RIP Derrick Harriott (6 Feb 1939 - 24 Oct 2026). Legendary #Jamaican singer, songwriter, and record producer, a key figure in the evolution of ska, rocksteady, and reggae. Born in Kingston, Jamaica, the youngest of five children, Harriott attended Excelsior High School, where he developed an early interest in music. In the mid-1950s he competed on the Vere Johns Opportunity Hour talent contest, first as a solo act and then as a duo with Claude Sang Jr., achieving notable success. In 1958 he co-founded the vocal group the Jiving Juniors with Eugene Dwyer, Herman Sang, and Maurice Wynter. The group recorded hits including “Lollipop Girl” (for Duke Reid) and “Over the River” before disbanding in 1962. Harriott then launched a solo career and established his Crystal label. Early solo successes included “I Care,” “What Can I Do” (1964), “The Jerk” (1965), and “I’m Only Human” (1965), later compiled on The Best of Derrick Harriott. He opened a record shop in Kingston and became a respected producer, working with artists such as Dennis Brown, Keith & Tex, the Ethiopians, the Kingstonians, Big Youth, Scotty, and others. In 1971 Swing magazine named him Top Producer of 1970; he was also among the first producers to utilize the mixing talents of King Tubby, contributing to early dub recordings such as those credited to the Crystallites (including Scrub a Dub). His own albums from the period include Sings Jamaican Reggae (1969), Psychedelic Train (1970), and Songs for Midnight Lovers. Known for blending American soul and R&B influences with Jamaican rhythms, Harriott continued releasing music and performing in later decades. He received the Order of Distinction (OD) from the Jamaican government in 2009 and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Jamaica Reggae Industry Association in 2019. #Jamaica #Caribbean #Ska #Reggae #Rocksteady jamaica-gleaner.com/article/…