Lacksley Castell

Infobox musical artist
Name = Lacksley Castell


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Background = solo_singer
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Born = early 1960s
Died = mid 1980s
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Instrument = Vocals
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Genre = Reggae, dancehall
Occupation = Singer-songwriter
Years_active = 1978 – 1983
Label = Negus Roots, Rockers, Live & Love
Associated_acts = Hugh Mundell
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Lacksley Castell (c.1962 - c.1983) (also known as Locksley Castell or Loxley Castell) was a Jamaican reggae singer best known for his work in the early 1980s.

Career

Born in the early 1960s, Castell grew up in Kingston's Waterhouse district, and along with artists such as Black Uhuru, and The Travellers, recorded in what was known as the "Waterhouse style".Katz, David (2003) "Solid Foundation - an Oral History of Reggae", Bloomsbury, ISBN 0 7475 6847 2] Castell became friends with Hugh Mundell, who was already recording, and Mundell helped both Castell and his friend Junior Reid to get started in the music business.Barrow, Steve & Dalton, Peter (2004) "The Rough Guide to Reggae, 3rd edn.", Rough Guides, ISBN 1-84353-329-4] Castell recorded at Lee "Scratch" Perry's Black Ark, releasing the "Jah Love Is Sweeter" single (produced by Perry's partner Pauline Morrison), which was a pre-release reggae chart hit in the United Kingdom in August 1979, with "What a Great Day" (produced by Prince Jammy) making the top five of the reggae 12-inch singles chart the same month. [" [http://www.dancecrasher.co.uk/chartsblackmusic8.html Reggae Charts 1979] ", Dance Crasher] he had a further 12-inch hit with "African Queen" in 1980. [" [http://www.dancecrasher.co.uk/chartsblackmusic10.html Reggae Charts 1980] ", Dance Crasher] Castell also worked with Augustus Pablo, releasing the "Babylon World" and "Love in Your Heart" singles.

In 1980, he recorded the "Jah Fire" album with Hugh Mundell, produced by Jammy. He also provided backing vocals on Sugar Minott's "Black Roots" album that year. [" [http://www.roots-archives.com/release/437 "Black Roots"] ", Roots Archives]

Castell had worked with producer Michael Palmer since 1979, releasing "My Collie Tree" and a string of other singles since, and in 1982, Palmer released Castell's debut album, "Morning Glory", on his Negus Roots label. This was followed by a second album, "Princess Lady" in 1983, co-arranged by Dean Fraser, and mixed by Neil "Mad Professor" Fraser. [" [http://www.roots-archives.com/release/759 "Princess Lady"] ", Roots Archives] Dubs from the album were included on Mad Professor's "In a Rub a Dub Style" album. Castell was also credited as arranger on fellow Negus Roots artists Sly & Robbie's 1982 album, "Dub Rockers Delight", which consisted of dubs from Castell's "Morning Glory" album. [" [http://www.roots-archives.com/release/1655 "Dub Rockers Delight"] ", Roots Archives]

Castell died in the mid-1980s.

Castell's two albums were re-issued in 2005.

Discography

Albums

*"Jah Fire" (1980) Live & Love (Hugh Mundell featuring Lacksley Castell)
*"Morning Glory" (1982) Negus Roots
*"Princess Lady" (1983) Negus Roots

ingles

*"Love In Your Heart" (1978) Rockers (7")
*"Jah Love Is Sweeter" (1970) Jah Guidance/Orchid (7")
*"What a Great Day" (1979) Cruise/Sufferer's Heights (12")
*"My Collie Tree" (1979) Soundoff (12")
*"Babylon World" (1980) Rockers
*"African Queen" (1980) Negus Roots (12")
*"Jah Love Is Sweeter" (1980) Black Joy (12")
*"Government Man" (1981) Negus Roots (12")
*"Jah Is Watching You" (1981) Negus Roots (12")
*"Speak Softly" (1982) Negus Roots (12")
*"Johnny Brown" (1983) Negus Roots (12")
*"Tug-A-War Games" (1983) CSA (12")
*"Captive" (12") (Lacksley Castell & Junior Pumpkin)

References

External links

* [http://www.roots-archives.com/artist/120 Lacksley Castell at Roots Archives]
* [http://www.algoriddim.com/_art/artist.php?m_artist_id=R120 Lacksley Castell at algoriddim]