Big Youth

Big Youth is the stage name of Manley Augustus Buchanan, a Jamaican DJ, toaster and early singjay from Trenchtown, Jamaica, born in 1949. He begins toasting on a sound system in 1970 and develops a distinctive style influenced by U-Roy, the first toaster to achieve successful recordings and releases. His work is closely associated with the early development of reggae deejaying and the later dancehall style.

Early recordings and first hits

Big Youth first works with producer Gussie Clarke, and this collaboration produces The Killer, a version of Horace Andy’s Skylarking, and Tippertone Rocking, which become his first major Jamaican hits in 1972. He releases the album Screaming Target in 1973, a record that becomes one of his best-known early works.

1970s albums and productions

During 1974 and 1975 he records for a number of producers, including Glen Brown, The Abyssinians, Yabby You, Bunny Wailer and Joe Gibbs. Among the tracks from this period are I Pay Thee and Dreader Than Dread with The Abyssinians, Yabby Youth later known as Lightning Flash (Weak Heart Drop) with Yabby You, Bide and Black on Black with Bunny Wailer, and Medecine Doctor with Joe Gibbs. His 1975 LP Dread Locks Dread is produced by Prince Tony Robinson.

He also begins issuing self-produced recordings on the Negusa Nagast and Augustus Buchanan labels in Jamaica. His first self-produced LP is Reggae Phenomemnon in 1974. He continues with Natty Cultural Dread and Hit The Road Jack in 1976, using his own musicians, usually the Soul Syndicate band. The verified member credit for Upper Cut Band also attaches to his work.

Style and later work

As his career develops, Big Youth moves from mainly toasting toward a more singjay-oriented style. His singing becomes an increasingly regular part of his output alongside his DJ tracks. He signs to Virgin Records’ Frontline label in 1977, and his first release on the label is Isaiah First Prophet of Old. He also appears in the feature film Rockers.

Influence and selected releases

Big Youth is regarded as one of the important early Jamaican reggae toasters, alongside U-Roy, I-Roy, Dennis Alcapone, Prince Far I and Dillinger. His style influences later Jamaican dancehall deejays and American rappers, and the name Sonic Youth partly refers to him. His listed releases include Chi Chi Run, Progress, Rock Holy, Some Great Big Youth, Chanting Dread Inna Fine Style, Live at Reggae Sunsplash, A Luta Continua (The Struggle Continue), Manifestation, Jamming in the House of Dread, Higher Grounds, Save the children, Reggae Gi Dem Dub and the box set Natty Universal Dread 1973–1979.