Biography
Jamaican-born reggae singer, producer, and dubmaster Tapper Zukie launched his performing career after relocating to London during the early 1970s. Under guidance from established figures including Bunny Lee and U-Roy, he soon began issuing his own recordings and enjoyed a peak period toward the close of the decade with dub landmarks such as the 1976 album In Dub and 1978’s Escape from Hell. As a producer and label head he launched Stars and Tappa Records while collaborating with artists such as Dennis Brown, Gregory Isaacs, Sugar Minott, and numerous others. Although his own output became less frequent, he continued performing into the 2010s and issued the 2022 album Bunker Buster.
Born David Sinclair in Kingston, Jamaica, in 1955, Tapper Zukie entered the city’s sound-system culture while still a pre-teen. At age 17, after repeated trouble, his parents sent him to live with relatives in England. The day he arrived in London he opened for a U-Roy concert, and within a year he released his 1973 debut, Man Ah Warrior. His roughneck persona and anti-authoritarian stance surfaced on record; with Bunny Lee’s assistance he delivered the 1976 album M.P.L.A. and started the Stars imprint, which soon generated Escape from Hell, In Dub, Tapper Zukie International, The Man from Bozrah, and additional titles. In 1978 Virgin issued Peace in the Ghetto. Dividing his time among Kingston, London, and New York, he maintained a schedule of recording, live appearances, and production work for Horace Andy, Max Romeo, the Mighty Diamonds, and many more, having also shared stages with Patti Smith. Early-1980s Jamaican hits were followed by 1983’s Earth Running and 1986’s Ragamuffin, after which activity slowed until 1996’s Deep Roots. While focusing on Tappa Records, he appeared mainly on compilations yet performed sporadically; in 2019 he revealed plans for a new album that surfaced in 2022 as Bunker Buster, built from expanded rhythms drawn from his archive and featuring Sly & Robbie, Half Pint, Junior Rass, and The Tamlins.
Born David Sinclair in Kingston, Jamaica, in 1955, Tapper Zukie entered the city’s sound-system culture while still a pre-teen. At age 17, after repeated trouble, his parents sent him to live with relatives in England. The day he arrived in London he opened for a U-Roy concert, and within a year he released his 1973 debut, Man Ah Warrior. His roughneck persona and anti-authoritarian stance surfaced on record; with Bunny Lee’s assistance he delivered the 1976 album M.P.L.A. and started the Stars imprint, which soon generated Escape from Hell, In Dub, Tapper Zukie International, The Man from Bozrah, and additional titles. In 1978 Virgin issued Peace in the Ghetto. Dividing his time among Kingston, London, and New York, he maintained a schedule of recording, live appearances, and production work for Horace Andy, Max Romeo, the Mighty Diamonds, and many more, having also shared stages with Patti Smith. Early-1980s Jamaican hits were followed by 1983’s Earth Running and 1986’s Ragamuffin, after which activity slowed until 1996’s Deep Roots. While focusing on Tappa Records, he appeared mainly on compilations yet performed sporadically; in 2019 he revealed plans for a new album that surfaced in 2022 as Bunker Buster, built from expanded rhythms drawn from his archive and featuring Sly & Robbie, Half Pint, Junior Rass, and The Tamlins.