Veteran Dancehall Deejay Tiger Roars To Age 61
Veteran Dancehall deejay Tiger beamed as he celebrated his 61st birthday on Sunday, 28 years after he was involved in a horrific accident that almost claimed his life, impeded his speech and memory, and ultimately stifled his career.
“A me name Tiger!!! Big up the Almighty for keeping and preserving I man throughout this time I am truly grateful to be here 61 years on this earth it just always goes to show that “it’s nice to be important but it’s more important to be nice!” he posted on his Instagram page on Sunday, under a photo of himself clad in Biggy Designs.
The No Wanga Gut singer was riding high in Dancehall, when, in January, 1993, he was struck from his motorcycle by a diplomat in St. Andrew, which resulted in him suffering extensive bodily and head injuries including contusion of the left, right and frontal lobes of the brain as well as severe impairment of memory, concentration and personality change, among other things.
According to reports, he was initially pronounced dead by doctors, but was revivified and later placed on life support. Upon recovery, medical professionals diagnosed that he would need neurotherapy, speech therapy, and physiotherapy for the rest of his life.
However, over the decades, Tiger has shown his mettle by regaining his motor functions and committing himself to speech therapy so he could recover his ability to speak clearly, resulting in him only speaking with a slight slur on his words nowadays.
In a 2013 interview with the Jamaica Observer, Tiger had said that he had made several comeback attempts, including in one in July 2011 on a show with Shabba Ranks in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, which did not go too well as he was not “able to put his words together, but was nevertheless cheered on by the audience.
Described as a Dancehall deejay with an infectious sense of humor, Tiger whose given name is Norman Washington Jackson, has his roots in the Liguanea area of St Andrew.
His Dancehall career began at the University of the West Indies (UWI) Students’ Union in the late 1980s, where he performed his first hit song, Puppy Love, and there the diminutive deejay entertained his way to stardom, becoming crowned three years later as ‘Prince of the Dancehall’.
Tiger worked with Lloyd Campbell of Aquarius Records to produce the Love Line, which was followed by his three number ones, Wanga Gut in 1986 as well as Come Back To Me in 1987 featuring singer Anthony Malvo, which was followed up with his When.
His single Cool Me Down was included on the soundtrack of the film Cool Runnings.
Tiger recorded on beats for a slew of top producers during his heydays including King Jammy, Gussie Clarke, Sly and Robbie, Philip “Fatis” Burrell and Donovan Germain.
In 1989, Tiger became one of the first Dancehall artists to cross over into the US hip hop scene when after he collaborated with the Fat Boys on the track titled T’ings Nah Go So.
His reign continued in the early 1990s. He was signed by Columbia Records’ Chaos label, where he voiced one album titled Claws of the Cat in 1993 which has been described as a ‘patchwork of bouncy ragamuffin music” produced by Sly Dunbar, Dave Kelly, Steely and Clevie, and others.
The album featured tracks such as Groovin, All Out for the Killing, and Nobody Move which were produced by iconic producer Dave Kelly, as well as Windscreen which was produced by Steelie.
Another big hit from the album was Beep Beep as well as Just Look, which were co-produced by Sly Dunbar, and Chaos by Steely and Clevie.
Other popular tracks recorded by Tiger were Me Name Tiger in 1986, Bam Bam in 1988, Shockin’ Colour in 1989, Ram Dancehall in 1989, Love Affair and Touch Is a Move in 1990, Tiger a Tiger and Ready Fi Dem in 1991 as well as Deadly and Put It On in 1992.