Earl 16 Interview

19 June 2008

Earl Sixteen was born Earl Daley in Kingston, Jamaica in 1958. When he was 15 years old he formed his first group, 'The Flaming Phonics', but their only 45 release did not meet with any success.

His first hit came about when he sung the song 'Malcom X', written by his childhood friend Winston McAnuff and produced by Derrick Harriott. Later Dennis Brown covered the song to great success.

Earl then decided to join bandleader Boris Gardiner as part of a travelling revue/cabaret band. Despite enjoying the great experience of playing with such a professional outfit, Earl's gradual involvement with Rasta resulted in his being fired from the band. Around this same period he hooked up with Lee Perry at his Black Ark Studio, and recorded two songs - 'Cheating' and 'Freedom', the latter a bonafide classic roots tune. At the Black Ark, Earl met Earl Morgan from The Heptones, who produced his debut album "Shining Star". Earl also recorded two tunes for Augustus Pablo's Rockers label - "Changing World" and "Rastaman", both regarded as essential Pablo productions.

Meanwhile, the 'Dread At The Controls' broadcaster then producer Mikey 'Dread' Campbell, had risen to enormous poularity in Jamaica with his late night weekly radio program where Earl's tune 'Freedom' was regularly given airplay. The two subsequently teamed up for sessions backed by the Roots Radics Band and mixed by Scientist at King Tubbys studio. Tunes such as 'Reggae Sound', "Jah is the Master", "African Tribesman" and the album "Reggae Sound" all helped to build Earl's name and reputation as a quality songwriter and singer. The song "Trials and Crosses" produced by Linval Thompson was a massive roots hit in England in 1981 and was released by Greensleeves.

Two albums were recorded for the producer Roy Cousins from The Royals, and these included some great songs such as 'Song For a Reason', 'Julia', 'Reggae Rock' and 'OK My Love'. Earl's unique voice also caught the attention of the great producer Clement "Coxsone" Dodd of Studio One. After practising vocals over a bunch of classic Studio One tunes that Dodd had given Earl, he voiced a tune called "Love Is A Feeling" over the rhythm that had underpinned the "Heptones Gonna Fight". It was a massive worldwide dancehall smash.

Earl was first invited to the UK to be part of the Dread at the Control Tour. He returned again in 1987. In 1988. Earl scored his biggest hit with a cover version of the Simply Red song Holding Back The Years, which stayed at the top of the UK reggae charts for months. He soon captured the attention of Leftfield who got him to re-do his 'Trials and Crosses' classic for 'release the Pressure', which was originally release in 1992. It was included on Leftfield's monumental 'Leftism' album that sold over 300,000 copies worldwide.

Earl's manager, Martin Poole introduced him to Greg Roberts from Dreadzone and they began collaborating in 1995. Earl was first heard on Second Light. He has contributed to every Dreadzone album since, and has been part of the Dreadzone Live band.