Errol Dunkley

Errol Durkley connected Jamaica’s 1960s roots tradition with the Brit-reggae circuit that flourished in London during the following decade. A 1978 cover of John Holt’s “OK Fred” came closest to breaking into the British top ten, and the track was later cut again in 1996 as a duet with Queen Sister *N*.

Durkley entered the studio at age eleven and subsequently collaborated with many leading Jamaican producers. Prince Buster guided his first session, yielding the 1964 single “My Queen,” while Joe Gibbs produced the 1967 chart entry “You’re Gonna Need Me.” Several sides cut for Clement “Coxsone” Dodd’s Studio One and for Bunny Lee failed to register commercially, yet Rupie Edwards’s “Three In One” (1969) and the 1972 dancehall anthem “Black Cinderella,” supervised by Jimmy Rodway, proved successful; the debut LP Presenting Errol Durkley appeared soon afterward.

In the early 1970s Durkley co-founded the African Museum imprint with Gregory Isaacs, scoring its maiden hit with “Movie Star,” an adaptation of Delroy Wilson’s “I Don’t Know Why.” He departed the label in 1973 and relocated to London, where the Shelley Recording Company issued his second album, Sit And Cry. Further British and European success followed: the 1974 single “A Little Way Different” became his first UK chart record and was succeeded by “Betcha By Golly Wow,” “Happiness Forget” and the original “OK Fred.”

Presenting Errol Durkley resurfaced in 1991 under the title Darling Ooh. After a quiet period on record during the 1980s, Durkley returned with Continually in 2000 and Please Stop Your Lying in 2001. ~ Craig Harris