Dave Barker

Dave Barker (born David Crooks; 29 October 1947, Franklyn Town, Kingston, Jamaica) is a reggae and rocksteady singer, songwriter who has made a string of solo albums along with recordings as a member of the Techniques and as half of the duo Dave and Ansell Collins.

Biography Crooks was born in 1947 and raised by his grandmother and three uncles from the age of 4 after his mother emigrated to England in 1952 (his father emigrated to the United States before he was born). He began singing as a teenager, inspired by James Brown and Otis Redding, whom he heard on American radio stations. "Double Barrel" was followed in June of the same year with a number 7 UK hit in the form of "Monkey Spanner". at Club Ska in London. A version of "Double Barrel" (recorded with the Riffs) was released on The Riffs - Live at Club Ska album the following year on Moon Ska Records.

He appeared as a guest on the Radcliffe & Maconie BBC Radio 6 Music show on 20 August 2012, talking extensively about the music he was influenced by and the music he had created alongside Ansell and about Jamaica's independence.

Discography Albums Prisoner of Love (1970), Trojan (Dave Barker meets the Upsetters) Double Barrel (1971), Big Tree/Techniques (Dave & Ansell Collins), also issued on RAS with different track listing In the Ghetto (1976), Trojan Roadblock (1979), Bushranger Never Lose Never Win (1976), Gull (Chain Reaction) Change of Action (1983), Vista Chase a Miracle (1983), Vista Classics (1991), Techniques (the Techniques) Monkey Spanner (1997), Trojan Dave and Ansel Collins (2001), Armoury (Dave & Ansell Collins) Kingston Affair (2002), Moon Ska (Dave Barker & the Selecter)