Description
Tapper Zukie is not only a successful recording artist in his own right but also a renowned producer. In the mid 1970's he set up his own record label Stars to help nurture the many artists that were rising in Kingston Jamaica. In doing so created a great catalogue of Reggae music that few artists have bettered.
His inspiration was the Detroit label Motown Records. His plan was to head a whole stable of artists and was inspired by the vast talent from his own Greenwich Farm area. An early release in 1976 Ronnie Davis's 'No Weak Heart' set the bar level high with its Vin Gordon driven rhythm,Tapper was using the cream of the crop of Jamaican musicians to realize his aims. Singer Prince Alla had recorded before but seemed to find his sound under Tapper's guidance and scored a hit with the roots classic 'Bosra'. Another great find were Junior Ross and the Spears and they cut there timeless hit 'Liberty' for the Stars label. Linford Nugent cut the catchy 'Black Princess', but it was not only new talent that found its way to the Stars camp.Tapper had mastered a heavyweight sound that suited the roots period of the time and many artists came to him for this very reason . Rocksteady legend Alton Ellis cut 'We A Feel It', Cornell Campbell 'Press Along Natty' and Horace Andy scored a massive crossover hit with 'Natty Dread A Weh She Want'. Tapper Zukie had also taken over a pressing plant in Kingston so the whole instore production and distribution was now available to his artists. Even the Crown Prince of Reggae himself Dennis Brown came to the Stars label and recorded a great heavy weight song in 1988 'Death Before Dishonour'.
For this release and with the help of Tapper Zukie himself, we have had picked some of the highlights of the Stars label to make this great album all the artists are stars and all the tracks shine.
Hope you enjoy the selection…..
