Flourgon

Born Michael May in Kingston, Jamaica, West Indies, Flourgon launched his professional path working the sound-system circuit, where he appeared with Stone Love, Small Axe, Rambo Mango and his own Sweet Love set. He frequently shared stages with his DJ brother Red Dragon; together the siblings helped shape the early careers of Buju Banton and Terry Ganzie. A string of combination singles followed, among them “How You So Hot” with Brian And Tony Gold, “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” with Thriller U, “Go Sit Down” with Clement Irie, “Dungle Lover” and “Madly In Love” with Sanchez, “Jump And Spread Out” and “Turn And Stab” with Daddy Lizard, plus the popular “Million And More” and the chart-topping “Zig It Up,” both featuring Ninjaman. Shortly after Flourgon’s successful pairing with the controversial DJ, Ninjaman issued the disparaging “Last Of The Flourgon,” yet the release barely dented Flourgon’s standing and his signature gritty delivery continued to appear on countless vinyl sides. He formed a notable alliance with Mikey Bennett and Patrick Lindsay that yielded his take on the “Oil Thing” rhythm, “Bow Ting.” Additional solo successes encompassed “Tender Touch,” “Bounce,” “Fret And Worry,” “Trophy,” “Live Good,” “Bad Boy Tune” and “Follow Me.” In 1994, Jamaican producers responding to the dancehall vogue of stacking multiple DJs on single rhythms began issuing various-artist records that regularly spotlighted Flourgon; one such track, “Can’t Stop The Dance,” credited the Yardcore collective and showcased General Degree, Tony Rebel, Papa San and Buju Banton among others, while “Informer” united Snagga Puss, Anthony Malvo, Anthony Red Rose, Frankie Paul, Lizard and Flourgon’s brother Red Dragon. By the late 1990s his releases were submerged in the sheer volume of dancehall output, although his duet with Freddie McGregor, “Bless My Soul,” still found an audience. Though younger artists have since eclipsed him, Flourgon remains recognized as an influential DJ whose style inspired a generation of sonorous vocalists.