Mikey Bennett
Early life and influences
Mikey Bennett was born into a Christian family in Jamaica. Church is where Bennett realised he had musical talent. At the age of 12, Bennett was influenced greatly by guitarist Mikey Chung. He would write his lyrics and Chung would help Bennett put them to music.[5] He attended what is now the Northern Caribbean University based in Mandeville, Jamaica.
Career
Bennett has been on the music scene since the 1980s. He has composed and produced music for international artists including Ziggy Marley, Maxi Priest, Dennis Brown, and UB40, Shabba Ranks, J.C. Lodge, Cocoa Tea, Home T Four, Admiral Bailey, and Johnny Osbourne.[6] He recently directed and produced a reggae album titled The Heart of Jamaica for the longtime rum producer Appleton Estate.[7]
Bennett is the CEO of Grafton Studios in Vineyard Town, St. Andrew, Jamaica. He has also taught song writing at the University of Technology (Utech), Kingston, Jamaica. He has received many honours, among them the Jamaica Reggae Industry Association (JaRIA) award in 2017 for mentorship.[8]
Social responsibility
Bennet is involved in the Tower Street Correctional Facility music programme in Kingston, Jamaica and the St Catherine adult correctional centre.[9] Bennett also judges competitions for spotting local musical talents.[10]
Discography
| Year | Album | Artist | Mikey Bennett |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | A Real Labour of Love | UB40 | Composer |
| 2014 | More Jammy$ from the Roots | King Jammy | Musician |
| 2014 | Evolution of Dub, Vol. 8: The Search for New Life | Alborosie / Shane Brown / Prince Jammy / Two Friends Crew | Producer |
| 2013 | Total Reggae: Chart Hits Reggae Style | Producer | |
| 2012 | Playlist: King of Kings-Reggae Hits | Producer | |
| 2011 | 100% Tubes de L'Eté 2011 | Composer | |
| 2008 | The Best of Maxi Priest | Maxi Priest | Producer |
| 2007 | The Most High | Daddy Rings | Producer, Audio Production, Main Personnel, Various Instruments, Instrumentation |
| 2007 | Joe Gibbs Reggae Christmas | Joe Gibbs | Composer |
| 2007 | From Dubplate to Download: The Best of Greensleeves | Producer | |
| 2007 | 12" Rulers: Gussie Clarke | Vocals (Background) | |
| 2006 | What a World | Bunny Rugs | Producer |
| 2005 | Hail the King | Fantan Mojah | Arranger |
| 2005 | Black, Gold, Green | Third World | Engineer |
| 2003 | Ultimate Reggae | Producer, Composer | |
| 2003 | The Rhythm King | King Jammy | Musician |
| 2003 | Sing Our Own Song | Judy Mowatt | Producer |
| 2003 | Monday Morning Blues: The Best of Mikey 'Bumper' Melody | Mikey Melody | Producer, Musician |
| 2003 | Dragonfly | Ziggy Marley | Vocal Arrangement |
| 2003 | Can't Stop a Man: The Ultimate Collection | Beres Hammond | Producer, Composer |
| 2003 | Abijah | Ras Abijah | Producer, Composer |
| 2002 | Under the Moonlight | Ghost | Producer, Keyboards, Vocal Arrangement |
| 2002 | The Dot.com Rhythm | Engineer | |
| 2002 | Reggae Xplosion 2002 | Composer | |
| 2001 | The Reggae Box | Producer | |
| 2001 | Reggae for Jesus | Producer, Arranger | |
| 2001 | Modern Roots | David Kirton | Producer, Keyboards, Bass, Composer |
| 2001 | Coming at You | Stevie Face | Musician |
| 2001 | Adrenalin | Don Yute | Producer |
| 2001 | Absolutely the Best: 1957-1999 | Dennis Brown | Producer |
| 2000 | Spirit of a Woman | Marijah | Composer |
| 2000 | Doin' Fine | Word! | Producer, Executive Producer |
| 2000 | Babymother | Composer | |
| 1999 | Stranger | David Kirton | Producer, Vocal Arrangement, Percussion Arrangement, Drum Arrangements, Harmonic Arrangement |
| 1999 | Shabba Ranks and Friends | Shabba Ranks | Producer, Arranger |
| 1998 | Tuff Tracks: Tuff Gong Compilation | Marley Girls | Producer |
| 1998 | My Son the Fanatic | My Son the Fanatic | Composer |
| 1998 | Music of the World Cup | Producer | |
| 1998 | Living Dangerously | Barrington Levy | Composer |
| 1998 | Hardcore Ragga: The Music Works Dancehall Hits | Vocals (Background), Vocal Arrangement, Composer, Lyricist | |
| 1998 | Earth, Vol. 3 | LTJ Bukem | Percussion |
| 1997 | Ragga Beat: Slammin' on a Ragga Tip! | The Eurobeats | Composer |
| 1997 | Natty Queen Divas | Producer, Musician | |
| 1997 | Little Sound Boy | Little Sound Boy | Composer, Lyricist |
| 1997 | Klash: Kaught Up in Da Mix | Composer | |
| 1997 | Fallen Is Babylon | Ziggy Marley / Ziggy Marley & the Melody Makers | Harmonic Arrangement |
| 1997 | Dub Wicked | Michael Rose | Engineer |
| 1996 | Yard Style | Johnny King | Keyboards, Bass, Vocal Arrangement |
| 1996 | Serious Girl | Chevelle Franklin | Producer |
| 1996 | Nuh Carbon | Mykal Rose | Bass |
| 1996 | Love From a Distance | Beres Hammond | Producer, Composer |
| 1996 | Greensleeves Sampler 13 | Composer | |
| 1996 | Dancehall Queens: What a Bam Bam | Producer | |
| 1995 | Welcome to Jamerica | Ipso Facto | Producer |
| 1995 | Set Me Free | Gregory Isaacs | Vocals (Background) |
| 1994 | Worl-A-Girl | Worl-A-Girl | Producer |
| 1994 | Hey Now (Girls Just Want to Have Fun) | Cyndi Lauper | Producer |
| 1994 | Greatest Hits | Shabba Ranks | Producer, Arranger |
| 1994 | DJ Red Alert's Propmaster Dancehall Show | Producer | |
| 1993 | Vibes of the Time | Tony Rebel | Producer |
| 1993 | Reggae Ambassadors: 20th Anniversary Collection | Third World | Producer, Synthesizer |
| 1993 | MTV Party to Go, Vol. 3 | Producer | |
| 1993 | Call Me Mr. Easy | Ian Dyer | Producer |
| 1993 | Beach of the War Goddess | Caron Wheeler | Composer |
| 1993 | As a Matter of Fox | Red Fox | Producer, Composer |
| 1992 | The Word | Hopeton Lindo | Producer, Keyboards, Bass, Executive Producer |
| 1992 | Rough & Ready, Vol. 1 | Shabba Ranks | Producer, Arranger |
| 1992 | Mr. Maximum | Shabba Ranks | Producer, Mixing, Vocals (Background), Vocal Arrangement |
| 1992 | House Call [CD EP] | Shabba Ranks | Producer, Composer |
| 1992 | Groovin' in the Midnight [CD] | Maxi Priest | Producer |
| 1992 | Fe Real | Maxi Priest | Producer |
| 1992 | Deep Cover | Producer | |
| 1992 | Committed | Third World | Producer, Synthesizer, Vocals (Background), Composer |
| 1992 | Carlene Davis | Carlene Davis | Producer, Keyboards |
| 1992 | Authorized | Cocoa Tea | Vocals (Background), Vocal Supervision |
| 1992 | Another One for the Road | Home T | Producer |
| 1991 | Two Friends: Twin City Spin 2 | Producer | |
| 1991 | Two Friends: Ting and Ting | Producer, Composer | |
| 1991 | The Best of Me | Maxi Priest | Producer |
| 1991 | Over Proof | Dennis Brown | Producer, Keyboards, Executive Producer, Vocal Arrangement, Composer |
| 1991 | Moonlight | Dean Fraser | Producer |
| 1991 | Me Gone Buck Wild: Reggae Dance Hall Killers | Producer | |
| 1991 | As Raw as Ever | Shabba Ranks | Producer, Arranger, Keyboards |
| 1991 | After Hours [VP] | Producer, Vocal Arrangement | |
| 1989 | Greensleeves Sampler 4 | Composer | |
| 1988 | Rapping with the Girls | Shabba Ranks | Vocals (Background), Vocal Arrangement |
| 1980 | Three Sides to My Story | Culture | Vocal Supervision |
| Total Reggae: Summer Vibes | Composer | ||
| Total Reggae: Greensleeves 40th, 1977-2017 | Composer, Producer | ||
| The Classic 90s Collection [Sony Music] | Producer | ||
| Songs for Reggae Lovers, Vol. 3 | Producer | ||
| Reggae Mandela | Producer | ||
| Party on: The Only Party Album You'll Ever Need | Producer | ||
| Massive Hits: Reggae And Ska | Composer, Lyricist | ||
| Down in Jamaica: 40 Years of VP Records | Composer |
References
- Moskowitz, David Vlado, "Caribbean Popular Music: An Encyclopaedia of Reggae, Mento, Ska, Rock Steady, and Dancehall", page 28, Greenwood Press, 2006
- "The Reggae Story Mikey Bennett", Jamaican Information Service (JIS), aired: 16/2/2019
- Walters, Maxine (Ed),"Serious T'ings a Go Happen: Three Decades of Jamaican Dance Hall Signs", Hat & Berd Press, Dec 2016
- Thomas, Polly, "The Rough Guide to Jamaica", Rough Guide Ltd, Aug,2010, p330,304
- "Music Producer Mikey Bennett Discusses His Career & Accomplishments", Jamaica Information Service (JIS), 20 Feb 2018.
- "Mikey Bennett 'Pencils Out' Songwriting Career", The Gleaner newspaper (Jamaica), 10 December 2010
- "Appleton Serves The Heart Of Jamaica", The Gleaner newspaper (Jamaica), 7 November 2018.
- Gardner, Sade, "All set for JaRIA awards", Jamaica Observer newspaper, 25 February 2017
- "5 Questions With Mikey Bennett", The Gleaner newspaper (Jamaica), 21 June 2019
- "British High Commission Stages Song Competition", The Gleaner newspaper (Jamaica), 18 January 2019.
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