King Tubby

King Tubby (January 28, 1941 – February 6, 1989) was a Jamaican electronics and sound engineer, known primarily for his influence on the development of dub in the 1960s and 1970s. Born Osbourne Ruddock, Tubby's innovative studio work, which saw him elevate the role of the mixing engineer to a creative fame previously only reserved for composers and musicians, would prove to be influential across many genres of popular music. He is often cited as the inventor of the concept of the remix, and so may be seen as a direct antecedent of much dance and electronic music production. Mikey Dread stated, "KT truly understood sound in a scientific sense. He knew how the circuits worked and what the electrons did. That's why he could do what he did"......read more

Links To Peel
Peel had been playing reggae on his shows since 1969, and continued to chart its evolution when dub evolved as a sub-genre. It achieved widespread exposure in the early to mid 70s: Tubby was among the first, if not the first, to capitalise on the popularity of the 'version' (basically, leaving the vocal track off the A side of the single and making an instrumental on the flip for DJs to either remix or 'toast' (=rap) over). For his Radio 3 series Where It's At (1976), John tracked the history of reggae and included King Tubby's Dub Magnificent as an example of producers becoming as well-known as the artists they recorded, and adding that the title was also his opinion of the track.

However, he virtually retired from production in the early 1980s and died a violent death in early 1989. He spent his later years mixing occasional dubs and managing record labels (one of these, Firehouse, launched the career of another Peel favourite, Anthony Red Rose). Having spent all his working life in Jamaica, there was no opportunity for him to be booked by the BBC, and it is as yet unknown whether Peel marked his passing in any way. However, he programmed several tracks late in the year from a posthumous compilation, King Tubby's Special 1973-1976, which, he noted, ''"will never fail to give satisfaction." ''Numerous compilations were subsequently made available and promoted by the use of Tubby's name, which ensured that John continued to play his productions to the end of his life.

Festive Fifty Entries

 * None

Sessions

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Other Shows Played
(The list below features only tracks with KT in the major credits (including KT & Friends, KT, etc); for other tracks he worked on, please see the page for the named artist. The list was compiled only from the database of this site and Lorcan's Tracklistings Archive. Please add further information if known.)


 * 1976
 * Where It's At: Dub Magnificent


 * 1977
 * 12 September 1977 (meets Harry Mudie): unknown


 * 1978
 * 13 September 1978: King Of Kings In Dub (album - Surrounded By The Dreads At The National Arena) Studio 16
 * 20 September 1978: ? (album - Surrounded By The Dreads At The National Arena) Studio 16 WE 102
 * 02 November 1978 (& Mikey Dread): Parrot Jungle (7”) Dread At The Control


 * 1979
 * 19 April 1979 (& Michael Campbell): Internal Energy (7") Dread At The Controls

1981
 * 1980
 * 25 March 1980: Black & White Rock (7” – Poorest People) Power Disc
 * 03 September 1980: Easy Dread & Check This Dub (album - )
 * 03 November 1980 (with Scientist & Crucial Bunny): (album - King Tubby Verses Channel One) Bumb BUM LP 101
 * 02 March 1981: unknown (Shazam comes up with "Pat Kelly At The Control - Original")


 * 1982
 * 20 September 1982: General Saint Dub (LP - King at the Control) Tad's Records
 * 06 September 1982: Winter Dub (LP - King At The Control) Tad's


 * 1989
 * 20 November 1989: Casanova Dub (album - King Tubby's Special 1973-1976) Trojan
 * 21 November 1989 (with Observer Allstars & Aggrovators): Rasta Locks (album - King Tubby's Special 1973-1976) Trojan
 * 22 November 1989 (with Observer Allstars & Aggrovators): Dubbing With The Observer (LP - King Tubby's Special 1973-1976) Trojan
 * 07 December 1989 (with Observer Allstars and Aggrovators): Mister D. Brown Skank (album - King Tubby's Special 1973-1976) Trojan
 * 18 December 1989 (with Observer Allstars and Aggrovators): Another Version (album - King Tubby's Special 1973-1976) Trojan

1990
 * 03 January 1990 (with Observer Allstars and Aggrovators): Parade Dub (album - King Tubby's Special 1973-1976) Trojan TRLD 409
 * 08 January 1990 (with Observer Allstars and Aggrovators): Straight To The Boy Nineyhead (album - King Tubby's Special 1973-1976) Trojan TRLD 409
 * 13 June 1990 (with Aggrovators): Straight To Edward's Head (album - Dub Jackpot) Attack
 * 19 June 1990 (with Aggrovators): Life Time Dub (album - Dub Jackpot) Attack


 * 1991
 * 26 October 1991 (& The Upsetter): Spanish Town


 * 1992
 * 11 January 1992: Parade Dub (LP-King Tubby's Special 1973-1976) Trojan
 * 12 January 1992: Rebel Dance (LP-King Tubby's Special 1973-1976) Trojan
 * 18 January 1992: Casanova Dub (2xCD: King Tubby's Special 1973-1976) Trojan
 * 25 January 1992: Casanova Dub (CD - King Tubby Special Trojan 1973-1976) Trojan
 * 08 March 1992: Sir Niney's Rock (CD - King Tubby's Special 1973-76)
 * 14 March 1992: Jam Down (CD – King Tubby’s Special 1973-76) Trojan
 * 01 March 1992: Dubbing With The Observer (CD-King Tubby's Special: 1973-1976) Trojan (JP: “Nothing, of course, to do with the Sunday newspaper that turned its back on me a few years ago, when I was their man in pop music.”)
 * 09 October 1992: Dub Of Jerusalem (LP-King Tubby Meets Vivian Jackson) Prophet
 * 16 October 1992: Fire Fire Dub (LP-King Tubby Meets Vivian Jackson) Prophet
 * 04 December 1992: Dub Of Jerusalem (LP – King Tubby Meet Vivian Jackson) Prophet


 * 1993
 * 16 January 1993 (with Augustus Pablo): King Tubby's Special Mix (Jacknot Records)


 * 1994
 * 29 January 1994: Winter Dub (album - King At The Control) Tad's TRD LP 41181
 * 04 February 1994: Tad's Special (LP - King At The Control) Tad's
 * 12 February 1994 (BFBS): Tad's Special
 * 01 April 1994: Hungering Dub (LP - King Tubby's Prophecy Of Dub) Prophets
 * 22 April 1994: Conquering Dub (LP: King Tubby's Prophecy Of Dub) Prophets
 * 25 April 1999 (BFBS): Everybody Needs Dub (CD-Dub Like Dirt 1975 - 1977) Blood & Fire
 * 29 April 1994: unknown (CD - Dub Gone Crazy - The Evolution Of Dub At King Tubby's 1975-1979 ) Blood & Fire
 * 30 April 1994 (BFBS): Conquering Dub (album - Prophecy Of Dub) Prophets
 * 30 April 1994: Real Gone Crazy Dub (album - Dub Gone Crazy - The Evolution Of Dub At King Tubby's 1975-1979) Blood And Fire
 * 06 May 1994: Exalted Dub (CD - Dub Gone Crazy - The Evolution Of Dub At King Tubby's 1975-1979) Blood & Fire
 * 07 May 1994 (BFBS): The Champion Version (album - Dub Gone Crazy - The Evolution Of Dub At King Tubby's 1975-1979) Simply Vinyl / Blood & Fire
 * 07 May 1994: Dreada Version (CD - Dub Gone Crazy - The Evolution Of Dub At King Tubby's 1975-1979) Blood & Fire (JP: ‘..and I still have to sit down and be fanned by a member of staff every time that I contemplate the fact that that’s [Blood & Fire Records] run by Simply Red’s management.’)
 * 13 May 1994: No Love (Version) (CD - Dub Gone Crazy - The Evolution Of Dub At King Tubby's 1975-1979) Blood And Fire
 * 14 May 1994 (BFBS): unknown (album - Dub Gone Crazy - The Evolution Of Dub At King Tubby's 1975-1979) Blood & Fire
 * 20 May 1994: Exalted Dub (CD - Dub Gone Crazy - The Evolution Of Dub At King Tubby's 1975-1979) Blood And Fire
 * 21 May 1994 (BFBS): Exalted Dub (album - Dub Gone Crazy - The Evolution Of Dub At King Tubby's 1975-1979) Blood & Fire
 * 21 May 1994: Wreck Up A Version (CD - Dub Gone Crazy - The Evolution Of Dub At King Tubby's 1975-1979) Blood & Fire
 * 03 June 1994: Hold Them In Dub (CD - Dub Gone Crazy - The Evolution Of Dub At King Tubby's 1975-1979 ) Blood & Fire
 * 10 June 1994: Step It Up In Dub (CD - Dub Gone Crazy - The Evolution Of Dub At King Tubby's 1975-1979 ) Blood & Fire
 * 11 June 1994: Dub Fi Gwan (CD: Dub Gone Crazy - The Evolution Of Dub At King Tubby's 1975-1979) Blood & Fire


 * 1995
 * 18 April 1995 (Radio Mafia): Hungering Dub (LP - Prophecy Of Dub) Blood & Fire
 * 28 April 1995: Party Time Dub (LP-I Am The King Volume 2) Sprint


 * 1996
 * 21 July 1996 (& Prince Jammy): 'Channel One Under Heavy Manners (CD-Dub Gone 2 Crazy: In Fine Style 1975-1979)' Blood & Fire
 * 27 July 1996 (BFBS) (& Prince Jammy): 'King Tubby's In Fine Style (CD-Dub Gone 2 Crazy: In Fine Style 1975-1979)' Blood & Fire
 * 28 July 1996 (& Prince Jammy): 'Channel One Under Heavy Manners (CD-Dub Gone 2 Crazy: In Fine Style 1975-1979)' Blood & Fire
 * 29 July 1996 (BBC World Service): (& Prince Jammy): 'King Tubby's In Fine Style (CD-Dub Gone 2 Crazy: In Fine Style 1975-1979)' Blood & Fire
 * 03 August 1996 (BFBS) (& Prince Jammy): 'A Stalawatt Version (Compilation CD-Dub Gone 2 Crazy: In Fine Style 1975-1979)' (Blood & Fire)
 * 03 August 1996 (& Prince Jammy): A Living Version (album - Dub Gone 2 Crazy) Blood & Fire BAFLP 013
 * 12 August 1996 (BBC World Service) (& Prince Jammy): A Stalawatt Version (LP - Dub Gone 2 Crazy: In Fine Style 1975-1979) Blood & Fire
 * 23 November 1996 (with Glen Brown): Save Our Dub (album - Termination Dub (1973-79) Blood & Fire BF 015
 * 24 November 1996 (with Glen Brown): 'Wicked Can't Run This Dub (2xLP-Termination Dub)' Blood & Fire
 * 30 November 1996 (with Glen Brown): Wicked Tumbling Version (album - Termination Dub (1973-79) Blood & Fire BF 015
 * 01 December 1996 (BBC World Service) (with Glen Brown): 'Save Our Dub (LP-Termination Dub 1973-1979)' Blood & Fire
 * 08 December 1996 (with Glen Brown): Assack Lawn No. 1 Dub (Version 1) (album - Termination Dub (1973-79) Blood & Fire BF 015
 * 08 December 1996 (BBC World Service) (with Glen Brown): Assack Lawn No. 1 Dub (Version 1) (album - Termination Dub (1973-79) Blood & Fire BF 015
 * 14 December 1996 (with Glen Brown): There's Dub (album - Termination Dub (1973-79) Blood & Fire BF 015


 * 1997
 * 17 March 1997 (BFBS) (& Santic Allstars): Shooter Dub (Compilation CD-2 Heavyweight - Another Blood And Fire Sampler) Blood & Fire
 * 20 March 1997 (& Santic Allstars): Shooter Dub (Various Artists CD –2 Heavyweight – Another Blood And Fire Sampler) Blood & Fire
 * 21 October 1997: Big Youth Fights Against Capitalism (Compilation LP-Jesus Dread 1972-1977) Blood & Fire
 * 18 November 1997: King Tubby's Rock (LP - Jesus Dread 1972 - 1977 by Yabby U) Blood & Fire
 * 03 December 1997: Love Of Jah Version (LP - Jesus Dread 1972 - 1977 by Yabby U) Blood & Fire
 * 04 December 1997 (BFBS): Love Of Jah Version (Compilation LP-Jesus Dread 1972-1977) Blood & Fire
 * 11 December 1997 (BFBS): Love Of Jah Version (Compilation LP-Jesus Dread 1972-1977) Blood & Fire


 * 1999
 * 24 February 1999: Skatalites meet King Tubby: Zion I Dub (LP: Heroes Of Reggae In Dub) Motion
 * March 1999 (FSK): Dub Ites Green & Gold (CD - Dub Like Dirt 1975-1977) Blood & Fire
 * 03 March 1999: Skatalites meet King Tubby: Rocky Road (LP - Heroes Of Reggae In Dub) Motion
 * 18 March 1999: Chapter Of Money (CD -Dub Like Dirt 1975-1977) Blood & Fire
 * 24 March 1999: Bag A Wire Dub (CD -Dub Like Dirt 1975-1977) Blood & Fire
 * 25 March 1999: Dub Ites Green And Gold (album - Dub Like Dirt 1975-1977) Blood & Fire (Billy Bragg, in the studio as a guest, suggests John has played King Tubby because that's what he is.)
 * 30 March 1999: Stealing (Version) (Album – Dub Like Dirt) Blood And Fire
 * 31 March 1999: Beat Them In Dub (Album – Dub Like Dirt) Blood And Fire
 * April 1999 (FSK): Beat Them In Dub (CD - Dub Like Dirt 1975-1977) Blood & Fire
 * 01 April 1999: Thunder Rock (Album – Dub Like Dirt) Blood And Fire
 * 06 April 1999: How Long Dub (Album – Dub Like Dirt) Blood And Fire
 * 08 April 1999: Heat Them In Dub (Album – Dub Like Dirt) Blood And Fire
 * 14 April 1999: Dub Investigation (LP: Dub Like Dirt 1975-1977) Blood & Fire
 * 20 April 1999: Sly Want Dub (LP: Dub Like Dirt 1975-1977) Blood & Fire
 * 28 April 1999: Everybody Needs Dub (LP: Dub Like Dirt 1975-1977) Blood & Fire
 * 11 May 1999: Horn For I (LP: Dub Like Dirt 1975-1977) Blood & Fire
 * 18 May 1999: Stop Look Dub (Various Artists 2xCD - The Sound Of Channel One: King Tubby Connection) Motion
 * 19 May 1999: Six Million Dollar Version (CD-Dub Like Dirt 1975-1977) Blood & Fire
 * 14 July 1999: 70 Times Dub (Compilation CD-The Sound Of Channel One: King Tubby Connection) Motion
 * September 1999 (FSK): Morpheus Special (v/a CD - X-Ray Music: A Blood And Fire Dub Directory) Blood & Fire
 * 09 September 1999 (Radio Eins): Bag A Wire Dub (CD -Dub Like Dirt 1975-1977) Blood & Fire
 * 16 September 1999: Pegasus Rock (LP – X-Ray Music: A Blood & Fire Dub Directory) Blood & Fire


 * 2000
 * 11 May 2000: How Long Dub (Album – Dub Like Dirt) Blood And Fire
 * 06 June 2000 (with Larry Marshall: Thelma Dub (LP – I Admire You) Motion
 * 01 August 2000: King Tubby's Conversation Dub (LP – Essential Dub) Metro
 * 22 August 2000: Rebel Dance (LP - Essential Dub) Metro
 * 30 August 2000: Casanova Dub (LP - Essential Dub) Metro
 * 13 September 2000: Natty Dread Kill The Barber (LP - The Dub Organiser) Black Solidarity
 * 14 September 2000: Bag A Wire (The Avatars Of Dub remix) (LP - Select Cuts From Blood & Fire) Select Cuts
 * 20 September 2000: A Moving Version (LP: The Dub Organiser) Black Solidarity
 * 28 September 2000: Barbwire Disaster' (LP: Essential Dub) Metro


 * 2001
 * 21 March 2001 (& The Aggrovators): Straight To The Capitalist Head (Compilation CD: Dub Original Bass Culture) Metro
 * 27 March 2001: Dub Confession (LP: King Tubby's Lost Treasures) Jamaican
 * 29 March 2001: Blessed Dub (LP: King Tubby's Lost Treasures) Jamaican
 * 04 April 2001: Blessed Dub (10”) Jamaican
 * 05 April 2001: Cold Hearted Dub (10”) Jamaican
 * 15 April 2001 (BBC World Service): Frenemy Dub (album - King Tubby's Lost Treasures) Jamaican Recordings
 * 19 July 2001: Dub Confession (LP - Lost Treasures) Jamaican Recordings
 * 25 July 2001: Blessed Dub (LP – Lost Treasures) Jamaican
 * 27 September 2001 (Radio Eins) (with Soul Syndicate): Great Stone (Zion Train Remix) (v/a album - Select Cuts From Blood & Fire - Chapter Two) Select Cuts


 * 2002
 * 09 May 2002 (with Skatalites): Starlight (LP – The Legendary Skatalites In Dub) Motion
 * 15 May 2002 (with Skatalites): Fugitive Dub (LP – The Legendary Skatalites In Dub) Motion
 * 23 May 2002: Brand New Dub (LP – Sound System Dub, Vol. 1) Original
 * 28 May 2002 (with Skatalites): Bottom Dub Dub (LP – The Legendary Skatalites In Dub) Motion
 * 29 May 2002 (with Skatalites): African Roots Dub (LP – The Legendary Skatalites In Dub) Motion
 * 15 June 2002 (BBC World Service) (with Skatalites): Bottom Dub (LP - The Legendary Skatalites In Dub) Motion
 * 18 July 2002: Blessed Dub (LP - Dub Sampler Vol. 1) Jamaican
 * 25 July 2002 (Radio Eins): Blessed Dub (v/a album - Dub Sampler Vol.1) Jamaican
 * 15 August 2002: Nah Bother with War (LP - Sound System Dub Vol.1) Original Music
 * 05 September 2002: Don't Cry Dub' (Original Music)
 * 17 September 2002: Man Soon (album - Dub Sound System Dub Vol. 1) Original Music
 * 19 September 2002 (Radio Mafia): Sling Gun (Original Music)
 * 31 October 2002: Sling Gun (LP - Sound System Dub Vol.1)' (Original Music)
 * 05 December 2002: I Trim The Barber (Compilation LP - Flashing Echo: Trojan In Dub 1970-1980) Trojan


 * 2003
 * 06 February 2003: Drumillie Rock (LP- 100% of Dub) Select Cuts
 * 12 February 2003: Roots Dub (LP- 100% of Dub: Select Cuts) Select Cuts
 * 28 February 2003 (BBC World Service): Flag Dub (LP- 100% of Dub: Select Cuts) Select Cuts
 * 06 March 2003 (BBC World Service): Crime Wave (LP- 100% of Dub) Select Cuts
 * 11 March 2003: Crime Wave (LP- 100% of Dub) Select Cuts
 * 12 June 2003: Water House, Road Block (Dove)
 * 25 June 2003: From Channel 1 to King Tubby's Studio (LP- Balmagie Jam Rock) Dove
 * 02 July 2003 (Radio Mafia): From Channel 1 to King Tubby's Studio (LP- Balmagie Jam Rock) Dove
 * 08 July 2003: From Channel 1 to King Tubby's Studio (LP- Balmagie Jam Rock) Dove
 * 15 July 2003: Rewind and Mix (LP- Balmagie Jam Rock) Dove
 * 16 July 2003 (Radio Mafia): Saturday Dub Cut Only (album - King Tubby's Balmagie Jam Rock) Dove
 * 19 July 2003 (BBC World Service): Saturday Dub Cut Only (album - King Tubby's Balmagie Jam Rock) Dove
 * 22 July 2003: Dub Plate Rule (LP- Balmagie Jam Rock) Dove
 * 25 July 2003 (BBC World Service): Rewind and Mix (LP- Balmagie Jam Rock) Dove
 * 31 July 2003: Curfew in Tower Hill (LP - King Tubby's Balmagie Jam Rock) Dove
 * 20 August 2003: The Stepping Dub (LP- The Dub Master Presents) Moll-Selekta
 * 23 August 2003 (BBC World Service): Curfew in Tower Hill (LP - King Tubby's Balmagie Jam Rock) Dove
 * 26 August 2003: Rude Boy Dub (LP- The Dub Master Presents) Moll Selekta
 * 28 August 2003 (Radio Eins): The Roots Prophet And The Mix (CD-King Tubby's Balmagie Jam Rock) Dove
 * 04 September 2003 (Radio Eins): Dub Plate Rule (CD-Balmagie Jam Rock) Dove
 * 04 September 2003: Rude Boy Dub (LP- The Dub Master Presents) Moll Selekta
 * 26 September 2003 (BBC World Service) (and Harry Mudie): World Dub Conference (LP - Harry Mudie meets King Tubby In Conference:Dub Rockers Vol 2) Moodisc
 * 13 November 2003: Hijack the Barber' (LP - The Dub Master Presents) Moll - Selekta
 * 18 November 2003: African Roots' (LP - The Dub Master Presents) Moll Selekta


 * 2004
 * 10 February 2004 (and Thompson Sounds): Freedom Version (LP - 'Whip them King Tubby) Luxx
 * 19 February 2004: A Wiser Version (LP - Whip Them King Tubby) Auralux
 * 02 March 2004: Homeward Dub (LP-Whip Them King Tubby) Auralux
 * 24 March 2004 (with Thompson Sounds): Whipping Version (LP - Whip Them King Tubby) Auralux
 * 01 April 2004: Telling Version (LP - Whip Them King Tubby) Auralux
 * 02 November 2004 (Rob Da Bank): ‘Want to go Home Dub’ (7") - (Attack)