The composer of two of reggae’s biggest instrumentals, Ansel Collins wears the tag of unsung hero like a badge of honor. Little is known about his prowess as a musician outside Jamaica, but his most famous protégé plans to change that.
Drummer Sly Dunbar, world-famous as half of the Sly and Robbie production team, is working on an instrumental project with Collins on keyboards. The songs are expected out in the first quarter of 2020, but Dunbar did not disclose if they will comprise an album.
One thing is certain, the 70-year-old Collins has a major role.
“Ansel have the biggest instrumental out of Jamaica, he’s the godfather. Him is the first musician tek mi to studio to play on Night Doctor,” Dunbar recalled.
That ‘biggest instrumental’ is Double Barrel, a rousing 1971 hit by Collins and Dave Barker. Featuring a 19 year-old Dunbar, It topped the British national chart that year.
Released in 1969, the Lee “Scratch” Perry-produced Night Doctor also did well in Britain.
According to Dunbar, Collins “still have it in him” to make hit records. The last big song they collaborated on was Foundation by Beenie Man, released in 1997.
The unassuming Collins was born in Kingston, Jamaica’s capital. He started his music career in the mid-1960s as a drummer but switched to keyboards late that decade.
In addition to Double Barrel, he composed the much-sampled Stalag rhythm which has driven monster songs like Arleen by General Echo and Ring The Alarm by Tenor Saw.
Collins and Dunbar were part of The Revolutionaries, house band at Channel One studio during the 1970’s. They played on numerous hit songs there including Right Time by The Mighty Diamonds and The Meditations’ Woman is Like A Shadow.
His distinctive feel can also be heard on classics such as Pressure Drop by The Maytals, Marcia Griffiths’ Dreamland and Soon Forward by Gregory Isaacs.
For many years, Ansel Collins was a member of Oneness, Jimmy Cliff’s recording and touring band.
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