Born Winston Sparks on September 17, 1939, Stitt, who earned his nickname from his mother, bested the facial malformities suffered from birth to become one of the top dancers at the local sound systems in the 1950s. He launched his musical career at Clement 'Coxson' Dodd's Sir Coxsone's Downbeat sound system in 1957; following encouragement from lead Downbeat deejay Count Machuki, Stitt tried his hand at 'toasting'.
Adopting the slick rhythmic delivery popularised by personalities on American Black radio, Stitt quickly ascended to become 'King of the Deejays', adding the 'King' to his own moniker and succeeding Machuki upon his departure from Downbeat. As violence in Kingston increased, Dodd shuttered Downbeat and Stitt moved to Ocho Rios to work on Jack Ruby's set. There he connected with producer Clancy Eccles and the pair brought Stitt's vibrant style to the recording studio.
Though U Roy claimed the title 'The Originator' for the way he formalised the recorded deejay style, it was Stitt who first had hits, starting with 1969's 'Fire Corner'. More hits for Eccles flowed, including 'Vigorton 2', 'herbman Shuffle' ''King of Kings' and 'Van Cleef', a nod to the character Lee Van Cleef who-like Stitt-was 'The Ugly One' in The Good, The Bad and The Ugly. http://www.trojanrecords.com/news/2012/02/king-stitt-1939-2012
5 Comments (since 5 Mar 2014)
music_xplosion
Born Winston Sparks on September 17, 1939, Stitt, who earned his nickname from his mother, bested the facial malformities suffered from birth to become one of the top dancers at the local sound systems in the 1950s. He launched his musical career at Clement 'Coxson' Dodd's Sir Coxsone's Downbeat sound system in 1957; following encouragement from lead Downbeat deejay Count Machuki, Stitt tried his hand at 'toasting'.
music_xplosion
Adopting the slick rhythmic delivery popularised by personalities on American Black radio, Stitt quickly ascended to become 'King of the Deejays', adding the 'King' to his own moniker and succeeding Machuki upon his departure from Downbeat. As violence in Kingston increased, Dodd shuttered Downbeat and Stitt moved to Ocho Rios to work on Jack Ruby's set. There he connected with producer Clancy Eccles and the pair brought Stitt's vibrant style to the recording studio.
music_xplosion
Though U Roy claimed the title 'The Originator' for the way he formalised the recorded deejay style, it was Stitt who first had hits, starting with 1969's 'Fire Corner'. More hits for Eccles flowed, including 'Vigorton 2', 'herbman Shuffle' ''King of Kings' and 'Van Cleef', a nod to the character Lee Van Cleef who-like Stitt-was 'The Ugly One' in The Good, The Bad and The Ugly. http://www.trojanrecords.com/news/2012/02/king-stitt-1939-2012
cello_m
really enjoyed this one - thanks!
music_xplosion
@cello_m My pleasure! I'm happy you liked it :)