Errol Dunkley (born 6 February 1951), sometimes spelled Erroll Dunkley, is a Jamaican reggae musician, born in Kingston, Jamaica.
Biography
Dunkley's recording career began in 1965, when he was 14, with "Gypsy" (a duet with Roy Shirley) for Linden Pottinger's Gaydisc label, "My Queen" (with Junior English) for Prince Buster, and "Love Me Forever" on the Rio label. In 1965 "My Queen" was also released with a Roland Alphonso 'b' side on the UK-based Blue Beat Records label, then "You Gonna Need Me" was released with Lynn Taitt and the Jets in 1967, for Joe Gibbs on his Amalgamated label. From 1967 to 1968, he recorded several more singles for Joe Gibbs, including "Please Stop Your Lying" (with Tommy McCook, 1967) and "Love Brother" (1968), before switching to Coxsone Dodd in 1969. His 1980 release "Sit Down And Cry" also reached the chart.
In 1994, Linval Thompson released a digital roots version of Dunkley's tune "Little Way Different" on his Thompson's Sound record label.
Dunkley re-recorded "OK Fred", his biggest hit, in 1996 with Queen Sister *N*.
In 2004, Dunkley released an album of cover-versions with Bunny Lee and Tapper Zukie, collecting his own interpretations of classical conscious-revive tunes such as Slim Smith’s Beatitudes, Dennis Brown-The Paragons’ Man Next Door ( based on Garnet Mimms & The Enchanters Soul R & B composition, Quiet Place), and Ken Boothe and Keith Hudson’s Old Fashioned Way.
Influence on other genres
Kenny Ken, British jungle and drum and bass DJ and producer rose to prominence with his first big track "Everyman",which was built on a version of Willi Williams' and Coxsone Dodd's foundation one drop Armagideon Time Real Rock riddim, sampling the vocal from Errol Dunkley's song, "Little Way Different." In the mid-2000s UK rap British hip-hop-reggae-fusion outfit Cut La Vis released their remix of "A Little Way Different". British drum and bass artist Murdock has also produced a version of the tune under the title Every Man Do His Jungle Mix.
Albums
- Darling Ooh (Gay Feet, 1972), also released as Presenting Errol Dunkley – (a four star AMG recommendation)