Derrick Harriott has died at age 87

Sad news from Jamaica as we mourn the passing of singer, songwriter, and producer Derrick Harriott, one of the true giants of Jamaican music. A pioneer whose work helped shape ska, rocksteady, and reggae, Harriott leaves behind a remarkable musical legacy. His influence can be heard in the recordings of artists such as Keith & Tex, Dennis Brown, Big Youth, and countless others. Following a period of illness, he passed away at age 87 on Saturday, October 24, at his home in Kingston.

From Church Singing to the Jamaican Music Scene

Derrick Harriott’s musical journey began in church before he started appearing at stage shows during the 1950s. His first real break came through Vere Johns Junior’s Opportunity Hour talent contest, where he teamed up with Claude Sang to form the duo Sang & Harriott. Their performances soon attracted the attention of two of Jamaica’s most influential sound system operators and producers, Duke Reid and Clement ‘Coxsone’ Dodd.

Their song Lollipop Girl, originally recorded as a self-produced special, became a big favourite on Dodd’s Downbeat Sound. But when Duke Reid managed to get hold of a copy, rivalry followed. As Harriott later recalled, Lollipop Girl “started so many conflicts.”

After Claude Sang left Jamaica, Harriott formed The Jiving Juniors, a group blending ska with American doo-wop influences. They recorded Lollipop Girl and several other sides for Duke Reid before moving on to Coxsone Dodd, cutting tunes such as Over The River and Sugar Dandy, the latter later covered by Millie Small.

The Rocksteady Years

When The Jiving Juniors broke up in 1962, Harriott took matters into his own hands, establishing his Crystal Records and Musical Chariot labels. His early solo successes included I Care and a cover of Donnie Elbert’s What Can I Do.

By 1966, ska was giving way to the slower, more soulful riddims of rocksteady. Harriott was right at the heart of that change. He opened his own record shop that year and surrounded himself with some of Jamaica’s finest musicians. First came The Desmond Miles Seven, followed by The Crystalites, whose line-up included Bobby Aitken, Jackie Jackson, Hux Brown, Winston Wright, Lyn Taitt, Joe Isaacs, and Bobby Ellis.

What followed was one of the most productive periods of his career. Harriott produced a string of rocksteady classics, including Keith & Tex’s Stop That Train, Rudy Mills’ A Long Story, and his own Solomon. As a singer, he also enjoyed major success with Walk The Streets, Do I Worry, and The Loser. Rudy Mills’ John Jones added another big hit to his production catalogue in 1968.

For many reggae fans, rocksteady remains one of the finest periods in Jamaican music. And when you listen to those timeless Derrick Harriott productions, it’s easy to understand why. His recordings had warmth, strong melodies, beautifully arranged harmonies, and that unmistakable rocksteady feel.

From Rocksteady To Roots Reggae And Dub

As rocksteady made way for reggae, Harriott continued to move with the times. His business eventually relocated to 86 King Street, although three burglaries forced him to leave the premises. He later settled at Twin Gates Plaza on Constant Spring Road in Kingston.

The change in musical direction certainly didn’t slow him down. He continued recording and producing, working with deejay Scotty, who delivered a series of memorable cuts over Harriott’s foundation riddims. With The Kingstonians, he produced roots-flavoured favourites such as Sinner Man and Sufferer.

Harriott also recognised the growing importance of dub. His albums Scrub A Dub and More Scrubbin’ The Dub became sought-after releases, with Harriott among the early producers to make use of King Tubby’s remarkable mixing skills. Another important project was Super Reggae & Soul Hits, recorded with a young Dennis Brown.

By the late 1970s, Harriott was still delivering the goods. Backed by The Revolutionaries, he produced albums such as Winston McAnuff’s Pick Hits To Click and deejay Ray I’s Rasta Revival, both released in 1978. His own releases from the period included Enter The Chariot and Disco 6, the latter featuring contributions from Dennis Brown, Cornell Campbell, and Horace Andy.

Still Making Music

Harriott remained active throughout the 1980s, enjoying further success with soul covers such as Skin To Skin and Checking Out. In 1988, he teamed up with Yellowman for Starting All Over Again, a duet inspired by Hurricane Gilbert, which had devastated Jamaica that September.

The 1990s saw releases of albums such as Sings Jamaican Rock Steady Reggae, For A Fistful Of Dollars, Derrick Harriott & Giants, and Riding The Roots Chariot. These recordings kept his name in circulation while reminding listeners of the musical treasures he had created over the decades.

Recognition for his contribution to Jamaican music followed. In 2009, the Jamaican government awarded him the Order of Distinction. Ten years later, in 2019, the Jamaica Reggae Industry Association (JaRIA) honoured him with a Lifetime Achievement Award in Music.

A Legacy That Lives On

Derrick Harriott was much more than a singer with a string of hits. He was a producer with a remarkable ear for talent, a musician who understood the changing sound of Jamaica, and a key figure in the development of rocksteady and reggae. From his early ska recordings to his soulful rocksteady classics, roots productions, and dub experiments, he helped create music that continues to sound fresh decades later.

Few producers played such an important part in so many different chapters of Jamaican music. And while we’ve lost another of its great pioneers, the music remains. Put on The Loser, Walk The Streets, or Stop That Train, and you’ll hear exactly why Derrick Harriott deserves his place among the legends.

Rest in eternal peace, Derrick Harriott. Your music and legacy will live on.