View source for Harry J

{{EngvarB|date=September 2014}}
{{Use Jamaican English|date=September 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2014}}
{{Other people|Harry Johnson}}
{{Infobox musical artist<!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Musicians -->
| name                = Harry J
| image               = Harry J reggae.jpg
| caption             = Harry J
| image_size          = 220px
| background          = non_performing_personnel
| birth_name          = Harry Zephaniah Johnson
| alias               =
| birth_date          = {{Birth date|df=yes|1945|07|06}}
| birth_place         = [[Westmoreland Parish, Jamaica]]
| death_date          = {{Death date and age|df=yes|2013|04|03|1945|07|06}}<ref name=Billboard>{{cite web|last=Meschino|first=Patricia|title=Harry Johnson, Legendary Jamaican Producer of Harry J Studios Credited with First Reggae Single, Dead at 67|url=http://www.billboard.com/biz/articles/news/global/1556621/harry-johnson-legendary-jamaican-producer-of-harry-j-studios|work=billboardbiz|publisher=Billboard|access-date=12 April 2013}}</ref>
| death_place         = Savanna-la-Mar Hospital, [[Westmoreland Parish, Jamaica]]<ref name=JO />
| origin              =
| instrument          = Bass
| genre               = [[Reggae]]
| occupation          = Insurance salesman, record producer
| years_active        = 1968–1995<br />2002–2013
| label               = [[Studio One (record label)|Studio One]], Harry J, Jaywax
| associated_acts     = Harry J Allstars
| website             =
}}
'''Harry Zephaniah Johnson''' (6 July 1945 – 3 April 2013), known by the stage name '''Harry J''', was a Jamaican [[reggae]] record producer.
==Biography==
Born in [[Westmoreland Parish]], [[Jamaica]], Johnson started to play music with the Virtues as a bass player before moving into management of the group.<ref name=Billboard /><ref name="Larkin">Larkin, Colin (1998) ''The Virgin Encyclopedia of Reggae'', Virgin Books, {{ISBN|0-7535-0242-9}}, p. 139</ref> When the band split up he worked as an insurance salesman.<ref name="Larkin" /> He first appeared as a record producer in 1968, when he launched his own record label, "Harry J", by releasing The Beltones' local [[chart-topper|hit]] "No More Heartaches", one of the earliest reggae songs to be recorded.<ref name="Larkin" /> His agreement with [[Coxsone Dodd]] allowed him to use Studio One's facilities, where he produced the hit "Cuss Cuss" with singer Lloyd Robinson, which became one of the most covered [[riddim]]s in Jamaica, with notable versions released by [[Horace Andy]] and [[Lloyd Barnes]].<ref name="Larkin" /> Johnson also released music under a subsidiary label, Jaywax.
In October 1969, he met success in the UK with "[[The Liquidator (song)|The Liquidator]]" (number 9 in the [[UK Singles Chart]]) recorded with his [[session musician|session]]band, The Harry J All Stars. (it was also a hit again in 1980, reaching number 42.)<ref name="Larkin" /><ref name="CS1">[https://www.officialcharts.com/artists/ Harry J All-Stars], Chart Stats, retrieved 23 May 2010</ref><ref name="CS2">[https://www.officialcharts.com/artists/ Harry J All-Stars And The Pioneers], Chart Stats, retrieved 23 May 2010</ref> This single became one of the anthems of the emerging [[skinhead]] youth [[subculture]]; together with other [[instrumental]] hits released in the UK through his own subdivision "Harry J" on [[Trojan Records]], on a [[compilation album]] of the same name.
In the beginning of the 1970s, he enjoyed another big success with the vocal duo [[Bob Andy|Bob]] and [[Marcia Griffiths|Marcia]] with the song "[[To Be Young, Gifted and Black|Young, Gifted and Black]]".<ref name="Larkin" /> His productions also included Jamaican hits with [[Deejay (Jamaican)|DJs]] like [[Winston Blake]] or [[Scotty (musician)|Scotty]] among others, and many [[Dub music|dub]] versions.
===Harry J Studio===
Johnson is mainly known for his ''Harry J Studio'' where [[Bob Marley & The Wailers]] [[sound recording and reproduction|recorded]] some of their [[Bob Marley & The Wailers discography|albums]] in the 1970s.<ref name="Thompson">Thompson, Dave (2002) ''Reggae & Caribbean Music'', Backbeat Books, {{ISBN|0-87930-655-6}}, p. 311-2</ref> The studio was also a 'must stop' hangout of many British and other musicians including the [[Rolling Stones]], [[The Who]], and [[Grace Jones]]. In addition, [[Chris Blackwell]], founder of [[Island Records]], could be found hanging out in the sound room prior to moving to England in the early 1970s.
In 1972, Harry Johnson sold his record shop and set up his own recording studio "Harry J", on 10 Roosevelt Avenue, Uptown Kingston, where he employed Sid Bucknor and later Sylvan Morris as resident recording engineer.<ref name="Larkin" /> Harry J Studio soon became one of the most famous Jamaican studios after having recorded several Bob Marley & The Wailers albums from 1973 to 1976 before the [[Tuff Gong]] era, such as ''[[Rastaman Vibration]]'' and ''[[Catch A Fire]]''.<ref name=JO>{{cite web|title=Producer Harry J DEAD AT 68|url=http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/entertainment/Producer-Harry-J-DEAD-AT-68|work=Jamaica Observer website|publisher=Jamaica Observer|access-date=12 April 2013}}</ref>
Johnson's deal with [[Island Records]] led him to record artists such as [[Burning Spear]] and [[The Heptones]]. Throughout the 1970s and the 1980s, assisted by former [[Studio One (record label)]] [[Audio engineering|sound engineer]] Sylvan Morris, he also recorded [[Ken Boothe]], [[Augustus Pablo]], [[The Cables]] and the American pop singer, [[Johnny Nash]], and produced albums by [[Beres Hammond]]'s [[Zap Pow]] and [[Sheila Hylton]]. In 2000, after seven years of inactivity, Stephen Stewart who worked in the early years alongside Sylvan Morris, refurbished, re-equipped and reopened Harry J Studio. Since then under the management of Stewart the studio has seen the return of Burning Spear, [[Toots Hibbert|Toots]], [[Shaggy (musician)|Shaggy]], [[Sly & Robbie]], and newer projects of [[Shakira]], Papa Sam/Kirk Franklyn, [[Luciano (singer)|Luciano]] and [[Sizzla]]. The studio appeared in the film, ''[[Rockers (1978 film)|Rockers]]''.
==Personal life==
Johnson died on 3 April 2013 after a long battle with [[Diabetes mellitus|diabetes]]. He was 67.<ref name=Billboard /><ref name=JO /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.boston.com/news/world/caribbean/2013/04/05/famed-jamaican-reggae-producer-harry-johnson-dies/oIE6SNqKAk8lJ2cPRwwARK/story.html?rss_id=Most+Popular |title=Famed Jamaican reggae producer Harry Johnson dies – News |publisher=Boston.com |access-date=7 April 2013}}</ref>
==Discography==
===Harry J Allstars===
* Harry J Allstars – ''[[The Liquidator (song)|The Liquidator]]'' – 1969 – Harry J/Trojan
* Harry J Allstars – ''Liquidator: The Best Of The Harry J Allstars'' – 2003 – Trojan
* Harry J Allstars – ''Dubbing At Harry J's 1972–1975'' – Jamaican Recordings
===Compilations===
* Various Artists – ''Reggae Movement'' – 1970 – Harry J/Trojan
* Various Artists – ''What Am I To Do'' – 1970 – Harry J/Trojan
* Various Artists – ''Reggay Roots'' – 1977 – Harry J
* Various Artists – ''Computer'' – 1985 – Sunset
* Various Artists – ''The Return Of the Liquidator: 30 Skinhead Classics 1968–1970'' – 1989 – Trojan – 2 CD
===As a producer===
* Sylvan Morris & Harry J – ''Cultural Dub'' – 1978 – Harry J
* Sylvan Morris – ''Jah Jah Dub'' – Roosevelt
* [[The Heptones]] – ''Book of Rules'' – 1973 – Jaywax
* The Heptones – ''Cool Rasta'' – 1976 –  Trojan
* Leslie Butler – ''Ja-Gan'' – 1975 – Trojan
* Zap Pow – ''Revolution'' – 1976 – Trojan
* Lloyd Willis – ''Gits Plays Bob Marley's Greatest Hits'' – 1977 – Harry J
* [[The Melodians]] – ''Sweet Sensation'' – 1977 – Harry J
* Sheila Hilton – "Breakfast in Bed" – 1977– Harry J
* [[Dennis Brown]] – ''So Long Rastafari'' – 1979 – Harry J
==See also==
* [[List of Jamaican record producers]]
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:1945 births]]
[[Category:2013 deaths]]
[[Category:Diabetes-related deaths]]
[[Category:Jamaican guitarists]]
[[Category:Male guitarists]]
[[Category:Jamaican people of Scottish descent]]
[[Category:Jamaican record producers]]
[[Category:Jamaican reggae musicians]]
[[Category:People from Westmoreland Parish]]
[[Category:Trojan Records artists]]