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Derrick Morgan

Derrick Morgan (born 1940): Clarendon-born ska and rocksteady singer. “Forward March” (1962), “Housewives’ Choice” with Patsy Todd, “Tougher Than Tough”, “Moon Hop” (UK No. 49); feuded with Prince Buster.

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Early years

Derrick Morgan was born in Clarendon, Jamaica, on 27 March 1940. He first recorded in 1959 for Duke Reid, cutting shuffle-boogie sides "Lover Boy" and "Oh My", followed by "Fat Man". He also recorded for Coxsone Dodd and Prince Buster in this period.

Beverley's and the Buster feud

Morgan's most productive early partnership was with producer Leslie Kong's Beverley's label. In 1960 he reportedly held the top seven places on the Jamaican pop chart at the same time. "Housewives' Choice" (1961), a duet with Patsy Todd, and "Forward March" (1962), released to mark Jamaican independence from Britain that August, were among his biggest records. Prince Buster accused him of taking his ideas, and answered with "Blackhead Chinaman"; Morgan replied with "Blazing Fire", and the exchange continued over several releases until a staged public reconciliation.

Rocksteady

In 1967 Morgan cut "Tougher Than Tough (Rudie in Court)", one of the defining rude boy records of the rocksteady period, along with songs such as "Conquering Ruler". "Seven Letters", produced by Bunny Lee, is often cited as one of the first reggae singles.

UK skinhead reggae

"Moon Hop" (1969), issued in the UK on Crab, became a skinhead reggae standard and reached No. 49 on the UK chart. Morgan's back catalogue has since been reissued by Trojan and Pama. He toured Europe and the United States on the ska revival circuit for decades, often backed by younger bands. He stepped back from performing in the 2010s but returned for a 2016 collaboration with Kirk Diamond.

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Now playingDerrick Morgan - "Forward March" (Official Audio)
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Derrick Morgan - "Forward March" (Official Audio)
Derrick Morgan - "Forward March" (Official Audio)Trojan Records Official
Derrick Morgan 'Blazing Fire' (official audio)
Derrick Morgan 'Blazing Fire' (official audio)Trojan Records Official
Derrick Morgan 'Tougher Than Tough' (official audio)
Derrick Morgan 'Tougher Than Tough' (official audio)Trojan Records Official
Derrick Morgan 'Moon Hop' (official audio)
Derrick Morgan 'Moon Hop' (official audio)Trojan Records Official
Derrick Morgan - Fat Man (Official Audio) | Pama Records
Derrick Morgan - Fat Man (Official Audio) | Pama RecordsPama Records
Every record

Discography

Pulled from Discogs. Titles in yellow have a full page on Breakbeat Archive.

Studio albums 22

  1. 1962Forward March!Island RecordseBayDiscogs
  2. 1969Seven LettersTrojan RecordseBayDiscogs
  3. 1969Derrick Morgan In LondonEconomyeBayDiscogs
  4. 1970Moon HopPama RecordseBayDiscogs
  5. 1972DevelopmentJaguareBayDiscogs
  6. 1974In The MoodMagneteBayDiscogs
  7. 1975Feel So GoodAttackeBayDiscogs
  8. 1976Old & NewHiteBayDiscogs
  9. 1977People DecisionThird WorldeBayDiscogs
  10. 1979House Wife ChoiceParadiseeBayDiscogs
  11. 1980The Legend Of Derrick MorganImperial Records (10)eBayDiscogs
  12. 1985The ConquererVista SoundseBayDiscogs
  13. 1990Blazing Fire, Vol.2Unicorn Records (2)eBayDiscogs
  14. 1990Ride The RhythmL.A. RecordseBayDiscogs
  15. 1993Blazing Fire , Vols. 1 & 2Unicorn Records (2)eBayDiscogs
  16. 1996Derrick Morgan Sings Classics Of YesterdayHop RecordseBayDiscogs
  17. 1998Sings Classics Of Yesterday Vol.2Hop RecordseBayDiscogs
  18. 2018Fat Man Live In LondonSecret Records (8)eBayDiscogs
  19. 2023Reggae TrainBurning Sounds Recordings Ltd.eBayDiscogs
  20. —You Can't Change MeJR Productions - Three Kings, JR Productions - Three KingseBayDiscogs
  21. —Send A Little RainJoe FrasiereBayDiscogs
  22. —Love CityImperial RecordseBayDiscogs

Collaborative albums 8

  1. 1980Sunset At Moonlight City...Derrick Morgan & I-Roy · Imperial Records (10)eBayDiscogs
  2. 1981Moving Reggae HitsDerrick Morgan, Cornell Campbell, The Viceroys · Pinto RecordseBayDiscogs
  3. 1983Greatest Hits Volume IDearrick Morgan* · D & N RecordseBayDiscogs
  4. 1992In Paradise Eric Smith & Derrick Morgan · Chase Records (12)eBayDiscogs
  5. 1994The Conquering RulerDerrick Morgan & Yebo · Pork PieeBayDiscogs
  6. 2003Cool Rocksteady Vol. 1Derrick Morgan / Viceroys* / Bob Ormrod · Next Step (2)eBayDiscogs
  7. 2003Derrick Morgan Meets The High Notes In Amsterdam - Original King Of SkaDerrick Morgan & The High Notes* · Rude Rich RecordseBayDiscogs
  8. 2003Derrick Morgan Meets The High Notes LiveDerrick Morgan Meets The High Notes* · Grover RecordseBayDiscogs

EPs & mixtapes 2

  1. 1990The Moon HopUnicorn Records (2)eBayDiscogs
  2. —The Moon Hop CloseUnicorn Records (2)eBayDiscogs

Compilations 14

  1. 1969Best Of Derrick MorganDoctor BirdeBayDiscogs
  2. 1990Blazing Fire Vol.1 - Classic Ska 1959 - 1965Unicorn RecordseBayDiscogs
  3. 1990Laurel Aitken & Derrick Morgan Two Knights Of SkaUnicorn RecordseBayDiscogs
  4. 1992I Am The RulerTrojan RecordseBayDiscogs
  5. 1997Time Marches On (Derrick Morgan Sings Ska, Rocksteady And Reggae)Heartbeat RecordseBayDiscogs
  6. 1997Original Reggae Recordings From 1968-70TrybuteeBayDiscogs
  7. 2002Do The Beng Beng! Rocksteady & Early Reggae 1967-1968Reggae Retro RecordseBayDiscogs
  8. 2003Ska Vol.1Reggae Retro RecordseBayDiscogs
  9. 2003Moon Hop - Best Of The Early Years 1960-69Trojan RecordseBayDiscogs
  10. 2006Original Ska Volume 2Reggae Retro RecordseBayDiscogs
  11. 2010Rare & Unreleased Original 1960's SkaReggae Retro RecordseBayDiscogs
  12. 2010No Dice! Original Jamaican Rock Steady 1966-67ACL2000 Ltd.eBayDiscogs
  13. 2014Shake A LegSunrise RecordseBayDiscogs
  14. 2019Derrick Morgan And His FriendsIsland RecordseBayDiscogs
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