Jerry's new album, Lover's Paradise, is in stores now. Get your copy. It's a great follow-up to his last album, Lovers Rock - Tonight, which is still available in stores. Released on his Listen Up record label, distributed internationally, it's filled with lover's rock, a touch of dancehall, and jazzy reggae songs soon to be classics.
Just before completing his Lover's Rock Tonight album, Harris produced the Reggae Covers for Lovers album with an all-star cast including Junior Jazz, Audrey Hall, Rula Brown, and Happy Love. Released on Universal records, it's filled with hit after hit renditions of various 70's classics and is being received very well by New York radio with sales in the UK and Japan ever increasing. Look for it in store throughout the US.
Jerry has been a seminal part of the New York reggae scene since 1975. He was the back bone of
Lloyd "Wackies" Barnes' Wackies Records crew of musicians and composer. He wrote and sometimes co-produced classic tracks by artists such as Horace Andy, Lee "Scatch" Perry, Jackie Mittoo, Sugar Minott, Mikey Dread, Max Romeo, and producer Clive Hunt. He went on to produce his own albums as well as artists like Japanese reggae singer Nahki on his first Wackies production.
Born Allan Harris on the 27th of December 1955, in Portland, Jamaica, Jerry has since the age of 14 devoted his life to music. He was influenced by the life and playing style of his father who was a professional jazz and calypso musician on the hotel circuit in Jamaica. The name Jerry was given to him by musican friends. They felt that Allan had a similar style to guitarist "Jah Jerry" of the Skatalites fame.
His first regular gig as a guitarist/backing vocalist came in 1972 when he played with The Young Experience Band for 4 nights a week at Port Antonio Hotel and night club. From there, the band spent the next two years performing live concerts with artist such as U-Roy, Toots & The Maytals, and the Heptones. Also in the band was Jerry's friend, Junior Murvin who would later become famous for the classic "Police And Thieves."
In 1974 Jerry left Jamaica for New York where he joined The Stepping Stone Band. After which, he stepped to The New Breed Band and backed up Burning Spear on his first US tour. This subsequently lead to him supporting such acts as Richie Heavens, Sugar Minott, and numerous other reggae artist in popular venues around the US.
With this experience firmly under his belt, Jerry wanted to further his musical talents by performing solo with his own compositions. His first album I'm For You was released by Wackies Records. He continued to write, play, and arrange his own music which eventually lead him to produce the classic Spreading All Over album in 1987. Then came Rock This Session in 1990, Smile And Be Happy in 1991, all of which were released by Alpha Enterprise based in Japan.
As Jerry Harris & Rhythm Force, he joined the Super Cat Canadian tour and backed popular reggae artist Shabba Ranks in New York. He has been a part of the long running Japansplash since 1985 and toured Japan throughout the 90's. He is now a well known name among Japanese reggae lovers from his touring and backing of Japanese reggae star Nahki, and artists like Tiger, Barrington Levy, Alton Ellis and the list could go on.
In 1992, Harris' music was included on the reggae compilation Yesterday Once More, released on Polystar (Japan). 1993 saw him once again on the second compilation of Polystar, Endless Love. From this exposure, the label then released his 1993 album, Nice 'N' Good To You, which was released mainly in Japan and the far East. Now you can hear the best of his work on his new album Lovers Rock-Tonight.
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