3/05/2005
Happy Birthday Eddy Grant.
Musician, producer, and label owner. Born Edmond Montague Grant, 5 March 1948, Plaisance, Guyana, West Indies.
Grant moved to England in 1960 and over the next few years, he wrote a number of ska songs, some of which have become classics, including the suggestive hit for Prince Buster, "Rough Rider." (Waist High note: Dave Wakeling, with his English Beat February 25 at the Barracuda in Portland, Oregon, performed "Rough Rider.")
During the late 60s, Eddy enjoyed pop success as part of The Equals. In 1982, Grant moved his home and studio to Barbados, signed Ice Records (his own label) to RCA Records, and achieved a memorable UK number 1 hit with "I Don't Wanna Dance." The following year "Electric Avenue" reached number 2 on both sides of the Atlantic, and the parent album Killer On The Rampage proved his biggest seller.
Grant has continued recording and writing quality material, but has concentrated his efforts on building a successful music publishing company and record label.
All material via: bbc.co.uk/music