Percy 'Percydread' McLeod made his name as a singer/songwriter whilst part of the Natural Ites, a roots reggae combo of international acclaim based in Nottingham, UK. Here's (some) of the story of his personal musical journey, from early days, through his time with Natural Ites and onto making his debut solo album 'Upside Downside'.
As far back as I can remember music has been there, my diet of music was broad, never realised at the time. From Blue beat,Mento, Ska, Rock Steady. I'd be listening to stuff by Nat King Cole and Burt Bacharach. I think its the Saturday radio especially. My parents always brought me to parties they would go to, and I'd dance out the peoples' carpet. I would run home from school to play tunes by singers such as, Linval Thomson,Horace Andy,Johnny Clarke..
Having moved to South West London from the now notorious City of Nottingham. I got into this music ting when a cousin of mine played in a band called the Cool Notes. Cousin Loxley asked me to go to one of his rehearsals with him so I did. I clicked with Charlie Keymis (bass) and Derrick and Roddy Shaw, Lead guitar and drums respectively. These guys were really good musicians theyd been playing from when they were at school.
I was a roadie for a while when they were backing Desmond Dekker. At that time Rasta levity was also becoming incumbent on them, this led to a difference of opinion in Cool Notes. Three left and started Blazing Sons. This was made up of Charlie Keymis band (Jah bless) on bass, Derrick Shaw lead guitars, Roddy Shaw drums, Paul Shaw keyboards and vocal and Donald (cant remember his surname) key boards and me on vocal and rhythm guitar. We rehearsed in Derricks mums cellar in Balham, which was being made into a studio. They were doing a few studio sessions for people. The man dem especially Charlie and Derrick showed show me nuff love. I used to write lyrics and go to Derrick (issachar) and say can you put some chords to this? Then one day when I asked him he grabbed the guitar and said you see this, this is a G, major. I did my first gig with this band(Blazin Sons)
Natural Ites first break occurred when they appeared on the television show Rockers Roadshow, hosted by Jamaican DJ Mikey Dread, which showcased Nottingham's finest talent. Their debut single, Picture On The Wall, penned by Ossie Samms (now known as Ossie Gad) was first released in 1983 on their own Realistics label, climbing to the top of the reggae charts and went onto become a roots anthem for years to come. Airplay on BBC Radio 1 in particular, widened the band's appeal and fan-base, combined with live sessions for top radio DJ's John Peel (aired on 13 June 1983 with Jah Love This, Jah Holy Hills, I Want Your Love and Suffer) and Janice Long. Further television appearances including Channel 4's The Tube, alongwith constant gigging around the country, helped the single to enter the mainstream British singles chart, no mean feat for an independent reggae outfit. The band's first album, also titled Picture On The Wall, was released to great critical acclaim in 1985.
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NATURAL ITES
Formed in 1981, the vocal trio of Percydread, Ossie Samms aka Ossie Gad) and Neil Foster headed a changing line-up of instrumentalists and players known as the Realistics.
NATURAL -ITES...(wheres the photo) (From left): Ossie, Percy and Neil. PERCYDREAD:
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Percydread continues to perform his material live, as well as vocal work with Highness and Sama Sound Systems.
UPSIDE DOWNSIDE :
Percydreads debut solo album Upside Downside, is reggae roots drawing on contemporary sounds with Rastafarianism at its spiritual core. For sample clips check the MUSIC section.
OTHER WORK
Working as a voice and performance tutor with young people using creativity to give life skills (Fallen Angels Project at the Art & Education centre) also The ACFF (Afro Caribbean Education Centre) on the MAPP programme. This is a music and performance programme for children who have difficulties, for one reason or another. Percy has also delivered a number of workshop performances for young children relating to the history curriculum.
Commissions to write a songs i.e for George Africanus,The first Known free black man in Nottinghm which subsequently became part of the Black presence exhibition featuring a plaque laid to commemorate Georges life.
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The Marcus Garvey Studio in Nottingham was home to the recording, again under the control of producer Johnny White, with the album released on the Realistics Record label. Another single, Cry For You was released, followed up by a Temptations cover version, I Wish It Would Rain and Happen All Over Again.
The band's third and final album, Naturalites in Ites, was released in 1989. . Within a year the band's members had gone their separate ways
the British and worldwide reggae fraternity had lost one of its finest exponents.
Thanks to Andy Brouwer for Natual Ites history.
Blessings to John Peel now past...Music makes us all one
CHECK OUT MY WEBSITE
WATCH OUT FOR DA VIDEO TRAK UPSIDE DOWNSIDE
LISTEN OUT FOR MY TRACKS FATHERS LOVE AND DUNGEON ON RADIO
REQUEST THE TRACKS PON RADIO
MAKE A COMMENT IF LIKE
NUFF LOVE TO MY HOMIES AND THOSE SUPPORTERS
BIG SHOUT TO THE LINK MASSIVE : ITALY BOLOGNA FOR THE WAY THEY LOOKED AFTER ME. SOULEE RASPECT IS CONCRETE.
MY DAUGHTER (KIZZLE) STARTING MY SPACE FOR ME.....Yeah Im a techno-phobe
To Mel, Mags ,and Patrick Rose Nuff respect and love for backing vocals on stage and in studio not forgetting Ann and Sonia in studio
BIG SHOUT OUT TO MALTA AND SLY...INNA GAMBIA
China Dread BIG up youself along with Jah B...big thanks for your support
Man must do what he has to do, stay strong, in the knowlege that Rastafri will protec I & I ..
Percydread - single Is out Now !!!'s Friend Space (Top 24)
Percydread - single Is out Now !!! has 2909 friends.
One Drop è un ritmo caratterizzato dal colpo distintivo del rullante e dal battito della gran cassa entrambi accentuati sulla terza misura di un tempo in 4/4 mentre si lascia il primo beat vuoto. Questo stile pulito, solido e stilisticamente unico è la chiave di volta del reggae e gli dona , grazie alla sua struttura, un margine potenzialmente infinito di creatività e improvvisazione. Se aggiungiamo a queste peculiarità un pizzico di immediatezza comunicativa , allora abbiamo completato la ricetta che rende queste sonorità estremamente fruibili e positive. La scelta di questo nome per un progetto radiofonico dedicato alla musica giamaicana e alle sue influenze di derivazione, come il Dub o la scena elettronica attuale, racchiude dunque tutta la filosofia di una proposta ardua ma affascinante. Mercy Far I cercherà di condurre per mano l’ascoltatore nei meandri di un genere che nei Settanta ha gettato le radici di una vera e propria rivoluzione dei suoni. Quel seme così grossolano e selvaggio ha generato oggi un fiore policrome e cangiante capace di resistere al passare inesorabile delle stagioni.
Part One. 1.Percydread - Fathers Love 2.Percydread - So Jah Say 3.Sammy Clarke - Spiritual War - Danger riddim 4.Tes Fa Syon - Never Part 1 - Danger riddim 5.Margret Prince - One Moment - Danger riddim 6.Stickz - Long Time Girl - Danger riddim 7.Stickz - Dj Pauze Special 8.Tony Tuff - Got Work Harder 9.Latty Guzang - Show Some Love 10.Bob Andy - Going Home ***Adverts*** 11.Doktah & Ossie Dellimore - Truth & Rights 12.Doktah - Burn & Slash - Collie Weed rididm 13.Junior Toots - Plant The Corn - Collie Weed riddim 14.Wild Life - Ganja Yard - Collie Weed riddim 15.Mikey Murka - Deep In My Heart - Swing Hard riddim 16.Bird - Give Thanks & Praise - Swing Hard riddim 17.Richie Nice - All About You - Swing Hard riddim 18.Prince Livijah - Chant A Psalms - Swing Hard riddim 19.Mikey Murka - Gang Business 20.Mikey Murka feat. Deadly Hunta - Stand Firm
Part Two. 1.Lloyd Brown - I'm Sorry 2.Peter Spence - How To Love 3.Peter Spence - Every Little Thing 4.Duane Stephenson - Love Is Calling 5.Duane Stephenson - From August Town 6.Duane Stephenson - Ghetto Pain 7.Ras Shiloh - Live Upright - Mighty Right riddim 8.Hero - Love Yu Mama - Mighty Right riddim 9.Jah Mason - Take Us Home - Mighty Right riddim ***Adverts*** 10.I-Sasha & Million Voice - Jah Is There 11.I-Sasha - More Peace 12.Million Voice - Jah Is My Light 13.Avaran - Let Jah Be Praised 14.Million Voice feat. I-Sasha - Never Give Up - Special riddim 15.Ras Pilot - Mama - Special riddim 16.Nature B - Be Humble - Special riddim 17.Ziggy Rankin - Watch Out - Special riddim 18.Doktah - We Are All Jah Children - Special riddim 19.Bud Ramsey feat. Khari Kill - Take A Whiff
Jingles/drops from Percydread, Don Cambell, Dave, Stevie Culture, Beng Beng, Timmi Burrell, Ossie Dellimore, Phee Phee Star, Zalazu, Solo Banton, Kriptik, African Simba, Deadly Hunta, Inner C
Hi Percydread - single Is out Now !!! Hope you're having a good weekend Got some great news. Our latest release 'Hustler' (Flip Uno v Paradox 3000 / Punk Funk Records) is currently in the top 10 on beatport!!! With support from breaksfm, nuskoolbreaks, Jay Cunning/ Kiss, Radio 1, Galaxy & many more Subscribe to Punk Funk Records at beatport. com for alerts on EXCLUSIVE new release's Keep the beats blazing respect Angel x
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Part One. 1.Beres Hammond - Feel Good 2.Anthony Cruz - Dem Block De Road 3.Anthony Cruz - Fight 4.Iyano Iyanti - Badness No Pay 5.Peppa Lion - Protect I Jah - Yard & Abroad riddim 6.Natural Black - I Do Apologise - Yard & Abroad riddim 7.Natural Black - Endorse It - Lion Of Judah riddim 8.Formulla - Fool For Love 9.Formulla - Music In My Body - Fyah Kee riddim 10.Honey Brandy - My Time Now - Fyah Kee riddim ***Adverts*** 11.Gransonn - Strive 12.Raymond Wright - Better Place 13.Josephs Quote - A Nuh Little Bit Me Try Me Try 14.Dionne Blaize - Rise Up 15.Jungle Jim - People Fighting 16.Oba Simba & Tribuman - No Borders - Righteous riddim 17.Andrew Sloley - Righteous - Righteous riddim 18.Andrew Sloley - Put Down The Gun 19.Kalvin Kristi - Gaza
Part Two. 1.Percydread - Upside Downside 2.Ossie Dellimore - Old Time Something 3.RoleModel - Lion Roar 4.Jimpy - Fight Them Down 5.Tall Rich & Company - Leaders 6.Kriptik - Mama Told Me - Grey Skies riddim 7.Positive - Never Let Go 8.Barrak - Unknown 9.Tall Rich - Unknown ***Adverts*** 10.Adrian Clarke - More Love 11.Adrian Clarke - Tears 12.Ras Pilot - Warriors 13.Ras Pilot - Righteous Man - Country Boy riddim 14.Gounzman & Fyah Empress - True Love - Country Boy riddim 15.Fyahstone feat. Malika - Please - Country Boy riddim 16.Jah Sesco - Some Good Lovin - Country Boy riddim 17.Franz Job - The Country Boy Song - Country Boy riddim 18.Aaron Alexander feat. Adrian Clarke - Unity Street
Jingles/drops from Righteousness, Stevie Culture, Iyano Iyanti, Franzsiska, Dan I J, Don Campbell, Dave, Mr Easy, Tribuman, Kriptik, Percydread, Ossie Dellimore, Alpheus, Bushman, Doktah, Ras Pilot.
La Factory organizza, Cool Runnings porta i suoi adorabili vinili e gli Shots stanno già lucidando i loro strumenti.....Voi cominciate a scorrere le foto dell'estate e a chiamare a raccolta tutti i malati di musica giamaicana che avete nella vostra rubrica. L'appuntamento è alle 23 di Sabato 13 Settembre alla Factory più carichi che mai !!! Restate in linea perchè la line up della serata potrebbe arricchirsi di altri ospiti e ulteriori stili.....
Nel corso della serata proiezioni, drinks & niceness !!
dalle 23 fino al mattino NOTTE BIANCA SABATO 13 SETTEMBRE FACTORY OCCUPATA
Se venite in auto trovate Riva Ostiense sulla destra subito dopo il ponte di ferro venendo da piazzale della Radio. All'inizio c'è un cancello con su scritto proprietà privata. Potete comunque entrare con l'auto: troverete parcheggio alla fine di Riva Ostiense sotto la Factory.
Venendo in autobus le fermate più vicine sono quelle di Piazzale della Radio, sulla sponda destra del Tevere, o di via Ostiense su quella sinistra
