Red Dragon

His early recordings quickly established him as a young artist to watch. Tracks such as “Computer,” “Nah Get Nutten” and “Commander” showed how comfortably he could move between playful bravado and the tougher edge of early dancehall. By the time “Hol’ A Fresh” broke through, Red Dragon had become known for a voice that could cut through a riddim without sounding rushed or forced. He worked with some of the key producers of the era, among them Charlie Chaplin, Harry J, Winston Riley, King Tubby and King Jammy, placing him firmly inside the core of Jamaica’s late-1980s dancehall evolution.

In 1989, Red Dragon issued a split LP with his brother Flourgon, another important figure in Jamaican music, and around the same period he launched his own Dragon label. That move widened his role from performer to mentor and producer, and he helped guide younger talent including Buju Banton and Terry Ganzie. His label work, along with his own releases, reflected an artist who understood both the street-level pulse of the dancehall and the business needed to sustain it.

Red Dragon’s biggest international moment arrived in the mid-1990s with “Compliments On Your Kiss,” recorded with Brian and Tony Gold and produced by Sly and Robbie. The song gave him a rare crossover hit and remains his most recognisable recording outside Jamaica. Even so, it was only one part of a career that stretched from the raw sound system days through to more polished, radio-friendly dancehall. Red Dragon died in 2015 after a long illness, but his name still sits comfortably among the artists who helped define the sound, swagger and wit of classic Jamaican dancehall.