Jamaican producer Harry Johnson, better known as Harry J, died on Wednesday 3 April, aged 68. A diabetic, he passed away in hospital in Savanna La Mar, in the parish of Westmoreland.
An insurance agent, Harry Johnson moved into production in 1966. He did not yet have his own studio and used the facilities of Studio One. His biggest hit is probably The Liquidator, covered by The Staple Singers on their hit I'll take you there for Stax, but how could we not mention Young Gifted & Black, by Bob Andy and Marcia Griffiths, or the crucial Cuss Cuss by Lloyd Robinson, which Coxsone would reuse for Horace Andy.
In 1972, Harry Johnson opened his studio, which became one of the essentials of the 1970s. Seen notably in the cult film "Rockers", many reggae luminaries passed through its walls, starting with Bob Marley, who recorded his first four albums for Island there ("Catch A Fire", "Burnin’", "Natty Dread", "Rastaman Vibration") between 1973 and 1976, but also Burning Spear, The Heptones, Dennis Brown, Zap Pow…
Rewarded in 1999 with a Grammy Award for Burning Spear's album "Calling Rastafari", sound engineer Stephen Stewart set about reopening the studio in 2000. After a seven-year closure, musicians and singers were back in the studio's famous yard, beneath the murals of reggae's legendary figures.
Recently, the studio has welcomed the French band Broussai who recorded their latest album, "Kingston Town", there, as well as Naâman.