toasters and singers. He was a lively performer and treated the audience to some classic mid-late seventies roots n culture with obvious enjoyment....
Jah Woosh Special - mixtape
