Tapper Zukie

Tapper Zukie is a Jamaican reggae and dub artist, born David Sinclair in 1955. He works as both a deejay/toaster and a producer, and his career links the roots reggae scene in Jamaica with audiences in London and New York.

Early life and name

He begins his music career as a teenager on sound systems, first with I-Oses Discotech and then with the Maccabees. His stage name comes from childhood nicknames: “Tapper” or “Tappa” comes from a name given by his grandmother, while “Zukie” comes from the Zukies gang he runs with as a boy. After drawing attention from producer Bunny Lee, he is also noticed by the police because of his off-hours behaviour. In 1973 his mother sends him to relatives in England.

Recording career

After arriving in London, he performs the next day opening for U-Roy. A one-song toast leads to his debut single, “Jump & Twist,” on Ethnic Records for label head Larry Lawrence. He later returns to Kingston and records singles for several producers, including “Natty Dread on the Mountain Top” in 1975, a version of “Jah Vengeance” for Yabby You, and “Natty Dread Don’t Cry” with Bunny Lee.

He refuses an exclusive deal with Bunny Lee, but receives backing tracks from him, as well as additional tapes from JoJo Hookim and Ossie Hibbert. Using those recordings, he builds his debut album, MPLA, which he records and finances himself and releases on his own Stars label. Because of money problems, some of the material appears first as singles. He also begins producing other artists around this time, including Errol Dunkley and Ronnie Davis.

Breakthrough and later 1970s work

In mid-1975 he returns to London looking for distribution for Stars, and discovers that a session recorded with Clem Bushay has already appeared as the album Man a Warrior on Klik. After a licensing deal with Klik, his profile rises further, and a single from MPLA helps make the album the best-selling reggae record in the UK at Christmas. He later signs to Virgin Records.

He works with Patti Smith, who is impressed by him after he appears on stage with her in London in October 1976. He opens for her band’s next tour, and Smith also issues Man a Warrior on her Mer label. Between 1977 and 1979 he releases Man From Bosrah, Earth Running, Escape From Hell, In Dub, Peace in the Ghetto, and Black Man. His profile is initially stronger in Britain than in Jamaica, but in 1977 he has major hits with “Oh Lord” and “She Wants a Phensic.”

Production work and later releases

By the start of the 1980s he is working between London and Kingston, performing regularly, recording, and producing. He produces acclaimed work by Horace Andy and mixes Green Valley for Militant Barry. He also releases the albums Raggy Joey Boy and People Are You Ready?

Between 1983 and 1986 he focuses mainly on production, working with many Jamaican artists including the Mighty Diamonds, Max Romeo, Ken Boothe, Sugar Minott, and U-Roy. He is known for his ability to work with both toasters and vocalists. His compilation series Old Time DJ Come Back brings together a range of older and newer deejays and is regarded as an important set of records in the style.

His next album of original material, Ragamuffin, appears in 1986, and Deep Roots follows about a decade later. He continues recording, including material that appears on the B-sides of singles he produces for other artists, and keeps releasing singles through his own Tappa label. Later collaborators include Sly Dunbar, JC Lodge, Beres Hammond, and Simpleton.

Style and significance

Tapper Zukie is important both as a recording artist and as a producer. His work helps connect Jamaican roots reggae with punk audiences in Britain and the United States, and his catalogue includes key early singles, influential albums, and a long run of production work across the Jamaican music scene.