Biography
Born George Narcisse in Kingston, Jamaica, West Indies, Sashay has kept his early history largely undisclosed, though he has specified that Scion is pronounced Skee-On. After settling in the United States, he entered the New York dancehall circuit in 1983. An early set caught the attention of Jah Life, who then booked the vocalist for sessions at his facility. Working together they cut the dancehall successes “Can’t Leave Jah Alone” and “Dancehall Queen” in the then-current discomix format. Both sides performed strongly on U.S. specialist charts, prompting Sashay to sustain interest with the follow-up “Put It On, Take It Off.”
In 1984 he joined Tenor Saw, Barrington Levy and Supercat for an international tour. The performances earned him notice from the British magazine Black Echoes, which named him Best New Artist at its annual awards. Capitalizing on that momentum, he issued his self-titled debut album in Europe, where the dancehall anthem “Sound Bwoy Fall” drew particular praise.
He maintained a low profile until the millennium. Choosing independence, he launched his own imprint, San Salvage, on which he issued his own recordings while also producing emerging artists. The label’s first release paired a reissue of “Can’t Leave Jah Alone” with his production of Terence Smith’s “I Still Love You.” He also delivered his second album, 1991’s In The Balance, an effort that prompted some observers to call him “New York’s Reggae Ambassador.” Although the accolade may have been generous, his dedicated supporters regard him as a central figure in the city’s dancehall community.
In 1984 he joined Tenor Saw, Barrington Levy and Supercat for an international tour. The performances earned him notice from the British magazine Black Echoes, which named him Best New Artist at its annual awards. Capitalizing on that momentum, he issued his self-titled debut album in Europe, where the dancehall anthem “Sound Bwoy Fall” drew particular praise.
He maintained a low profile until the millennium. Choosing independence, he launched his own imprint, San Salvage, on which he issued his own recordings while also producing emerging artists. The label’s first release paired a reissue of “Can’t Leave Jah Alone” with his production of Terence Smith’s “I Still Love You.” He also delivered his second album, 1991’s In The Balance, an effort that prompted some observers to call him “New York’s Reggae Ambassador.” Although the accolade may have been generous, his dedicated supporters regard him as a central figure in the city’s dancehall community.
Albums