David Madden (musician)

David Madden has been around for many years in the Jamaican music business – composing, arranging, singing, and playing the trumpet. He has recorded with artists such as Bob Marley & the Wailers,[1] Ernest Ranglin, Freddie McGregor, Jimmy Cliff, Burning Spear,[1] Bob Andy, Peter Tosh, Beres Hammond, Ziggy Marley, Dawn Penn, Dennis Brown, and Sean Paul.

Madden began playing the trumpet at Alpha Boys School.[1] By age 17, he went to Jamaica Military Band, then on to the Jamaican entertainment pop scene.[2]

Madden teamed with saxophonist Cedric "Im" Brooks as the duo Im and David to record for producer Coxsone Dodd at the famous Studio One.[1] "Money Maker" and "Candy Eye" were both hits, reaching number one and number ten respectively on the Jamaican charts. Madden also worked as a session musician and arranger at Studio One.[2]

Madden then went on to become a co-founder of the progressive-reggae group, Zap Pow for which he penned another chart-topper "Mystic Mood" that catapulted the group into stardom.[1] Other hits were to follow such as "Tonight We Love", "Scandal Corner", "This is Reggae Music", and "Sweet Loving Love". While with Zap Pow, Madden, as a studio musician, was featured on at least nineteen of Bob Marley's hit songs, and was a floor member of the Wailers in 1982–83 when Zap Pow disbanded.

In 1979 Madden was made an honorary citizen of the city of Atlanta, Georgia, while touring with Bob Marley & the Wailers.

Resuming his solo career with his debut album, Going Bananas, Madden released his first single as a solo performer, titled "Chained", on his own Large, Medium and Small Music (LMS) label. "Chained" was co-produced by the Wailers' keyboardist, Tyrone Downie. Since 1983 Madden has recorded several albums such as Reggae Trumpetaa, Changing Times, and Dance Haawan. With four albums to his credit, David then released his first CD, Cyber-Charged Ska, which he took to Midem, France to introduce his cyber-ska to the audiences. He then released the compilation set Horny Reggae Horn: The Best of David Madden. On this retrospective set, can be found Madden's work from the early 1980s, including "Lonely People", "She She Mugae", "Mystic Mood", and the romantic "Love Light". Other CDs released are Cybernetix Online and Long Live Reggae Music. His first EP, Pon di Internet, was released in 2013, and was followed in 2014 with 4 Good Measure.[1][2]

In October 2015 he released the EP Nice We Met, on which he sings as well as plays trumpet.[3]

• Zap Pow
• The Wailers

• Profile on Irie Up
• Jamaica's Gleaner News article on David Madden presents "Long Live Reggae Music".
• Jamaica's Gleaner article "David Madden strikes a balance".
• ZAP POW "This Is Reggae Music" – stone killa 1970s reggae
• Zap Pow on Boss Shots

• Official website
• David Madden at IMDb
• David Madden at Roots Archives