Born in Kingston, Floyd Anthony Perch started his career as Pretty Boy Floyd, deejaying on various sound systems. Inspired by Telly Savalas’ television character, Kojak, Perch later adopted the stage name Nigger Kojak. He achieved local fame with his debut single, Massacre, and after being featured on Dennis Brown’s 12″ single Ain’t That Loving You with Hole In De Bucket joined by a female vocalist named Liza, he often featured her in his subsequent releases. He worked with at least two other female singers (Beverly Brown and Jacqueline Boland) under the name Liza. His 1980 debut LP with Liza, Showcase, was particularly notable.

Kojak was among several deejays who transitioned the focus from ‘cultural’ chants to pure 1980s dancehall lyrics. The triumph of Kojak and Liza led to the track Nice Up Jamaica (actually a solo venture by Perch, built on the Real Rock riddim) receiving backing from the Jamaican tourist board. Perch founded his own label, named Nigger Kojak, where he released works by artists such as Delton Screechie. In 1983, he launched a second album, Rock Jack Kojak, recorded live at Prince Jammy’s studio. Following the release of two more albums, Chant Down Babylon and Life Is A Journey, Kojak gradually faded from the limelight in the late 1980s. Nevertheless, he made a comeback in 1996 as a singer, dropping an album of soul covers under his real name on the Mouthpiece label. This was succeeded in the early 2000s by a joint album with Screechie on Silver Kamel Audio and the album Kojack Now for producer Calvin Cameron.

Heartfelt condolences to his family and friends.