Tenor Saw

Infobox musical artist
Name = Tenor Saw


Background = solo_singer
Birth_name = Clive Bright
Alias =
Born = February 11, 1966, Kingston, Jamaica
Died = August 1988, Houston, Texas, United States
Origin =
Instrument =
Genre = Reggae, dancehall
Occupation = Singer-songwriter, singjay
Years_active = 1980s
Label =

Tenor Saw (born Clive Bright, Kingston, Jamaica, February 11, 1966, died August 1988, Houston, Texas, United States) was a prominent dancehall singer in the 1980s, and one of the most influential singers of the early digital reggae era. His best-known song was the 1985 hit "Ring the Alarm" on the "Stalag 17" riddim.

Biography

Bright was raised in the Payne Avenue district of West Kingston. His first single, "Roll Call" was recorded in 1984 for George Phang's Powerhouse label, on the "Queen Majesty" rhythm.Larkin, Colin (1998) "The Virgin Encyclopedia of Reggae", Virgin Books, ISBN 0 7535 0242 9] Sawyer, Rick (2008) " [http://magazine.jamsbio.com/2008/09/04/the-tragedy-of-tenor-saw/ The Tragedy of Tenor Saw] ", JAMSBIO Magazine] He moved on, with his friend Nitty Gritty, to work with Sugar Minott's Youth Promotion sound system and label, having hits in Jamaica with "Lots of Sign", "Pumpkin Belly", "Run Come Call Me", and "Fever". His most successful single, however, was "Ring the Alarm", voiced over the "Stalag" rhythm for Winston Riley's Techniques label. The singles' success saw Tenor Saw work with Prince Jammy, recording "Pumpkin Belly" on Jammy's (then) new "Sleng Teng" rhythm. Further hits follwed in 1986 with "Golden Hen" (on the Uptempo label), and Minott issued Tenor Saw's debut album, "Fever", that year. In common with most dancehall albums of the period, most of the rhythms were digital copies of older tunes from the 1960s and 1970s, usually produced originally by Coxsone Dodd or Duke Reid. Thus, "Shirley Jones" versions Keith "Slim" Smith's "Rougher Yet", and "Eeni Meeni Mini Mo" versions "Real Rock" from Studio One, while "Roll Call" versions The Techniques' "Queen Majesty" from Duke Reid, while "Lots of Sign" versions "Tonight" by Keith & Tex, produced by Derrick Harriott.Fact|date=October 2008

By the time the album was released, Tenor Saw had relocated to Miami, joining the Skengdon crew, where he recorded "Dancehall Feeling" and "Bad Boys". He recorded "Never Work On a Sunday" for Donovan Germain, before moving to New York, where he recorded with Freddie McGregor ("Victory Train"). His last recording, "Chill Out Chill Out", was a duet with General Doggie.

In August 1988 he was killed by a speeding car in Houston, Texas. [" [http://www.blackechoes.net/memoriam.htm Black Echoes Online - In Memoriam] ", Black Echoes] He died at 22 years of age. Tenor Saw is regarded as one of the most influential singers of the early digital reggae era of the mid-1980s.

Influence

Tenor Saw's friends and colleagues Nitty Gritty ("Who Killed Tenor Saw?") and King Kong both recorded tributes the year after his death.

Sublime's song "Jailhouse" on their self titled album is a mix of "Roll Call" and The Wailers "Jailhouse" with some of Bradley Nowell's Lyrics.Fact|date=October 2008

Supercat's song "Nuff man a Dead" is about the death of Tenor Saw and other superstars of the time. [ [http://www.claat.com/article/articleview/656/1/129/ "Nuff man Dead" lyric] ]

The rap band 311 samples Tenor Saw's "Ring the Alarm" in their song "All Mixed Up".Fact|date=October 2008

Albums

*"Clash" (1985) Witty (with Don Angelo)
*"Fever" (1986) Blue Mountain/RAS
*"Wake the Town: Tribute to Tenor Saw" (1992)
*"Strictly Livestock" (1986) Greensleeves (with Various Artists)
*"Clash" (1987) Witty (with Cocoa Tea)
*"Tenor Saw Lives On" (1992) Sky High
*"With Lots Signs" (2003) Jet Star (Tenor Saw meets Nitty Gritty)
*"Tenor Saw Meets Nitty Gritty" (2008) VP

References

External links

* [http://www.discogs.com/artist/Tenor+Saw Discography at discogs.com]
* [http://www.reggae-reviews.com/tenorsaw.html Reggae Reviews review of "Fever"]
* [http://www.ringthealarm.com/tenorsaw.htm Ring The Alarm website, inluding audio interview]