Song:People Funny Boy
Album:Reggae Genius: 20 Upsetter Classics
Lee "Scratch" Perry is a living legend of Jamaican music known as the mad genius of reggae. The 1968 hit People Funny Boy is one of his biggest hits. He was born Rainford Hugh Perry Mar. 20, 1936 in Kendal, Jamaica. He started out in the late 50s as a record seller for Jamaican music pioneer Clement "Coxsone" Dodd at Studio One. Before long, Perry was producing records for Dodd. Perry left Studio One over money and went to work at Joe Gibbs' Wirl Records. But the same thing happened there and Perry left to start his own label Upsetter in 1968. People Funny Boy was his first single and it was a big hit in Jamaica. The song is based on The Pioneers hit Long Shot. And the lyrics are a tirade aimed at Joe Gibbs. You can hear Perry's infant son crying in the background. From there, Perry became one of the hottest producers in Jamaica. He recorded as Jah Lion, Super Ape and The Upsetter. He also produced early Bob Marley & The Wailers recording which led to them signing with Island Records. In the 70s he experimented with dub and produced the Junior Murvin classic Police and Thieves. Through all this, Perry has had mental health issues and drug and alcohol problems. His recording studio burned to the ground under suspicious circumstances. Perry signed with Trojan Records in 2002 and they have attempted to make sense out of his discography. This comp from the British label Spectrum is a good intro for newcomers. Lee "Scratch" Perry is still performing and recording today. Here's Lee "Scratch" Perry performing People Funny Boy from a 2001 live DVD.
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