Big Youth

Biography

Manley Augustus Buchanan, known professionally as Big Youth, was born on April 19, 1949, in Trenchtown, Kingston, Jamaica—a neighborhood renowned for its influence on reggae music. Before entering the music industry, Buchanan worked as a diesel mechanic at Kingston’s Sheraton Hotel, where his colleagues nicknamed him 'Big Youth' due to his youthful age and tall stature. He began developing his unique toasting style while working, inspired by pioneering deejay U-Roy, and soon became a regular on Lord Tippertone’s sound system by 1970, attracting the attention of Kingston’s record producers.

Big Youth’s career took off in the early 1970s with hits like 'The Killer' and 'S-90 Skank,' the latter becoming his first number one hit in Jamaica. His debut album, 'Screaming Target' (1973), is considered a classic of roots reggae and showcased his innovative blend of toasting and singjay vocals. Throughout the 1970s, he worked with influential producers such as Gussie Clarke, Glen Brown, Yabby You, and Bunny Wailer, and later began self-producing on his own Negusa Nagast and Augustus Buchanan labels, often backed by the Soul Syndicate band. Big Youth’s lyrics were notable for their conscious messages on Rastafarianism, social justice, and youth empowerment, distinguishing him from many contemporaries.

Although his popularity waned with the rise of new deejay styles in the late 1970s and 1980s, Big Youth’s impact endured. He signed with Virgin Records’ Frontline label, appeared in the iconic reggae film 'Rockers,' and continued to perform and record sporadically into the 2000s. Big Youth is widely regarded as one of the foundational figures of reggae toasting, influencing generations of Jamaican deejays and even early American hip-hop artists.

Fun Facts

• Big Youth’s nickname was given to him by co-workers because he was both younger and taller than most of them.
• He worked as a diesel mechanic before his music career, developing his toasting skills on the job.
• Bob Marley once stated that Big Youth was his favorite artist.
• Big Youth appeared in the classic reggae film 'Rockers' (1978).

Associated Acts

• Upper Cut Band

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• U-Roy - Primary stylistic influence and inspiration for toasting technique; Big Youth developed his own style after being inspired by U-Roy’s pioneering work. (General influence on early singles and toasting approach) [circa 1970–1972]

Key Collaborators

• Gussie Clarke - Producer of Big Youth’s early breakthrough hits. ('The Killer', 'Tippertone Rocking') [1972]
• Soul Syndicate - Regular backing band for Big Youth’s self-produced albums. ('Reggae Phenomenon', 'Natty Cultural Dread', 'Hit the Road Jack') [mid-1970s]
• U-Roy - Collaborative singles and shared performances as leading toasters. ('Battle of the Giants') [1970s]
• Yabby You - Producer and collaborator on singles. ('Yabby Youth'/'Lightning Flash') [mid-1970s]

Artists Influenced

• Trinity - Adopted and adapted Big Youth’s chanting and singjay style. (General deejay output) [late 1970s]
• Clint Eastwood - Inspired by Big Youth’s blend of toasting and singing. (General deejay output) [late 1970s–1980s]
• American rappers - Big Youth’s toasting style cited as a foundational influence on early hip-hop MCs. (General influence on hip-hop vocal delivery) [late 1970s–1980s]

Discography

Top Tracks

1. Whole Lot Of Fire (Reggae Anthology: Niney The Observer - Roots With Quality)

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia
• MusicBrainz

Tags: #classic-pop-and-rock, #jamaican