Derrick Harriott

Derrick Clifton Harriott OD (born 6 February 1939 ) is a Jamaican singer and record producer. He was a member of the Jiving Juniors with Herman Sang before embarking on a solo career. He has produced recordings by Big Youth, Chariot Riders, The Chosen Few, Dennis Brown, The Ethiopians, Keith & Tex, The Kingstonians, Rudy Mills, Scotty, Sly & Revolutionaries, and Winston McAnuff.

Biography The Jiving Juniors As a student at Excelsior High School, Harriott formed a duo with Claude Sang Jr. Harriott entered the Vere Johns Opportunity Hour talent contest as a solo artist in 1955, failing to reach the final round, and entered again in 1957 as a duo with Sang, going on to win several times. The group had success on the Vere Johns Opportunity Hour, and in 1960 and 1961 had hit singles with "Lollipop Girl" (for Duke Reid) and "Over The River" (aka "I'll Be Here When He Comes", for Coxsone Dodd). After struggling to find work, Harriott reformed the Jiving Juniors with a new line-up, having already teamed up again with Claude Sang in New York.

The lyrics to his song "Message from a Black Man" (circa 1970) echoed the growing black consciousness in American soul music of that time. In 1970 he issued the Crystalites' The Undertaker, an instrumental album in a similar vein to the early music of The Upsetters. He produced successful albums by other artists, including DJ Scotty's Schooldays, Dennis Brown's Super Reggae and Soul Hits, and also his own 14 Chartbuster Hits.

During the late 1960s and early 1970s, Harriott achieved significant success in the United Kingdom both as a performer and producer. Trojan Records operated the Song Bird and Explosion labels largely around his productions during this period. His work with the Crystalites incorporated motifs inspired by spaghetti western film scores and themes, particularly on instrumental recordings such as The Undertaker. In 1971, Swing magazine named Harriott the Top Producer of 1970. Other performers included: Skatalites, Rico Rodriguez, Lester Sterling, Johnny Moore, Lynn Taitt, Prince Buster, Alton Ellis, Lord Creator, Justin Hinds, Derrick Morgan and Lord Tanamo.

In 2009, Harriott was awarded the Order of Distinction by the Jamaican government, and in 2019 he received a Lifetime Achievement Award in Music from the Jamaica Reggae Industry Association (JaRIA).

Discography Albums The Best of Derrick Harriott – 1965 – Island Rock Steady Party – 1967 – Island The Best of Derrick Harriott, Volume 2 – 1968 – Island Sings Jamaican Reggae – 1969 – Crystal/Pama The Crystallites: Undertaker – 1970 Trojan Psychedelic Train – 1970 – Crystal/Trojan Presents Scrub-A-Dub Reggae – 1974 – Crystal More Scrubbing The Dub – 1975 – Crystal Songs For Midnight Lovers – 1976 – Crystal/Trojan Derrick Harriott & The Revolutionaries: Reggae Chart Busters Seventies Style – 1977 Reggae Disco Rockers – 1977 – Charmers Born to Love You – 1979 – Crystal

Compilation albums Derrick Harriott & Various Artists: 14 Chartbuster Hits – 1973 – Crystal Derrick Harriott & The Crystallites / Chariot Riders: Blockbuster Reggae Instrumentals – 1970 Greatest Reggae Hits – 1975 – Crystal/Trojan Disco 6 – 1977 Enter The Chariot – 1978 Derrick Harriott & Various Artists: Those Reggae Oldies – 1978 Derrick Harriott & The Jiving Juniors: The Donkey Years 1961–1965 – Jamaican Gold – 1993) Derrick Harriott & Various Artists: Step Softly 1965–1972 – Trojan – 1988 Derrick Harriott: Sings Jamaican Rock Steady Reggae – Jamaican Gold Derrick Harriott & The Crystallites: For A Fistful of Dollars – Jamaican Gold From Chariot's Vault Volume 2: 16 Reggae Hits – Jamaican Gold Derrick Harriott & Various Artists: Riding the Roots Chariot – 1998 – Pressure Sounds Derrick Harriott & Various Artists: Skin To Skin – 1989 – Sarge Derrick Harriott & Various Artists: Musical Chariot – 1990 – Charly