Echo Minott

Echo Minott is the stage name of Noel Phillips, a Jamaican dancehall and reggae singer from Kingston, Jamaica. Born in 1963, he grows up in the Maverley area of the city and starts singing at an early age, taking part in local talent contests and school concerts.

Early recordings and first releases

His first break comes in 1980 with the album Youthman Vibration, recorded for producer Prince Jammy. The album is made when he is 17 and appears on the London-based Starlight label rather than being released in Jamaica. In 1983 he records Ten Miles for his cousin, producer Errol Marshall; this is the first song issued under the name Echo Minott. He also records Man in Love for Dillinger on Oak Sound, which becomes his first UK hit, and Echo Minott meets Sly and Robbie for George Phang on Jam-Can. Four of those songs are later re-packaged on Echo Minott meets Frankie Paul on Powerhouse in 1987.

Rise in Jamaican dancehall

As his reputation grows, he records for a wide range of producers and scores his first Jamaican number one with Love Problems, produced by Joe Gibbs. He follows this with Farmer Man for Henry "Junjo" Lawes' Volcano Records. In 1985 he becomes an international reggae star with Lazy Body on Black Scorpio, a major hit across the reggae scene that leads to an album of versions built on the rhythm. He then records Rock and Calypso for Harry J, an album that includes the title track, Lazy Body and Uncle Sam Country, a song about his experiences in America.

Sound systems and Sleng Teng era

At this stage, Echo Minott is a regular member of two leading Jamaican sound systems, Black Scorpio and King Jammys. With Jammys he records Original Fat Thing and Put One Hand On The Key, both major hits on the Sleng Teng rhythm. He follows in 1986 with What The Hell for Jammys, a song that stays at the top of the Jamaican charts for three months and is described as the first to use the raggamuffin beat associated with later dancehall. The track prompts answer versions, including Lovindeer's Babylon Boops, and Echo responds with Me and My Girl Gone Back. King Jammys later issues the What The Hell album, and he also records Emmanuel Road, a dancehall version of an older Jamaican folk song.

Later 1980s and 1990s

He continues to appear with a string of songs through the late 1980s and early 1990s, including Mr Ruddy for Witty, Follow Me for Music Master, Been Around The World for Jammys, Whip Appeal for Black Scorpio and Artical Don for Two Friends. These releases keep him a familiar name in reggae and dancehall. In 1992 he leaves Jamaica for New York and soon has another international number one reggae hit with Murder Weapon on Signet, using the rhythm from Shaggy's Oh Carolina. When jungle grows in the UK in 1993 and 1994, Murder Weapon is reworked in that style and becomes a major hit again. After returning to Jamaica in 1994, he records more dancehall material, including I Am Back for Jammys and Sensitive for Mafia and Fluxy, before taking a break from the business for several years.