Biography
Ranking Trevor has drawn remarkably little notice from archivists despite his central role powering sound systems on both sides of the Atlantic throughout the roots era. The majority of his output stays frustratingly unavailable, leaving his singles and albums—now bearing steep collector prices—in high demand.
Trevor Grant was born in Jamaica on January 20, 1960. As a boy he fell under the influence of U-Roy, an imprint he never fully escaped, though his own crisp timing and unhurried delivery kept his style fresh. Eager to succeed, Grant turned professional while still in his early teens, refining his craft at Socialist Roots Sound System. Jo Jo Hookim first took the fifteen-year-old into the studio in 1975 for the single “Natty a Roots Man.” Over the following years Trevor cut a consistent run of Hookim singles backed by the Revolutionaries, steadily widening his audience.
By 1977 the teenage DJ was also registering on the British reggae chart, where “Cave Man Skank,” “Three Piece Chicken & Chips”—a playful answer to Trinity’s “Three Piece Suit”—and “Anti-Lulu” each reached the Top Ten. “Pure & Clean” and “Rub a Dub Style” followed them up the listings in 1978. That same year he signed with Virgin’s Frontline imprint; the resulting album In Fine Style proved hugely successful and contained, alongside hits such as “Rub a Dub Style” and “Masculine Gender,” strong readings of “Satta Massa Ganna” and “Queen Majesty.” Hookim simultaneously released the split set Three Piece Chicken & Chips, matching Trevor directly with Trinity and filling the record with the DJ’s recent successes—the title track, “Lulu,” “Love Yu Sister,” and especially “Answer Me Question,” his retort to Lone Ranger’s “Question.”
In 1979 Trevor teamed with singing producer Linval Thompson for the 1980 album Repatriation Time, again recorded at Channel One and voiced over the Revolutionaries. Prince Jammy later reworked a selection of Thompson, Wayne Jarrett, and Trevor sides into the dub set Train to Zion. On Repatriation, Trevor adopted the alias Ranking Superstar, which led Sugar Minott to title the DJ’s next collection Presenting Ranking Trevor. Minott and Thompson both appeared with him on the Micron release Roots of All Roots later in the decade.
Although Trevor’s albums served as solid showcases, some of his strongest performances survive on 12-inch singles that paired him with vocal cuts. One early example was “Trod On,” a collaboration with Culture; equally effective partnerships followed with Pat Kelly, the Mighty Three, Wayne Wade, Barrington Levy, Al Campbell, and—most memorably—the Wailing Souls. Greensleeves launched its 12-inch reissue series with Trevor and the Souls’ 1978 single “War”/“Jah Give Us Life.” Among the toaster’s biggest sellers was “Jamaican Rockers Hop,” recorded with fellow DJ Nicodemus. His strong showing at London’s Brixton Ace in 1983 prompted a relocation to the city that stalled his momentum. Little further material surfaced, although in recent years he has resumed live appearances and has been pursuing ownership of his catalog with the aim of reissuing it on vinyl.
Trevor Grant was born in Jamaica on January 20, 1960. As a boy he fell under the influence of U-Roy, an imprint he never fully escaped, though his own crisp timing and unhurried delivery kept his style fresh. Eager to succeed, Grant turned professional while still in his early teens, refining his craft at Socialist Roots Sound System. Jo Jo Hookim first took the fifteen-year-old into the studio in 1975 for the single “Natty a Roots Man.” Over the following years Trevor cut a consistent run of Hookim singles backed by the Revolutionaries, steadily widening his audience.
By 1977 the teenage DJ was also registering on the British reggae chart, where “Cave Man Skank,” “Three Piece Chicken & Chips”—a playful answer to Trinity’s “Three Piece Suit”—and “Anti-Lulu” each reached the Top Ten. “Pure & Clean” and “Rub a Dub Style” followed them up the listings in 1978. That same year he signed with Virgin’s Frontline imprint; the resulting album In Fine Style proved hugely successful and contained, alongside hits such as “Rub a Dub Style” and “Masculine Gender,” strong readings of “Satta Massa Ganna” and “Queen Majesty.” Hookim simultaneously released the split set Three Piece Chicken & Chips, matching Trevor directly with Trinity and filling the record with the DJ’s recent successes—the title track, “Lulu,” “Love Yu Sister,” and especially “Answer Me Question,” his retort to Lone Ranger’s “Question.”
In 1979 Trevor teamed with singing producer Linval Thompson for the 1980 album Repatriation Time, again recorded at Channel One and voiced over the Revolutionaries. Prince Jammy later reworked a selection of Thompson, Wayne Jarrett, and Trevor sides into the dub set Train to Zion. On Repatriation, Trevor adopted the alias Ranking Superstar, which led Sugar Minott to title the DJ’s next collection Presenting Ranking Trevor. Minott and Thompson both appeared with him on the Micron release Roots of All Roots later in the decade.
Although Trevor’s albums served as solid showcases, some of his strongest performances survive on 12-inch singles that paired him with vocal cuts. One early example was “Trod On,” a collaboration with Culture; equally effective partnerships followed with Pat Kelly, the Mighty Three, Wayne Wade, Barrington Levy, Al Campbell, and—most memorably—the Wailing Souls. Greensleeves launched its 12-inch reissue series with Trevor and the Souls’ 1978 single “War”/“Jah Give Us Life.” Among the toaster’s biggest sellers was “Jamaican Rockers Hop,” recorded with fellow DJ Nicodemus. His strong showing at London’s Brixton Ace in 1983 prompted a relocation to the city that stalled his momentum. Little further material surfaced, although in recent years he has resumed live appearances and has been pursuing ownership of his catalog with the aim of reissuing it on vinyl.
Albums
Singles
