Shaggy
From Kingston to the Gulf War
Born Orville Richard Burrell in Kingston, Jamaica in 1968, Shaggy earned hic nickname from friends who teased him over hild wild hair, referencing the Scooby doo character. At 18, he moved to Flatbush neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York immersing himself in the city’s Caribbean sound system culture.
Seeking stability while cutting his teeth in neighborhood studios, Burrell enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1988 as a field Artillery Cannoneer, while stationed at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina, he regularly made grueling weekend drives to Brooklyn to record dubplates. In 1991 his military commitment took him to the front lines of operation desert storm in Kuwait an intense period of service that honed that inronclad discipline and work ethic that would drive his music career.
The Diamond Crossover and Gloabl Anthems
After his military discharge, Shaggy distinctively booming baritone inspired by dancehall pioneer Henry “Junjo” Lawes artists and 1980s sound clashes became international sensation.
Early Breakthrough in 1993, his cover of Folkes Brothers ska classic “Oh Carolina” topped the UK Singles Chart, proving that authentic dancehall inflection could make an impact on European mainstream radio.
Grammy Glory. His 1995 album boombastic delivered a worldwide #1 title track, featuring Marvin Gaye Grooves, and earned him Grammy Award for the best reggae Album in 1996.
The Hot Shot Phenomenon in 2000 when his label nearly wrote him off, shaggy unleashed Hot Shot. Driven by narrative brilliance of “It Wasn’t me (Featuring Rikrok) and Angel featuring Rayvon, the album earned certified Diamond status over 10 million units in the US alone, becoming the best selling dancehall reggae crossover album in the recorded music history.