Augustus Pablo

小簡(jiǎn)介
任何一個(gè)生意人都可以告訴你，想要成功就得發(fā)現(xiàn)一個(gè)有利的基礎(chǔ)或者是尋求未開(kāi)發(fā)市場(chǎng)。多數(shù)在雷鬼音樂(lè)市場(chǎng)上的生意人、音樂(lè)家直到今日都還不敢相信MELOCICA音樂(lè)竟會(huì)發(fā)展出一片廣闊天地。Augustus Pablo以此趣味般的音樂(lè)，發(fā)動(dòng)了一場(chǎng)前所未有的牙買(mǎi)加音樂(lè)革命。Augustus Pablo音樂(lè)的獨(dú)創(chuàng)性，橫掃整個(gè)牙買(mǎi)加而帶來(lái)音樂(lè)新風(fēng)潮，融入當(dāng)時(shí)整體的一部分。實(shí)力派的音樂(lè)家Augustus Pablo，本身是個(gè)鍵盤(pán)手。他的音樂(lè)透過(guò)他發(fā)行的種種單曲和表演，呈現(xiàn)給無(wú)數(shù)觀(guān)眾。他也可以說(shuō)是音樂(lè)鑒賞家！除了音樂(lè)上的想法，Augustus Pablo的錄音技巧和制作功力也是一流。
　　Augustus Pablo本名HORACE SWABY，生于1954年的牙買(mǎi)加ST. ANDREW。曾經(jīng)就讀KINGSTON大學(xué)(美國(guó)人眼中認(rèn)為不是大學(xué)，是高中)，常常和朋友偷溜進(jìn)教堂玩里頭的風(fēng)琴。而KINGSTON大學(xué)，對(duì)于他進(jìn)入未來(lái)的音樂(lè)事業(yè)有很大的幫助。CLIVE CHIN是PABLO的同學(xué)之一，家里開(kāi)得是KINGSTON區(qū)第一家的唱片行，叫做RANDY。CHIN家族成員之一的HERMAN CHIN LOY，和他的表哥，也就是鼎鼎大名的制作人LESLIE KONG一同工作。每個(gè)國(guó)家里都有不同的種族，而活躍于牙買(mǎi)加的中國(guó)人，時(shí)常和當(dāng)?shù)胤N族通婚，而婚姻通常也結(jié)合著生意。因?yàn)槿绱耍珻HIN LOY在1969年開(kāi)了自己的唱片行和廠(chǎng)牌，命名為AQUARIUS。從而，1970年當(dāng)時(shí)還是15歲小毛頭的SWABY，決定發(fā)展自己的音樂(lè)事業(yè)，而加入AQUARIUS就是他跨出的第一步。也因這個(gè)年輕小伙子是CLIVE CHIN的好友，所以他們決定讓他試一試。而當(dāng)時(shí)是因?yàn)樗骀I盤(pán)的技巧實(shí)在出人意表，決定讓他加入AQUARIUS。早期出的單曲像是IGGY IGGY，讓大家對(duì)Augustus Pablo和CHIN LOY刮目相看。
　　這些年來(lái)，PABLO(很快地他使用了這個(gè)綽號(hào))幫CHIN LOY錄制了許多音樂(lè)，包括STILL YET、THE MOOD還有SNOWBALL & PUDDING等單曲。在這些之中，是單曲EAST OF THE RIVER NILE讓大家開(kāi)始注意到他們。EAST OF THE RIVER NILE里頭包括有PABLO和GLEN ADAM的迪琴和風(fēng)琴二重奏，更加入了LEE PERRY火熱的節(jié)奏。他們的音樂(lè)繞梁不絕于腦海，飄渺的東方樂(lè)曲更是掀起牙買(mǎi)加一股東方熱。漸漸地小調(diào)旋律開(kāi)始流行，而主要在加勒比海地區(qū)當(dāng)?shù)厥⑿?。之后，PABLO加入了MIKEY CHUNG的樂(lè)團(tuán)NOW GENERATION，擔(dān)任KEYBOARD手。此時(shí)，CLIVE CHIN正為了家族事業(yè)打拼當(dāng)制作人。(CLIVE CHIN的壓力很大，因?yàn)樗母绺鏥INCENT早已建立起兩個(gè)知名藝人團(tuán)體，分別是ALTON ELLIS和THE SKATALITES)而現(xiàn)在CLIVE有了眉目，PABLO便離開(kāi)了NOW GENERATION來(lái)幫助他的好友。當(dāng)時(shí)的第一首曲子JAVA，CLIVE與他另一個(gè)同學(xué)DENNIS WRIGHT早已著手。那時(shí)已有了歌曲的節(jié)奏。只是WRIGHT對(duì)于加入怎樣的歌聲很傷腦筋，就當(dāng)CHIN也打算放棄時(shí)，PABLO剛好在此時(shí)加入他們。他建議在歌曲加入一些旋律，說(shuō)來(lái)奇妙，怎么也沒(méi)想到單曲JAVA竟然成為當(dāng)時(shí)轟動(dòng)的歌曲之一。而這不可思議的三人組合開(kāi)始了他們的夢(mèng)想，PABLO不僅和CHIN做了許多的曲子，也幫助當(dāng)時(shí)許多的制作人錄制音樂(lè)。他也為了CLIVE的舅舅LEONARD CHIN的廠(chǎng)牌SANTIC 做了一首PABLO IN DUB。當(dāng)然廠(chǎng)牌SANTIC也協(xié)助他發(fā)行第一張單曲，就是與PAUL WHITEMAN/BLACKMAN合作的SAY SO。PABLO陸續(xù)地和其它制作人合作，像是與LEE PERRY的單曲HOT AND COLD、GUSSIE CLARKE的NO ENTRY和BORN TO DUB YOU、協(xié)助KEITH HUDSON錄制的FAT BABY和THE KILLER，甚至是BUNNY LEE的THE GREAT PABLO和PABLO’S DESIRE。而PABLO’S DESIRE原曲為JOHN HOLT的MY DESIRE，重新錄制后再度造成流行。
　　PABLO跟LEE可以說(shuō)是天作之合，他幫LEE做了許多B面單曲的INSTRUMENTAL。廠(chǎng)牌RAS合輯PABLO & FRIENDS，即收錄了9首都是他們自己錄制的音樂(lè)，。PABLO和他兄弟們?cè)O(shè)立廠(chǎng)牌ROCKERS，名字由SIBLINGS SOUND SYSTEM那里獲得靈感。像是HOT STUFF、PABLO INTERNATIONAL、ROCKERS INTERNATIONAL和MESSAGE等經(jīng)典樂(lè)團(tuán)都是從ROCKERS發(fā)掘出來(lái)的。而PABLO在ROCKERS先行發(fā)的幾張單曲是STUDIO ONE經(jīng)典系列的INSTRUMENTAL版本，像是SKANKING EASY、FROZEN DUB、DON DRUMMOND和PABLO’S THEME SONG。無(wú)可置疑的，PABLO在錄音室也受到其它音樂(lè)人影響，結(jié)果表現(xiàn)在他的創(chuàng)作上。英國(guó)廠(chǎng)牌GREENSLEEVES在1974年發(fā)行ORIGINAL ROCKERS合輯，收錄許多當(dāng)時(shí)PABLO經(jīng)典之作。當(dāng)然也有許多好的作品是PABLO與CLIVE CHIN兩人一同創(chuàng)作的。1974年，CHIN與另一個(gè)家族成員PAT CHIN一同監(jiān)制PABLO經(jīng)典專(zhuān)輯REBEL ROCK REGGAE – THIS IS AUGUSTUS PABLO。從好萊塢音樂(lè)舞臺(tái)劇到牙買(mǎi)加流行之音，這張專(zhuān)輯的氣份掌握的恰到好處。而這張收集了許多CHIN家族的作品， PABLO早期幫LEONARD制作的音樂(lè)也有收錄。來(lái)年，PABLO建立與KING TUBBY的合作關(guān)系，反倒過(guò)來(lái)KING TUBBY幫ROCKERS做了一些重要的混音。兩人命名團(tuán)體為ITAL DUB，由TOMMY COWAN和LESLIE KONG前員工WARWICK LYN一同幫忙制作。ITAL DUB的專(zhuān)輯可以說(shuō)是當(dāng)時(shí)最為創(chuàng)新的音樂(lè)之一。15年后，英國(guó)廠(chǎng)牌PRESSURE DROP收集ITAL DUB早期作品，發(fā)行專(zhuān)輯EL ROCKERS。
　　1975年，PABLO以制作人身份大放異彩，與FRED LOCKS合作所寫(xiě)的BLACK STAR LINER在整個(gè)牙買(mǎi)加造成流行，甚至打入英國(guó)樂(lè)壇。慢慢地越來(lái)越多人要求PABLO創(chuàng)作，更多的人都想和他合作，像是HORACE ANDY、FREDDIE MCKAY、JACOB MILLER和I-ROY。1976年早期DUB傳奇專(zhuān)輯之一KING TUBBY MEETS ROCKERS UPTOWN發(fā)行。ROCKERS發(fā)行過(guò)的音樂(lè)有：AFRICA MUST BE FREE BY 1983(HUGH MANDEL)、ONE STEP DUB (JUNIOR DELGADO)和EASTMAN DUB(與TETRACK的LET’S GET STARTED是一同發(fā)行的)。在KING TUBBY的幫忙下，PABLO發(fā)行了不少音樂(lè)。所以PABLO決定幫忙KING TUBBY的廠(chǎng)牌創(chuàng)作。在這些年來(lái)除了ROCKERS的本身都東西，其它廠(chǎng)牌也收錄了很多ROCKERS的音樂(lè)。不論是英國(guó)廠(chǎng)牌GREENSEELVE的CLASSIC ROCKERS系列，還是ROCKERS自己出的GOLDEN MEMORIES。除了創(chuàng)作音樂(lè)外，PABLO也受邀到各地去表演KEYBOARD或者是他的專(zhuān)長(zhǎng)笛琴。就音樂(lè)上來(lái)說(shuō)，他是一股無(wú)法擋的力量。
　　1978年P(guān)ABLO在LEE PERRY的BLACK ARK錄音室，錄制的專(zhuān)輯EAST OF THE RIVER NILE，是歷年最棒的專(zhuān)輯之一。另外，他和年輕歌手HUGH MANDELL(JAH LEVI)合作，發(fā)行連續(xù)三張單曲，往后的兩張專(zhuān)輯AFRICA MUST BE FREE BY 1983和TIME AND PLACE都是兩人嘔心瀝血之作。1982年EARTH’S RIGHTFUL RULER專(zhuān)輯在美國(guó)發(fā)行，緊接下來(lái)的是TUBBY、PRINCE JAMMY和PABLO三人大作ROCKERS MEETS KING TUBBY IN A FIRE HOUSE。到了1986年，PABLO發(fā)行兩張專(zhuān)輯，一張是個(gè)人的RISING SUN，另一張是他幫JUNIOR DELGADO所作RAGGAMUFFIN YEAR。四年后，兩人合作的專(zhuān)輯也將會(huì)出現(xiàn)。而因?yàn)镽OCKERS發(fā)行無(wú)數(shù)流行的歌曲，廠(chǎng)牌ISLAND也決定簽下數(shù)張ROCKERS的12吋單曲。雖然合作關(guān)系不久，但當(dāng)時(shí)已經(jīng)可以看到ROCKERS的幾位藝人走上國(guó)際，像是JUNIOR DELGADO、DELROY WILSON、CARLTON HONES等，當(dāng)然還有PABLO與他的歌曲EASTERN PROMISE和SUKIYAKI。無(wú)可避免的，這些音樂(lè)的推行也得以讓他在日本巡回，并且錄制專(zhuān)輯LIVE IN TOKYO。回到牙買(mǎi)加，1987年，發(fā)行專(zhuān)輯ROCKERS COMES EAST，在這張里他將音樂(lè)推向電子數(shù)字化。
　　1990年專(zhuān)輯BLOWING WITH WITH WIND結(jié)合了NYAHBINGI的鼓聲和JOHNNY MOORE的小喇叭。PABLO替人制作的音樂(lè)也持續(xù)地流行著，像DAWN PENN的NIGHT AND DAY和YAMI BOLO的JAH MADE THEM ALL。他自己也不斷地創(chuàng)作，只是很可惜地因?yàn)橐恢倍加猩窠?jīng)失調(diào)毛病的他，在1999年5月18號(hào)過(guò)世，享年40歲。雖然他已經(jīng)不再人世，不過(guò)他的故事會(huì)繼續(xù)流傳下去。在他往生后的一年，許多的歌手、藝人、DJ和音樂(lè)家舉辦了一場(chǎng)演唱會(huì)來(lái)紀(jì)念這個(gè)對(duì)于雷鬼音樂(lè)貢獻(xiàn)良多的制作家——Augustus Pablo。
As any business person will tell you, the way to success is through the discovery of a niche or a previously unexploited market. Still, few business people, and even fewer musicians, would have believed that there was a market for the sound of the melodica. What next, they would have sniggered, a kazoo? Yet Augustus Pablo would take this childs toy and launch a revolution in Jamaican music. Not only was Pablos melodica unique, it would sweep the entire islands scene and become an integral part of the music of the era. But Pablo was no one-trick pony, he was also a virtuoso keyboardist and his playing permeated the island across myriad of his own releases and as a session man for others. He was equally talented on the other side of the recording desk and his production work was as inspired as his playing.
Augustus Pablo was born Horace Swaby on June 21, 1954, in St. Andrew, Jamaica. He attended Kingston College (not a college in the American sense, but a high school), sneaking into the schools chapel with other musically inclined friends to practice on the organ. It was here at Kingston College where Swaby also made the connections that would help launch him into the music industry. Amongst his classmates was Clive Chin, whose family ran Randys, Kingstons premier record store. The Chin clan included Herman Chin Loy, a cousin of Leslie Kong, and who started his own career in the music industry by working for his famous cousin. Like many small ethnic enclaves around the world, Jamaicas vibrant Chinese community often intermarried and thus businesses and families often intertwined. Chin Loy had struck out on his own in 1969, setting up his own record store and label, both called Aquarius. Thus in 1970, when the 15- year-old Swaby decided the time was ripe to begin his own musical career, Aquarius was his first stop. The fact that the teen was a friend of Clive Chin insured that he was given an audition, but it was his keyboard work that convinced Chin Loy to take him into the studio. The upbeat Iggy Iggy was the result of their first session and was credited to Augustus Pablo, a moniker Chin Loy frequently employed on his studios instrumentals.
Over the next year, Pablo (the teen soon took the name as his own), cut several more singles for Chin Loy, Still Yet, The Mood, and Snowball & Pudding, amongst them. But it was East of the River Nile that had the most startling impact. The instrumental featured a duet between Pablos melodica and Glen Adams organ, set to a seething rhythm the producer had bought from Lee Perry. Its haunting Oriental-esque melody ignited a fire on the island and launched the Far Eastern style. Minor key melodies surged from the grooves and the exotic now found a home in the Caribbean. Pablo briefly joined Mikey Chungs band, Now Generation, as keyboardist. Meanwhile, his old schoolmate Clive Chin was now working for the family business as a producer. (He had big shoes to fill, his older brother Vincent had made his mark producing such superstars as Alton Ellis and the Skatalites). Now that Clive was set up, Pablo left Now Generation and joined his friend in the studio. Their first fruits, in a round about way, was the seminal Java. Chin was already at work with another one of their schoolfriends Dennis Wright, the songs rhythm tracks were done but Wright was having trouble with the vocals and Chin decided to leave if for the day. Then Pablo entered the studio. While waiting in the hall, hed come up with a melody line and suggested trying it out. Chin turned the tape recorder back on, Pablo picked up his melodica, and the rest is history. Java was a smash and the rhythm was one of the most influential of the day, versioned almost into oblivion. It was the beginning of an incredibly successful partnership, as Chin and Pablo recorded a stream of hits. It was a busy time as aside from recording with Chin, Pablo was also cutting singles for a number of other producers. He helped another member of the Chin clan, Clives uncle, Leonard Chin, launch his Santic label with Pablo in Dub. Santic provided Pablo with his first opportunity to have a go at production, and he debuted with Paul Whiteman/Blackmans single Say So. Pablo continued recording for other producers, joining Lee Perry for Hot and Cold, linking with Gussie Clarke for No Entry and Born to Dub You, cuttinh Fat Baby and the Killer for Keith Hudson, and hooking up with Bunny Lee for The Great Pablo and Pablos Desire. The latter track, a version of John Holts My Desire, was another smash hit.
Pablos partnership with Lee was particularly fruitful and he cut numerous instrumental B-side version for the producer, nine of which are featured alongside their vocal or DJ A-sides, on the Ras compilation Pablo & Friends. Pablo had already come to the conclusion that no matter how big the hit nor how many sessions he played on, he would see little of the actual returns. Thus, he and his brother set up their own label, Rockers. The name was taken from the siblings sound system, which was already up and running. Over time, other imprints followed, Hot Stuff, Pablo International, Rockers International, and Message. Initially, Pablos singles for his own label were instrumental versions of Studio One classics. Skanking Easy, Frozen Dub, Don Drummond, Pablos Theme Song, and many more followed in re-creating songs of yore. And theres no doubt about the influence the studios superb musicians had had on the young Swaby. Many of these song were less versions than tributes to these talented men. The U.K. label Greensleeves would bundle up many of the best self-productions from these early days for the Original Rockers compilation. Yet some of Pablos best work was still being done with Clive Chin. In 1974, Chin and another family member, Pat Chin, oversaw Pablos classic album Rebel Rock Reggae — This Is Augustus Pablo. A masterpiece of mood and atmosphere, the instrumentals swing across the musical spectrum from Hollywood musicals to classic Jamaican hits. The album is actually a compilation and rounded up much of the artists recent work for the Chin family, including his two earlier singles for Leonard. The following year, Pablo began collaborating with King Tubby, who had begun supplying Rockers with some of the labels most sublime mixes. The pair christened their partnership with Ital Dub, which was produced by Tommy Cowan and Warwick Lyn (another former employee of Leslie Kong). This album remains one of the most innovative of the decade. Fifteen years later, the U.K. label Pressure Drop gathered up alternative versions and outtakes from the Ital sessions for El Rockers, an album that sounds nearly as formidable as Ital Dub itself.
1975 also saw Pablo make an equally big splash as a producer, when Fred Locks Black Star Liner became an instant hit in Jamaica and also made significant inroads in the U.K. With the singles success, Pablo now became a much sought-after producer, and worked with many of the islands greatest names. He sat behind the desk on sessions with Horace Andy, Freddie McKay, Jacob Miller, and I-Roy, amongst many others. An albums worth of his productions were showcased on 1976s King Tubby Meets Rockers Uptown album, one of the eras most legendary dub albums. Many of Rockers releases featured phenomenal dub companions, including Africa Must Be Free by 1983 (Hugh Mandel), One Step Dub (Junior Delgado), and Eastman Dub (the companion to Tetracks Lets Get Started). Pablo returned the favor by recording exclusive cuts for King Tubbys sound system. Over the years, both Rockers itself, as well as other labels, have released excellent compilations of the labels greatest moments. The U.K. label Greensleeves Classic Rockers is of particular note. For rarities, check out Golden Memories, released by Rockers. Of course, Pablo was equally in demand as a session player and he appears on scores of albums from this period, playing keyboard, melodica, or both. As a musical force, he was unstoppable.
1978 brought the fabulous East of the River Nile album, which was recorded at Lee Perrys Black Ark studio. Meanwhile, Pablo took his place on the other side of the board for a trio of singles with the young singer Hugh Mandell (aka Jah Levi). This partnership then expanded and Pablo joined his young protégé on record for both the Africa Must Be Free by 1983 and Time and Place albums. However, the shift in musical tastes in the early 80s saw Pablos flame begin to flicker. He continued recording prodigiously both behind and in front of the recording deck and released numerous singles and a number of albums. 1982 saw the appearance of Earths Rightful Ruler; in the States, Shanachie released Rockers Meets King Tubby in a Fire House, a fine album which paired Pablo, Tubby, and Prince Jammy for a wild ride through classic rocker and cultural offerings. By 1986, the artists star was in the ascendant again, helped by the release of his own Rising Sun album, and his production of Junior Delgados Raggamuffin Year album and its attendant smash-hit title-track single. A phenomenal dub album of the set appeared four years later. These successes prompted Island Records to strike a deal with Rockers to distribute a number of the labels 12 singles. Although the arrangement didnt last long, it did see an international release for singles from Junior Delgado, Delroy Wilson, Carlton Hones, and a pair of Pablos own — Eastern Promise and Sukiyaki. This inevitably led to an international tour the next year for his debut appearances outside the island, which was captured for posterity on the Live in Tokyo album. Back in Jamaica, 1987 had also seen the release of Rockers Comes East, a stunning set that created quite a stir at the time as Pablo took his own sound squarely into the digital age.
1990 brought Blowing With the Wind, which found the artist shifting direction yet again with the addition of nyahbingi drum beats and Johnny Moores trumpet. As the decade deepened, Pablo remained a stalwart of the scene by producing a number of hit records, including such classics as Dawn Penns Night and Day and Yami Bolos sublime Jah Made Them All album. He also continued to release his own music, guest star on others records, and oversee his back catalog, which remained in demand. Whats truly miraculous was that Pablo managed to keep up this pace for so long. His health had always been very delicate due to a nerve disorder he suffered for much of his life. On May 18, 1999, his body finally gave out; he was only 40. However, although the artist may be gone, his legacy is in no danger of fading away. Compilations of both his own work and his productions appear with astonishing regularity, and its difficult to find an album from the late 70s that he did not guest star on. His importance to Jamaicas music scene can be seen by the numerous stars who appeared at a tribute concert held a year after his death that included some of the islands greatest DJs, singers, and musicians.