Of the many singers Bunny Lee worked with, the legendary producer had a special bond with Johnny Clarke. Their tandem resulted in a number of hit songs during the 1970’s.
Clarke, known for hits like Move Outa Babylon and Rock With Me Baby, had kind words for his mentor who died on October 6 in Kingston, Jamaica at age 79.
“Dem man dey energize artist fi do di thing. Is a great feeling fi any artist see dat di producer love di music jus’ like dem,” said Clarke.
Lee was a rising force in Jamaican music in the early 1970’s when he and Clarke got together. He had produced several hit songs including Conversation by The Uniques, Better Must Come by Delroy Wilson and John Holt’s Stick by Me.
Clarke was in his teens at the time and recording for producers such as Clancy Eccles and Rupie Edwards. His first hit single was Everyday Wondering, produced by Edwards in 1974.
The following year, he linked with Lee for a cover of Jackie Edwards’ My Desire which made little impact. Next up was the uptempo None Shall Escape The Judgement, recorded at the famed Treasure Isle studio of producer Duke Reid.
None Shall Escape The Judgement, featuring Robbie Shakespeare on bass and guitarist Earl “Chinna” Smith, had a unique drum sound called the Flying Cymbal, courtesy of Carlton “Santa” Davis of the Soul Syndicate Band.
That feel was synonymous with other Lee/Clarke hits like Jah Jah In Deh and Left With A Broken Heart.
The key to their success, Clarke noted, was Lee’s constant probing for new sounds.
“Is a man who always experiment. Him used to go different studio ’cause him always a search fi a new sound,” he said.
Lee was from the Greenwich Farm area of Kingston. Clarke grew up in nearby Whitfield Town, location of Channel One studio, which produced countless hits in the 1970’s.
Clarke, 65, said he last spoke to Lee in March after he (Lee) returned to Jamaica from England. He visited him at his home in Kingston and said the producer was in good spirits.
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