El Mexicano

Born Rudolph Grant in Plaisance, Guyana, he relocated with his family to the United Kingdom in 1967. His recording debut arrived two years later under the name Little Brother Grant on the single ‘Let’s Do It Tonight’. His sibling Eddy Grant had already found success performing with the Equals, whose string of hits marked the closing years of the 1960s. Switching to the alias the Mexicano, Rudolph began working as a DJ, releasing the tracks ‘Gorilla In Manilla’ and ‘Cut Throat’, the latter recounting the Mexicano’s mission to locate I. Roy and Prince Jazzbo in order to spit in their eyes. While he developed his own recording path, Eddy Grant channeled earnings from his Equals tenure into establishing the Coach House Recording Studio, where he collaborated with acts such as the Pioneers. Rudolph’s profile rose sharply in 1977 after he cut the Starsky And Hutch tribute ‘Move Up Starsky’ at the Coach House; the track reworked Bob Marley’s ‘I’m Still Waiting’ in DJ style and reached the top of the UK reggae chart. The success prompted a reply from the aptly named Superstar titled ‘Move Up Hutch’, though that record fell short of matching its predecessor’s impact. A follow-up, ‘Lover’s Conversation’, likewise failed to replicate the earlier achievement. He went on to voice additional Pioneers material, notably ‘Harry The Fool’, ‘Rock It’ and ‘Lonely Street’, alongside Sidney Crooks, Danny Ray, Clement Bushay and Jackie Edwards. In 1980 he appeared as featured DJ on Jackie Robinson’s reading of ‘Jamaican Child’, paired with the Lloyd Charmers-produced ‘Better Love Next Time’. By 1981 he had adopted the performing name Rudy Grant and turned toward singing, cutting covers of John Lennon’s ‘Woman’ and Stevie Wonder’s ‘Lately’ for Ensign Records, with the latter entering the UK pop chart. That chart entry secured a deal with Stiff Records, which issued ‘Trial By Television’, a release that drew little attention from reggae listeners. Still seeking major-label support, he recorded ‘Everyday People’ for RAK Records in 1983.