Big Youth

Manley Augustus Buchanan (born 19 April 1949 in Kingston, Jamaica), is a Jamaican DJ (reggae toasting and early singjay), known as Big Youth. His work with producer Gussie Clarke resulted in his first big Jamaican hits in 1972 – 'The Killer' (version of Horace Andy's 'Skylarking') and 'Tippertone Rocking'. In 1973, legendary album “Screaming Target' was released.

During 1974 and 1975, Big Youth continued to record for other producers, as well as releasing his own self-produced recordings on the Negusa Nagast and Augustus Buchanan labels in Jamaica, including the LP “Reggae Phenomemnon' in 1974. His self-productions continued with the 1976 albums “Natty Cultural Dread' and “Hit The Road Jack'.

Together with U-Roy, I-Roy, Dennis Alcapone, Prince Far I, and Dillinger, Big Youth is one of the early Jamaican reggae toasters who inspired generations of following Jamaican dancehall deejays and American rappers.

(Read more at last.fm.)

Links to Peel
Discussing his Record Box selection from John Peel’s record collection of 1973 single ‘Foreman Vs Frazier’, DJ and film maker Don Letts ranks Big Youth as one of the “mighty three” reggae toasters, with U-Roy and I-Roy, seen as influential in the later development of rap in the US. Peel played Big Youth regularly down the decades, focusing after the 1970s on classic early material, including numerous tracks from the 3-CD Blood & Fire set ‘Natty Universal Dread 1973-1979’ in late 2000 and early 2001.

Back in early 1976, Peel informed Sounds readers that he had played Big Youth’s ‘Natty Cultural Dread’ LP to newly born first son William, alongside offerings by Bob Dylan, Neil Young and Quicksilver Messenger Service.

Festive Fifty Entries

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Sessions

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Other Shows Played

 * 1970s
 * 18 August 1975: Lightning Flash (Weak Heart Drop) (LP - Dread Locks Dread) Klik
 * 03 February 1976: Hell Is For Heroes (LP - Natty Cultural Dread) Trojan
 * 19 January 1978: Love Your Brother Man (12" - Strictly Rockers) Gussie Roots Sounds
 * 01 February 1978: Isiah, First Prophet Of Old (LP - Isaiah First Prophet Of Old) Nichola Delita
 * 17 January 1979: unknown (LP - )
 * 22 January 1979: Camp David Summit (LP – Reggae Gi Dem Dub) Nicholas Delita
 * 05 February 1979: Progress (Part 2) (album - Reggae Gi Dem Dub) Nichola Delita
 * 27 September 1979: Big Youth: Best In The Country (JP: "a fine record from Big Youth")


 * 1980s
 * 08 January 1980: Political Confusion (single) Cash and Carry
 * 23 January 1980: Cool Breeze (v/a LP - Creation Rockers Volume 3) Trojan
 * 15 December 1981: Spiderman Meets Hulk (7") Negusa Nagast ‎
 * 17 January 1989: I Pray Thee
 * 01 June 1989: Things Friend (7") Power House


 * 1990s
 * 01 August 1990: Lightning Flash Weak Heart Drop (v/a album - Beyond The Front Line) Front Line
 * 09 February 1991: All Nation Bow (v/a album - Original Stalag 20) Techniques
 * 13 March 1992: Foreman Vs Frazier (7") Gibbs
 * 20 May 1994: Fire Burn (Various Artists CD - Truth And Rights Observer Style ) Heartbeat
 * 21 May 1994: Fire Burn (Various Artists CD - Truth And Rights Observer Style) Heartbeat
 * 29 September 1995: Cool Breeze (Compilation CD-Reggae's Greatest Hits Vol. 5) Heartbeat
 * January 1997 (FSK): (& Juks Dread) 23rd Psalm (v/a CD - The Black Ark Presents Rastafari Liveth Itinually) Justice League
 * 11 January 1997: ‎ (& Juks Dread) 23rd Psalm (v/a CD - The Black Ark Presents Rastafari Liveth Itinually) Justice League
 * 22 October 1997: (& Vivian Jackson) Yabba Youth (v/a CD - Jesus Dread 1972-1977) Blood & Fire
 * 18 November 1998: Sky Juice (7") Negusa Nagast
 * 08 June 1999: All Nations Bow (v/a CD - Roots Techniques) Pressure Sounds


 * 2000s
 * 23 November 2000: Hip Ki Do (3xCD - Natty Universal Dread 1973-1979) Blood & Fire
 * 28 November 2000: Waterhouse Rock (compilation CD set - Natty Universal Dread) Blood & Fire
 * 30 November 2000 (Radio Eins): Waterhouse Rock (3xCD - Natty Universal Dread 1973-1979) Blood & Fire
 * December 2000 (FSK: African Daughter (3xCD - Natty Universal Dread 1973-1979) Blood & Fire
 * 07 December 2000 (Radio Eins): Mr. Buddy (3x CD-Universal Dread) Blood & Fire
 * 13 December 2000: Hell Is For Heroes (3xCD - Natty Universal Dread 1973-1979) Blood & Fire
 * 20 December 2000: African Daughter (3xCD – Natty Universal Dread) Blood & Fire
 * 28 December 2000: Things In The Light (3xCD-Natty Universal Dread) Blood & Fire
 * 03 January 2001: Hot Stock (3xCD: Natty Universal Dread) Blood & Fire
 * 04 January 2001 (Radio Eins): Mr. Buddy
 * 07 January 2001 (BBC World Service): Hell Is For Heroes (album - Natty Universal Dread 1973-1979) Blood & Fire
 * 10 January 2001: Things In The Light (3xCD: Natty Universal Dread [Hot Stock]) Blood & Fire
 * 16 January 2001: Is Dread In A Babylon (3xCD: Natty Universal Dread) Blood/Fire
 * 18 January 2001 (Radio Eins): Things In The Light (3xCD: Natty Universal Dread [Hot Stock]) Blood & Fire
 * 23 January 2001: Give Praises (3xCD - Natty Universal Dread 1973-1979) Blood & Fire
 * 06 February 2001: Mama Look (3xCD - Natty Universal Dread 1973-1979) Blood & Fire
 * 13 February 2002: Ride On (LP - Microphone Attack 1974-78) Blood & Fire
 * 18 April 2002 (Radio Mafia): Ride On/Wild Goose Chase (Blood & Fire)
 * 09 July 2003: Wolf In Sheep's Clothing'
 * 08 October 2003: (& Juks Dread) 23.00 Psalm (White Label)