Wednesday 09.30.09: DUB CLUB presents RANKING JOE @ echoplex

Ranking Joe
Backed by Echodelic Soundsystem

So, Who Is Ranking Joe? Born Joseph Jackson, in Kingston, Jamaica , July 1, 1959, he was introduced in the music business at Tarrant Junior Secondary School in Kingston. Joe performed at school concerts and won local talent contest in the mid-70′s. At age 15, he went to the legendary “Studio One” to audition and what resulted was his first big hit “GUN COURT”, produced by Clement”Coxsone” Dodd under the name “Little Joe”.
“This recording lead to more producers becoming interested in My work and as a result I performed more records for different producers such as Bunny Lee,to name a few.” Some of these records are “OLD TRADITION” done by Bunny Lee, “HONDA 750″ done by Pete Weston. “PSALM 54″ and “JACKET” with Watty Burnett, “STOP YOUR COMING AND COME”, done by Sly and Robbie , “NATTY BMW” with Bunny Diamond, and “SHINE EYE GIRL” and “NATTY NEVER GET WEARY” done on Sonia Pottinger’s famous “HIGH NOTE” label. As he grew older, still into a young man, he changed his name on the advice of Prince Tony Robinson to “Ranking Joe”. Joe worked alongside Robinson and had hit records such as”A YOU Mr. FINNIGAN”,with an album of the same name. He was then was then introduced to the King of DJ’s “U-Roy”, after which he worked on U-Roy’s “KING STUR-GAV HI-FI”, the most popular sound system in Jamaica at that time.
“I later developed my original style of fast rapping. , tongue twisting and that became the most popular thing to hit the airways.The style was (Bang-didlly), also used by “Heavy D”, an American Rapper”. Joe’s string of successes kept rolling. “After an introduction to the producer Joe Gibbs,I did several singles for his label, such as”LEAVE FE ME Girl Arlene” and “Bald Head Bridge” done by the group “CULTURE” and Myself.” The latter was released as a disco 12″ 45 record-one of the wicked extended mixes of the “rockers” period of the late 70′s. “In 1977, I was voted the most popular DJ of that year, for my records that were on the charts and my performance of “KING STUR-GAV” sound system.In 1978-79 I was approached by “Henry ‘Junjo” laws for the “Volcano Label”, the top producer during that time. I recorded an album titled “Saturday Night Jamdown Style” , which was released by Greensleeves in France and VP Records in New York and as a result were successful”.
After moving to New York ,Joe released many records on his own label “Ranking Joe International” and continued to perform all over the world ,traveling to Israel, New Zealand and Brazil as well as Europe. He is one of the few DJs from his era who has continued to release strong new recordings, and has worked with many talented musicians. He was featured on the popular “Dub Side of the Moon” album by the Easy Star All Stars, as well as recordings by The Slackers and Mungo’s Hi-Fi.
Check out his recent track “Fyah Bun Dem” cut with some young producers in Brazil : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3NZvyzOIL8

@ Echoplex
enter at 1154 Glendale Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90026

9pm / $5 before 10pm, $10 after 10pm / 21+