Bounty Killer Hails His “First Contracted Manager” Babsy Grange On Her “Birthday”
Several of Bounty Killer’s fans are still trying to figure out how the Warlord came to be sending “happy birthday” greetings to Jamaica’s Minister of Entertainment Olivia “Babsy” Grange, on Sunday, August 1, even though her birthday was long gone from April 27.
Bounty posted a photo of Grange on his Instagram page holding a green bell-shaped cake marked “JLP, Happy Birthday Babsy”, and poured out his feelings to the St. Catherine Central Member of Parliament, who was a manager to him and his compatriots Patra and Shabba Ranks, in the 1990s.
“Special happy birthday to auntie @hon.oliviagrange my first ever contracted manager 1993 SpecShang also hail up to SP Wishing you a wonder prosperous and auspicious bday we all know u gonna live ur entire life with lots of blessings prosperity good health and that’s the wealth💝🥂🍾🎂🍰🍻💕🙏🏾,” he wrote.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CSCqb0gp6qD/
While many of his fans joined him in sending out greetings to Grange and tagging her in the process, there were a few who appeared to be more offay with the Minister’s bio, and pointed out that her birthday, on which she celebrated her 75th year, was in April.
“Nuh April Babsy born,” yoni_blackprincess wrote, while mafiaconnectionlaeme added: “April 26 is Babsy birthday.”
Grange, who was Chief Executive Officer of Specs Limited and Spec-Shang Music, also served as producer, arranger, and songwriter, in addition to being artist manager.
She is credited, along with Clifton “Specialist” Dillon as being the ones who propelled Shabba Ranks to international stardom.
It was under her management that Bounty released his first album, the 15-track Roots, Reality and Culture in 1994, which included hits such as Spy Fi Die, Kill for Fun, his breakout song Coppershot, and Gun Thirsty.
In addition, that same year he had a follow-up album titled Down in the Ghetto, which featured 14 tracks including Inspired by God, How the West was Won, Defend the Poor, Dead this Time, and See you no more.
She is listed among the arrangers of the Strictly Dance Hall album which was released in 1993 on the Shang Muzik label. The album featured songs such as Shabba Ranks’ Shine Yu Gun, Mad Cobra’s Find and Kill, Terror Fabulous Don’t Murda Mi, Josey Wales Gateman as well as Fat and Sexy by Bounty Killer.
In addition, she is also listed as producer and co-writer of Papa Biggy’s Increase the Peace which was recorded in 1993.
She was also producer of Carlene Davis’ 15 Classics, which included songs such as Old Friends Do, Harder they come, Stealing Love, My Mistake and Quick Sand.
According to her biography, Grange is a pioneer contributor to the development of the Reggae and Dancehall Music Industry in Jamaica, Canada and the United States, and has worked at the grassroots level in developing and managing talent, including other celebrated Reggae acts as Carlene Davis, Leroy Sibbles and Damian ‘Jr Gong’ Marley.
She is also a founding member and Director of the Jamaica Association of Composers, Authors and Publishers (JACAP), and also assisted in developing the Jamaican Copyright Legislation.
The longest-serving female MP in the House of Representatives, she was appointed Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport in March 2016.
She previously served in the Cabinet between 2007 and 2011 as Minister with responsibility for Information, Youth, Sports, Culture, Women and Gender Affairs, Entertainment, Community Development and Special Projects.
In 2009, Grange was appointed the Caribbean Community’s (CARICOM) first Champion for Culture, with responsibility for advocating for capacity building for cultural industries, cultural institutions, and individual artists. In 2015, Grange was awarded the rank of Commander (CD) in the Order of Distinction for her contribution to Jamaica’s music and cultural development.