Mikey Bennett

Mikey Bennett is a Jamaican music producer, composer, musician and singer.[1][2][3][4]

Early life and influences

Mikey Bennett was born into a Christian family in Jamaica. Church is where Bennett realised he had musical talent. At the age of 12, Bennett was influenced greatly by guitarist Mikey Chung. He would write his lyrics and Chung would help Bennett put them to music.[5] He attended what is now the Northern Caribbean University based in Mandeville, Jamaica.

Career

Bennett has been on the music scene since the 1980s. He has composed and produced music for international artists including Ziggy Marley, Maxi Priest, Dennis Brown, and UB40, Shabba Ranks, J.C. Lodge, Cocoa Tea, Home T Four, Admiral Bailey, and Johnny Osbourne.[6] He recently directed and produced a reggae album titled The Heart of Jamaica for the longtime rum producer Appleton Estate.[7]

Bennett is the CEO of Grafton Studios in Vineyard Town, St. Andrew, Jamaica. He has also taught song writing at the University of Technology (Utech), Kingston, Jamaica. He has received many honours, among them the Jamaica Reggae Industry Association (JaRIA) award in 2017 for mentorship.[8]

Social responsibility

Bennet is involved in the Tower Street Correctional Facility music programme in Kingston, Jamaica and the St Catherine adult correctional centre.[9] Bennett also judges competitions for spotting local musical talents.[10]

Discography

YearAlbumArtistMikey Bennett
2018A Real Labour of LoveUB40Composer
2014More Jammy$ from the RootsKing JammyMusician
2014Evolution of Dub, Vol. 8: The Search for New LifeAlborosie / Shane Brown / Prince Jammy / Two Friends CrewProducer
2013Total Reggae: Chart Hits Reggae StyleProducer
2012Playlist: King of Kings-Reggae HitsProducer
2011100% Tubes de L'Eté 2011Composer
2008The Best of Maxi PriestMaxi PriestProducer
2007The Most HighDaddy RingsProducer, Audio Production, Main Personnel, Various Instruments, Instrumentation
2007Joe Gibbs Reggae ChristmasJoe GibbsComposer
2007From Dubplate to Download: The Best of GreensleevesProducer
200712" Rulers: Gussie ClarkeVocals (Background)
2006What a WorldBunny RugsProducer
2005Hail the KingFantan MojahArranger
2005Black, Gold, GreenThird WorldEngineer
2003Ultimate ReggaeProducer, Composer
2003The Rhythm KingKing JammyMusician
2003Sing Our Own SongJudy MowattProducer
2003Monday Morning Blues: The Best of Mikey 'Bumper' MelodyMikey MelodyProducer, Musician
2003DragonflyZiggy MarleyVocal Arrangement
2003Can't Stop a Man: The Ultimate CollectionBeres HammondProducer, Composer
2003AbijahRas AbijahProducer, Composer
2002Under the MoonlightGhostProducer, Keyboards, Vocal Arrangement
2002The Dot.com RhythmEngineer
2002Reggae Xplosion 2002Composer
2001The Reggae BoxProducer
2001Reggae for JesusProducer, Arranger
2001Modern RootsDavid KirtonProducer, Keyboards, Bass, Composer
2001Coming at YouStevie FaceMusician
2001AdrenalinDon YuteProducer
2001Absolutely the Best: 1957-1999Dennis BrownProducer
2000Spirit of a WomanMarijahComposer
2000Doin' FineWord!Producer, Executive Producer
2000BabymotherComposer
1999StrangerDavid KirtonProducer, Vocal Arrangement, Percussion Arrangement, Drum Arrangements, Harmonic Arrangement
1999Shabba Ranks and FriendsShabba RanksProducer, Arranger
1998Tuff Tracks: Tuff Gong CompilationMarley GirlsProducer
1998My Son the FanaticMy Son the FanaticComposer
1998Music of the World CupProducer
1998Living DangerouslyBarrington LevyComposer
1998Hardcore Ragga: The Music Works Dancehall HitsVocals (Background), Vocal Arrangement, Composer, Lyricist
1998Earth, Vol. 3LTJ BukemPercussion
1997Ragga Beat: Slammin' on a Ragga Tip!The EurobeatsComposer
1997Natty Queen DivasProducer, Musician
1997Little Sound BoyLittle Sound BoyComposer, Lyricist
1997Klash: Kaught Up in Da MixComposer
1997Fallen Is BabylonZiggy Marley / Ziggy Marley & the Melody MakersHarmonic Arrangement
1997Dub WickedMichael RoseEngineer
1996Yard StyleJohnny KingKeyboards, Bass, Vocal Arrangement
1996Serious GirlChevelle FranklinProducer
1996Nuh CarbonMykal RoseBass
1996Love From a DistanceBeres HammondProducer, Composer
1996Greensleeves Sampler 13Composer
1996Dancehall Queens: What a Bam BamProducer
1995Welcome to JamericaIpso FactoProducer
1995Set Me FreeGregory IsaacsVocals (Background)
1994Worl-A-GirlWorl-A-GirlProducer
1994Hey Now (Girls Just Want to Have Fun)Cyndi LauperProducer
1994Greatest HitsShabba RanksProducer, Arranger
1994DJ Red Alert's Propmaster Dancehall ShowProducer
1993Vibes of the TimeTony RebelProducer
1993Reggae Ambassadors: 20th Anniversary CollectionThird WorldProducer, Synthesizer
1993MTV Party to Go, Vol. 3Producer
1993Call Me Mr. EasyIan DyerProducer
1993Beach of the War GoddessCaron WheelerComposer
1993As a Matter of FoxRed FoxProducer, Composer
1992The WordHopeton LindoProducer, Keyboards, Bass, Executive Producer
1992Rough & Ready, Vol. 1Shabba RanksProducer, Arranger
1992Mr. MaximumShabba RanksProducer, Mixing, Vocals (Background), Vocal Arrangement
1992House Call [CD EP]Shabba RanksProducer, Composer
1992Groovin' in the Midnight [CD]Maxi PriestProducer
1992Fe RealMaxi PriestProducer
1992Deep CoverProducer
1992CommittedThird WorldProducer, Synthesizer, Vocals (Background), Composer
1992Carlene DavisCarlene DavisProducer, Keyboards
1992AuthorizedCocoa TeaVocals (Background), Vocal Supervision
1992Another One for the RoadHome TProducer
1991Two Friends: Twin City Spin 2Producer
1991Two Friends: Ting and TingProducer, Composer
1991The Best of MeMaxi PriestProducer
1991Over ProofDennis BrownProducer, Keyboards, Executive Producer, Vocal Arrangement, Composer
1991MoonlightDean FraserProducer
1991Me Gone Buck Wild: Reggae Dance Hall KillersProducer
1991As Raw as EverShabba RanksProducer, Arranger, Keyboards
1991After Hours [VP]Producer, Vocal Arrangement
1989Greensleeves Sampler 4Composer
1988Rapping with the GirlsShabba RanksVocals (Background), Vocal Arrangement
1980Three Sides to My StoryCultureVocal Supervision
Total Reggae: Summer VibesComposer
Total Reggae: Greensleeves 40th, 1977-2017Composer, Producer
The Classic 90s Collection [Sony Music]Producer
Songs for Reggae Lovers, Vol. 3Producer
Reggae MandelaProducer
Party on: The Only Party Album You'll Ever NeedProducer
Massive Hits: Reggae And SkaComposer, Lyricist
Down in Jamaica: 40 Years of VP RecordsComposer

References

  1. Moskowitz, David Vlado, "Caribbean Popular Music: An Encyclopaedia of Reggae, Mento, Ska, Rock Steady, and Dancehall", page 28, Greenwood Press, 2006
  2. "The Reggae Story Mikey Bennett", Jamaican Information Service (JIS), aired: 16/2/2019
  3. Walters, Maxine (Ed),"Serious T'ings a Go Happen: Three Decades of Jamaican Dance Hall Signs", Hat & Berd Press, Dec 2016
  4. Thomas, Polly, "The Rough Guide to Jamaica", Rough Guide Ltd, Aug,2010, p330,304
  5. "Music Producer Mikey Bennett Discusses His Career & Accomplishments", Jamaica Information Service (JIS), 20 Feb 2018.
  6. "Mikey Bennett 'Pencils Out' Songwriting Career", The Gleaner newspaper (Jamaica), 10 December 2010
  7. "Appleton Serves The Heart Of Jamaica", The Gleaner newspaper (Jamaica), 7 November 2018.
  8. Gardner, Sade, "All set for JaRIA awards", Jamaica Observer newspaper, 25 February 2017
  9. "5 Questions With Mikey Bennett", The Gleaner newspaper (Jamaica), 21 June 2019
  10. "British High Commission Stages Song Competition", The Gleaner newspaper (Jamaica), 18 January 2019.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.