Skatta Burrell Says Dave Kelly Inspired Him To Be Creative And Original
Reggae Sumfest Executive Skatta Burrell has given further insight into the festival’s Madhouse Tribute to Dave Kelly set for Saturday, July 23, in honor of the iconic Dancehall music producer, who has among his credits, the Pepperseed, Arab Attack, Showtime, Joy Ride, Stink and Dugu Dugu riddims.
According to Skatta, who is also Downsound Entertainment’s music producer, Kelly’s influence and his contributions to Dancehall, in general, has been phenomenal, and consequently, he was of the view that the ideal way to honor him was to engage artists for whom he wrote and recorded songs on his Madhouse label, to pay homage to him at the world’s most significant Reggae festival.
“Well I must take credit for the conceptualization of that idea, because I am the producer at Downsound and I really have an appreciation for persons who have motivated and inspired me as a producer. There are a few of them – Dave Kelly – you can ask anybody from my era – he has been one of the main persons. His artistry and his creativity and the way he does things, does something to you as a producer to be creative as an original,” Skatta said.
“And he’s a modest person as we all know, influenced so many artistes and what he has done and contributed to the Dancehall culture. And if I am a part of one of the biggest Reggae festivals in the world, I would say how can we play a part in bringing these people to the fore, and making other people understand how remarkable they are,” he added, as he conversed with Billboard’s Pat Meschino.
Beenie Man, Bounty Killer, Baby Cham, Wayne Wonder, and Spragga Benz, Frisco Kid and Mr Easy, will headline the Madhouse Tribute to Dave Kelly, but according to Skatta, there are others who recorded with Madhouse who may join the line-up, among them Professor Nuts, who recorded Funny Guy on the Arab Attack riddim and Of Course on the Joyride in the 1990s.
“When you look at his (Kelly’s) body of work, it is just exceptional. And he is one of the producers who has his finger on the pulse of Dancehall, so if you take the time out just research just the levels of number one hits, it’s just incredible. And I have to say that I am honoured to know that we can bring all of these persons together – great artistes, Wayne Wonder, Beenie Man, Bounty… there are so many more but these are the ones that we have to just pay homage to this great producer,” he said.
Kelly, who ruled the 1990s, and is labeled the greatest Dancehall producer of all time, crafted scores of legendary riddims such as Bogle, Heartbeat, Return, Haunted, Heartbeat, Backyard, Fiesta, 85, and Bruk Out from which scores of Dancehall hits were birthed.
He also wrote and produced Bounty Killer’s Dancehall classic Poor People Fed Up, and Look Into My Eyes; and Beenie’s Suzuki and Old Dog. Look and Old Dog were both co-written by himself and Cham, who has long lauded Kelly as a genius, an inspiration and a musical mastermind, who inspired the writing of his biggest hit, Ghetto Story. Cham also recorded a slew of hits for Kelly including Ghetto Story, Ghetto Pledge, More Wood, Many Many, Gallang Yah Gal, Hottie Hottie Crew, Vitamin S, and Another Level.
In 1991, Kelly released the Bogle riddim which included songs such as Bogle Dance by Buju Banton, Stampede by Capleton, Good Like Gold by Daddy Screw, and Mr. Big Man by Terror Fabulous.
Heartbeat aka Car Crash in 1994 was another of Kelly’s masterpieces and consisted of Malfunction by Louie Culture; No Ride, Put Up Yuh Hand, by Terror Fabulous, Car Crash and Accident by Spragga Benz, Kerry by Daddy Screw and Donovan Steele; Heartbreaker, also by Daddy Screw and Maxi Priest, Yuh Own Di Man by Don Yute, Wah Wah by Frankie Sly and Wackie News by Frisco Kid.
Kelly’s legendary Stink Riddim which was released in the summer of 1995, became a huge success with chart-toppers such as Merciless’ Gal Dem Gizzada, Captain Barkey’s Go-Go Wine, Alley Cat’s Hot Gyal, Cham’s The Mass, Kelly’s own Girls Anthem, which he released under the moniker “Rude Boy Kelly”; Spragga Benz’ Girl Watchers; Tony Curtis’ Do You Wanna, Wayne Wonder & Frisco Kid’s Dreamland and Beenie Man’s Old Dog, which was written by Kelly.
Also In 1995, Kelly released a slew of songs on the Arab Attack riddim, among them Beenie Man’s Slam, Wickedest Ride and Certain Gal; Wayne Wonder’s Honey’s Fine; Professor Nuts’ Funny Guy; Frisco Kid with You And You Man and Yvette, Spragga Benz with W and Terro Fabulous with Open The Door. The juggling riddim also had Louie Culture’s Salute Ghetto Youth and Bow And Salute; Donovan Steele’s Ms Bonefide, General Degree’s Mr Tickle and others.
In 1996, Kelly released Duggu Duggu which featured Wayne Wonder’s Glamour Girl, More Wood by Baby Cham and Duggu Duggu by Stranger, Think Wi Nice by Frisco Kid, Suzuki by Beenie Man and Heavy Man by General Degree.
He also released the Haunted riddim in 1996 which became another monster hit. Haunted consisted of Bounty Killer’s Worthless Bwoy, Woman Mi Name by Lady Saw, Bull Inna Pen by Richie Stephens, Dolly House by Spragga Benz, Break Up and Make Up by Cham, The Best by Wayne Wonder and H.O.T. by Textra.
Kelly’s Showtime riddim, spawned Dancehall hits such as Bounty Killer’s Eagle and the Hawk, Shaggy’s Hot Gyal, Beenie Man’s Hypocrite, Wayne Wonder’s Searching Dem Searching. Released in 1997, Showtime also featured two songs from Cham, Gallang Yah Gal, and Hottie Hottie Crew.