Bounty Killer Hails Former Manager Babsy Grange As “Finest Entertainment Minister” On Her Birthday
Even if others might have forgot, the Warlord Bounty Killer remembered his first manager, Minister of Culture Olivia “Babsy” Grange on her 76th birthday on Wednesday, expressing his love, as he heaped accolades on the former Specs/Shang executive.
“Gwaan Aunty Babsy salute earth blessings pon blessings Jamaica’s finest culture sports and entertainment minister period u had never neglect culture u held it up in high esteem We Love You💫🎊🍾🎉🎈🥂,” Bounty noted in captioning a video serenading the St. Catherine Central Member of Parliament.
His endorsement of Grange was supported by Shaggy who added: “Real talk!!!”
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Grange, fondly known as Babsy, was born on April 27, 1946, and hails from the inner-city community of Luke Lane in Western Kingston,. She holds the Commander of Distinction and is portfolio minister responsible for Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport. She was a manager to Bounty Killer and his compatriots Patra and Shabba Ranks, in the 1990s.
She was Chief Executive Officer of Specs Limited and Spec-Shang Music, and also served as producer, arranger, and songwriter, in addition to being manager to the three iconic Dancehall artistes.
Along with Clifton “Specialist” Dillon, she is credited, along with as being among the executives who propelled Shabba Ranks to international stardom and Grammy glory.
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, New Gun, Love is Lovely, Disrespect, his breakout song Coppershot, Gun Thirsty and the title track Roots, Reality and Culture.
In addition, that same year, she guided his 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, Yellowman’s Reggae On The Move, Dirtsman’s Stand Out 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.
Grange was also producer of Carlene Davis’ 15 Classics, which included songs such as Old Friends Do, Love a Woman Gives to a Man, Harder they come, Stealing Love, Going Down to Paradise, My Mistake and Quick Sand.
She is described in her official biography, as a pioneer contributor to the development of the Reggae and Dancehall Music Industry in Jamaica, Canada and the United States, who 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.
The Kingston native 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.
In addition, 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 artistes. Six years later, in 2015, she was awarded the Order of Distinction (Commander Class) for her contribution to Jamaica’s music and cultural development.