Brigadier Jerry emerged in the late 1970’s, as one of the most popular cultural DJ’s to regularly improvise over the Jamaican sound systems. Highly respected in Jamaica as a conscious DJ, Briggy was a sound system teacher, teaching Rasta culture to the multitudes. Bootleg recordings of these dancehall sessions started to leak out internationally amongst the deeper cultural enthusiasts, spreading Briggy’s name abroad. In the years to come, other DJ’s were to follow his example, but Brigadier Jerry remains as the teacher, who set the standard. His vibe and lyrics have an Old Testament Biblical quality about the, that is both edifying and endearing.

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More influential through his live performances than his scant recordings, Brigadier Jerry was one of Jamaica's top DJs at the dawn of the .dancehall era. A brilliant lyrical improviser, Briggy or 'The Teacher' -- as he was affectionately known -- elevated the standards for speed and fluidity in DJ chatting technique, laying the groundwork for much of what followed, along with Josey Wales and Charlie Chaplin. Despite early dance hall's taste for slackness, Jerry's subject matter was almost always spiritual and cultural, though he did have a sense of humor and was an excellent battle DJ. Still actively touring in the new millennium, he also still commanded much of the respect -- among knowledgeable reggae audiences -- that he did in his groundbreaking heyday. Brigadier Jerry was born Robert Russell in Kingston on September 28, 1957. He started his career in show business by trying stand-up comedy in his early teens, but soon moved on to work for sound systems. He started out on a sound system in his community named Emperor Marcus in the early '70s, and soon moved on to the legendary Jah Love Muzik system; this latter was run by the Christian Rastafarian sect to which he belonged, the Twelve Tribes of Israel. While with Jah Love, bootleg cassette tapes of his live performances began to circulate among DJ aficionados, resulting in packed houses wherever he played. Despite his sterling underground reputation and influential, melodic toasting style, Jerry was barely represented on record until 1982. He'd previously cut several tracks for Studio One, including "Every Man Me Brethren" and "Dance in Montreal," and appeared on several local singles with other Twelve Tribes members. In 1982, he cut a new version of the Slim Smith riddim "Never Let Go," which he retitled "Pain" and released on the small Jywanza label. It was a major hit, rocketing to the top of the Jamaican charts. Further singles followed over the next couple of years: "Gwan a School" (Jywanza), "Horse a Gallop" (Powerhouse), "Warn Dem" (for Judy Mowatt's Ashandan label), and the 1984 hit "Jamaica, Jamaica" (on Jah Love Muzik's own label). Meanwhile, he also mentored the career of DJ Sister Carol, Shine Head, Tiger, Sister Nancy, Shabba Ranks and DJed for nearly every prominent sound system in Jamaica. A semi-official live album, Live at the Controls, appeared in 1983, but he didn't record his proper debut LP until 1985. Also called Jamaica Jamaica, it was the closest he came to capturing the excitement of his live gigs in the studio, and featured several signature tunes in the title track, the aforementioned "Every Man Me Brethren," and "Armageddon." Several more singles followed over the rest of the '80s, but Jerry remained a live DJ at heart. He relocated to New York on a permanent basis in 1988, and only put together a second album with 1990's On the Road. In 1992, Jerry returned to Jamaica and revived the Jah Love Muzik sound system; he also recorded his third proper album, Hail Him, for Tapper Zukie's label. Another album, Freedom Street, appeared on the VP label in 1995. Today, Briggy still travels extensively to Europe and Japan touring. Although he's famously known as a 'dance hall DJ' on sound systems, Briggy is now touring with his own band doing stage shows.He released his fifth album in 2009  entitled, "Shower of Blessings" on the Virtuous Woman label.
~ Steve Huey, All Music Guide.


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