Augustus Pablo’s classic reggae album Original Rockers, originally released in 1979, is now available as a reissue on digital, CD and vinyl. Augustus Pablo (1954-1999) was the master of melodica and one of the most appreciated talents in reggae music. The Original Rockers reissue from Greensleeves Records features remastered sound and a 16-page extended booklet.
Original Rockers showcases Pablo’s haunting melodica and includes flashes of his dub inspiration on standouts like “Rocker’s Dub” and “Tubby’s “Dub Song.” The album was recorded in the legendary studio of the great reggae producer King Tubby.
Augustus Pablo was born in St. Andrew, Jamaica as Horace Swab on June 21, 1954. Augustus Pablo was a roots reggae and dub record producer, melodica player and keyboardist, who got his start in the early 1970s. He popularized the use of the melodica in reggae music and released many hits with a variety of producers, including his close friend Clive Chin (which created his breakthrough hit “Java”), Gussie Clark, Bunny Lee, Lee Scratch Perry and more.
In the mid to late 1970s, Pablo produced a steady series of hits (“Black Star Liner” by Fred Locks) and LPs (1974’s This Is…Augustus Pablo, 1974’s Ital Dub, 1976’s King Tubbys Meets Rockers Uptown & 1979’s Original Rockers).
As a producer, he also worked with artists such as Dillinger, I-Roy, Jacob Miller, The Immortals, The Heptones, Bob Marley, Ricky Grant, Delroy Wilson, Junior Delgado, Horace Andy and more.
Augustus Pablo passed away on May 18, 1999.
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Author: World Music Central News Room
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