Highly influential reggae producer Bunny ‘Striker’ Lee, a cornerstone of Jamaican music, passed away on October 6, 2020.
Edward O’Sullivan Lee was born in the Greenwich Farm section of Kingston, Jamaica in 1941. He joined the music industry in 1962 through his brother-in-law, singer Derrick Morgan, obtaining a job as a record plugger (promote) for Duke Reid’s famed Treasure Isle label.
By the mid-1960s, Lee was working with Ken Lack’s Caltone imprint, producing his first record, Lloyd Jackson & the Groovers’ “Listen to the Beat,” in 1967.
His first significant hit, Roy Shirley’s “Music Field,” followed later that year on the WIRL label, and upon founding his own label, he produced a series of well-received sides including Morgan’s “Hold You Jack,” Slim Smith’s “My Conversation,” and Pat Kelly’s “Little Boy Blue.”
Bunny ‘Striker’ Lee pioneered the art of dub, developing new studio along with his engineer, the famous King Tubby.
In his later years, Lee was one of the key contributors to the celebrated re-issue label Blood & Fire, contributing songs from his own catalogue of recordings to the well-regarded imprint. He continued to produce music throughout his life, independently releasing his work with partners Jet Star, Greensleeves, Super Power and VP Records among others.
A great chronicler of the music, “Mr. Lee had a gift for remembering minute details about things,” said Christopher Chin, CEO of VP Records. “He knew the history of many of the sessions and riddims and how the music developed. He was kind and helpful in sharing his knowledge with others.” Patricia “Miss Pat” Chin continued, “Bunny worked a lot at Randy’s, we knew each other as kids and he was a close friend to the family.“
Enjoy this 2014 interview with Bunny Lee together with Daddy U-Roy and Danny Pepperseed:
Author: World Music Central News Room
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