Mikey Chung

Michael Chung (1950 – 28 December 2021) also known as Mao Chung, was a Jamaican musician who played keyboards, guitar and percussion instruments. He was also an arranger and record producer of Jamaican music, and worked with a wide array of musicians, notably Lee Perry and Sly and Robbie.

Mikey Chung
Chung, on tour with Peter Tosh (1978)
Chung, on tour with Peter Tosh (1978)
Background information
Birth nameMichael Chung
Also known asMao
Born1950
Christiana, Jamaica
OriginKingston, Jamaica
Died (aged 71)
Kingston, Jamaica
GenresReggae
Instrument(s)Keyboard, guitar

Life and career

Chung was born in Christiana, Jamaica, in 1950.[1] He was of Chinese Jamaican descent, and grew up on Tewari Crescent in Kingston, Jamaica. He later moved with his family to the Vineyard Town area of the city, attending St. George's College.[2] He began his career in music as the guitarist for the Mighty Mystics, The Virtues (1967–69), Generation Gap, and the Federal Studios house band the Now Generation Band,[3] before playing with artists such as Jacob Miller and Inner Circle in the 1970s.[4] As a member of Word, Sound and Power from 1978, along with Sly & Robbie, he backed Peter Tosh on Mystic Man, Wanted Dread and Alive, and Bush Doctor, playing guitar and synthesizer.[4][5] He played for Lee Perry's band The Upsetters (?-1975?-?), and the Compass Point All Stars (Island Records).[2] He often accompanied Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare on their recordings and played guitar for Black Uhuru on their albums Anthem, Red and Chill Out.[4]

He worked with many Jamaican and international artists, including Maxi Priest, Grace Jones, the Rolling Stones, Serge Gainsbourg, Bette Midler, Big Mountain, Art Ensemble of Chicago, James Brown, Garnett Silk, Joe Cocker and Sinéad O'Connor.[2][6]

Chung was the brother of keyboardist/producer Geoffrey Chung,[4] and had one daughter. He died from myeloma in Kingston, Jamaica on 28 December 2021, at the age of 71.[7]

Collaborations

With Grace Jones

With Peter Tosh

With Joe Cocker

With Sinéad O'Connor

With Island Head

References
  1. Taylor, Angus (12 December 2018). "Interview: Mikey Chung in Kingston (Part 1)". United Reggae. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  2. Campbell, Howard (2014) "The Chung connection", Jamaica Observer, 6 July 2014. Retrieved 6 July 2014
  3. "In tune: classic Jamaican bands Archived 12 August 2011 at the Wayback Machine", Jamaica Gleaner, 29 July 2008, retrieved 4 May 2010
  4. Moskowitz, David V. (2006) Caribbean Popular Music: an Encyclopedia of Reggae, Mento, Ska, Rock Steady, and Dancehall, Greenwood Press, ISBN 0-313-33158-8, p. 59-60
  5. Larkin, Colin (1998) The Virgin Encyclopedia of Reggae, Virgin Books, ISBN 0-7535-0242-9, p. 58-9
  6. "Sinead O'Connor touched by reggae, Rasta faith", Herald-Tribune, 11 August 2005, retrieved 4 May 2010
  7. "Musician Mikey Chung dies at 71". jamaica-gleaner.com. 30 December 2021. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
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