Ranking Roger

Infobox musical artist
Name = Ranking Roger
Background = solo_singer


Img_capt = Ranking Roger - New Year's Eve, 2007
Img_size = 156
Birth_name = Roger Charlery
Born = Birth date and age|1961|2|21|df=yes
Birmingham, England
Genre = Ska
Rock
Punk rock
Label = Go Feet
2 Tone
London
Sire
I.R.S.
EMI
A&M
Occupation = Singer
Years_active = 1978–present
Associated_acts = The Beat
General Public
Big Audio Dynamite

Ranking Roger (born 21 February 1961), born Roger Charlery in Birmingham to Jean Baptiste Charlery. Roger is an English musician. He was a vocalist in the 1980s two-tone band, The Beat (known in the U.S. as The English Beat) and one of its successor bands, General Public. He currently leads a re-formed Beat line-up with Everett Moreton.

Roger became a punk rock fan as a teenager and joined ska revival pioneers the Beat in the late 1970s. He had appeared on stage toasting and singing with them many times before officially joining the band. His energetic style and Jamaican-influenced vocals, paired with Dave Wakeling, were crucial in distinguishing the band from the other second-wave ska bands. The Beat released three albums: the critically-acclaimed and seminal "I Just Can't Stop It" (1980), "Wha'ppen?" (1981) and "Special Beat Service" (1982).

After The Beat's 1983 break-up, he and Wakeling formed General Public with Mickey Billingham, Stoker of Dexy's Midnight Runners and Horace Panter of the Specials. They released the album "All the Rage", aided by the single "Tenderness". In 1986 they released "Hand to Mouth" which was significantly less successful, and the band soon split up.

In 1995 Roger and Wakeling reformed General Public with a new supporting band, and released the album "Rub It Better." Roger and Wakeling also worked on various projects and reunited for the Threesome soundtrack, recording a cover of "I'll Take You There".

Roger has also released two solo albums. 1988's "Radical Departure" album included band members Horace Panter and Fuzz Townshend. On 2001's "Inside my Head" album, Roger pursued a more dance/electronic sound, including the song "Muscle Ska" that was co-written with Neville Staple of The Specials.

In the early 1990s, Roger joined members of The Specials to form the new band The Special Beat, which released two live albums. In 1996 Roger sang back-up and toasting on the rerecorded version of The Bed's Too Big Without You on Sting's Let Your Soul Be Your Pilot CD-Maxi single. The rock band Smash Mouth featured Roger on their song "You Are My Number One" in 2003.

On the 30th of July 2005, Roger fathered a third son, Reuben, with an adult educator, with whom he went on to have a daughter, Lulu, in 2007.

Ranking Roger's son, Matthew Murphy - 'Ranking Junior' aka 'Mini Murphy', has followed in his father's footsteps. In 2005, he appeared on The Ordinary Boys' single "Boys Will Be Boys". In 2003, the Beat's original line-up, minus Cox and Steele but with the addition of Junior, played a sold-out one-off gig at the Royal Festival Hall.
As of 2005, The Beat have re-formed, counting Roger and Everett Morton of the original line-up, with Ranking Junior also on vocals. The Beat performed at Glastonbury 2005 with new material written by Ranking Junior and with a special guest appearance from Neville Staple of the Specials. The band is said to have the blessing of Cox, Steele and Saxa.

Roger has 3 sisters called Juliet, Sandra and Ecula, a step-sister, Sarah Charlery and a step brother, Kevin Charlery

Roger has recorded a new album with current members of The Beat, and it is currently being mixed by Adrian Sherwood.

Roger sang on Roxanne on stage with The Police on their 2007 world tour.

External links

* [http://www.thebeatofficial.com/ The Beat Official Website]
* [http://icsurreyonline.icnetwork.co.uk/0600whatson/music/tm_objectid=15671141&method=full&siteid=53340&headline=and-the-beat-goes-on-name_page.html Interview with the Croydon Advertiser]