Naggo Morris, former lead singer for the legendary group, The Heptones, died yesterday in a Montego Bay hospital, after losing his battle with cancer. Morris was 72 years old.
Dolphin George Morris was born on September 30, 1947, in Carron Hall, St. Mary and moved to Kingston at two weeks old. Lived at Chisholm Ave for all his childhood years and into adulthood. He attended Miss Allen School and then Rousssea High School in, Kingston 13.
His dad was an avid musician/entertainer who at times made folks cried when he played his saxophone, Naggo fell in love with the entertainment business from observing his father. He started out as a dancer with a group called the Coaster with Coupland Forbes, and Lenord Mundy. They worked with Luis Bennett and Ranny Williams on TV shows such as Sounds of the Seventies, Mambo Tam Boo, Ring Ding and Coozie Corner. They also did Christmas Morning shows at Carib Theater, Regal Magestic Theater and State Theatere in Kingston, Strand and Palladium Theaters in Montego Bay. Fine start to life in the entertainment business especially working with the great Luis Bennett.
Dancing was not enough for the multi talented Naggo Morris. He moved on to join a singing group called the Morwells, then moved to The Royals with whom they did albums such as, Pick Up The Pieces, and Conference Table. He also did some harmony for Studio One with a group called the Soul Boys (Barrington Spence and Junior Zun). They did a few songs for Clement Dodd then moved to Treasure Isle recording studio where we worked along side Stranger Cole, Alton Ellis, Slim Smith, The Techniques, The Unique and others. Morris then went on to doing a single called Say You (Adapted) for Prince Tony on the Front Line Recording Label. Naggo also did vocals on an album called Rasta Ambassador with U-Roy who DJ.
Some of his major hits were Here I Come for Clappas Record, the renowned Su Su Pan Rasta and Jah guide with Joe Gibbs, they were all number one hits. The riddim for Su Su Pan Rasta was so huge that Prince Far I did a song called Heavy Manners on it which was also a hit. Morris also did One Meal on the Joe Gibbs Label. During this time Naggo did backing vocals with Lloyd Parks of We The People Band and Rudy Thomas. Some of Naggo’s most treasured moments were working alongside Dennis Brown, Gregory Isaacs and Bob Andy with whom they produced multiple hit songs.
In 1974 he did the hit song Flour Power which was inspired by cases of people being poisoned by flour contaminated with rat poison in Jamaica. This took the entertainment industry by storm and continues to be a well loved song.
Being the very accomplished roots singer he was it was no mistake when The Heptones recruited him to replace Leroy Sibbles after he migrated in 1975. His deep roots style perfectly complimented The Heptones (Earl Morgan, Barry Llewellyn) keen harmony. As lead singer for The Heptones they were the first to grace the stage of the first Reggae Sun Splash that came to Jarrett Park Montego Bay. It was a real honor for him to be apart of such a momentous event in the history of Jamaican reggae music. They opened the show billed with top artists such as Bob Marley, Ken Boothe, Alton Ellis and many others. It was the first performance but not the last. They also performed in the 1982 at the Catherine Hall Bob Marley Center.
The Heptones recorded a song for Channel one called, How Could I Leave, and others but owner of Channel One died and those songs were not released but played on dub plate. Dennis Brown re-recorded the same song How Could I Leave on the Joe Gibbs label and it became number one. Despite this, The Heptones kept going. They did an album called , Better Days for Winston “Niney” Holness then they went to England on tour in 1975. The Heptones toured Europe, Canada and the USA. One of Naggo’s most treasured memories was visiting Scotland and seeing men wearing skirts with their bag pipes a big cultural difference.
He has worked with musicians such as Ansell Collins (key boards), Lloyd Park(Bass), Robbie Shakespeare(Bass), Sly Dunbar(drums), Frankie Bubbler (Organ), Ranchie McLean (guitarist), Ricka Backa (guitarist), Bongo Herman (percussion), Frank Aird aka Blazing Frank (trumpet), Vin Gordon (trombone), Deadly Headley( alto horns).
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