Gregory to liven up Studio 38

Gregory Isaacs, the king of lovers rock and one of the most prolific, chart-topping megastars in Jamaica's musical history, will perform live at Studio 38 on Sunday.

Isaacs' performance is the latest instalment of the Studio 38 live-music series.

Since January, lovers of vintage reggae, ska and rocksteady have been treated to performances from greats like Beres Hammond, John Holt, Ken Booth, Ernie Smith, Toots & The Maytals, Freddie McGregor, AJ Brown and George Nooks at Studio 38.

The club, located at the Pulse Centre on Trafalgar Road, has used, for the most part, Lloyd Parks and We The People, as backing band for the artistes. Isaacs will also be backed by them.

The most recent performances in the Studio 38 series, from Nooks and John Holt on June 27, was a show-stopping affair from start to finish. Nooks, blazed a trail so hot that only an artiste of the calibre of John Holt could follow.

Memorable performance

After Holt's performance, the artiste took requests from his audience, singing many songs a capella, where the band was unable to provide backing music. It was easily one of the best performances at Studio 38 to date and one the fans will long remember.

Isaacs, a veteran of the talent contests that regularly took place in Jamaica, had his first hit in 1973 called My Only Lover. A massive hit, the song is credited as the first lovers-rock record ever made. In the three years that followed, he had a string of hits including All I Have Is Love and his first Jamaican number-one single with Love Is Overdue. By the late 1970s, Isaacs was one of the biggest reggae performers in the world, regularly touring the United States and the United Kingdom, and was only challenged by Dennis Brown and Bob Marley.

From 1977 to 1978, Isaacs teamed up with Alvin Ranglin, recording a string of hits including Border and Number One for Ranglin's GG's label.

International stardom seemed assured in 1978 when Isaacs signed to Virgin Records' offshoot, Front Line Records, and appeared in the film Rockers. However, album sales failed to live up to expectations. Interestingly, those albums are now considered among Isaacs' best work.

In 1981, he made his first appearance at Reggae Sunsplash (returning annually until 1991). This period saw a string of increasingly successful singles including Tune In, Permanent Lover, Wailing Rudy, and Tribute to Waddy.

He signed to Island Records and in 1982 released the record that finally saw him break through to a wider audience, Night Nurse.

When his contract with Island ended, Isaacs returned in 1984 with the Kool Ruler Come Again single, and began a period of prolific recording, working with several record producers. Isaacs then built a strong relationship with Gussie Clarke of the Music Works label. They began with Isaacs' 1985 album, Private Beach Party, and had a massive hit with Rumours in 1988, which was followed by other popular singles, including Mind Yu Dis, Rough Neck, Too Good To Be True, and Report to Me. The association with Clarke continued into the early 1990s.

Tickets for the Isaacs show are available at Studio 38 and at Pulse.

You can also call 960-0049 or 361-0574.