Dean Fraser

Dean Fraser, a saxophonist, has been dominating horn sections across countless reggae tracks since 1978, collaborating with Jamaican icons such as Bob Marley and the Wailers. Regarded as one of the island's premier brass musicians, he has cultivated a worldwide audience through his smooth, jazz-infused reggae sound. Born Dean Ivanhoe Fraser in Kingston, he started on clarinet at age 12 through the National Volunteers' Youth Organization community club. His instructor Babe O'Brian introduced him to the saxophone when he turned 15. Around 1978, Fraser assembled his debut group, the Sonny Bradshaw 7. Popularity came his way thanks to rising reggae artist Jacob Miller, who joined Fraser and his band for occasional sessions at the Sheraton. Miller developed an appreciation for Fraser's tune "Take Five" and brought the youthful saxophonist into the recording studio. Prior to this, Fraser had cut the single "Blue Moon." However, a misprint on the "Take Five" release credited the performer as Jah Devon rather than Dean Fraser, an error corrected for all following releases. During the mid-1990s, he put out Dean Plays Bob and Dean Plays Bob, Volume II to honor the work of his enduring idol, Bob Marley.