‘Marksman’ deejay Shugo Banton still shooting for hits
When Phillip Kerr emerged on the reggae and dancehall scene in 1991 as Shugo Banton, he came with the mindset that he would be one of the recording artistes to create a landmark career.
He said he always had a passion for music as a young boy growing up in Woodford Park, Kingston, and when legendary producer Harry J gave him an opportunity to do music, he did not waste a moment to record.
He recorded his first single Dismankle, which served as the starter for a career as a deejay who became part of the King Jammys studio family.
One of his most popular tracks, Marksman,
produced by Steely and Clevie, was recorded at the studio. It earned him the attention as one of the fiery performers of the early 90s, and he told THE WEEKEND STAR, “I am still a marksman in the industry, I never stop fire the shots.”
“Once Harry J gave me that chance, I left what I was doing, which was duco work on cars, and didn’t bother look back. I put out song after song after song,” he said.
The veteran deejay said he has never taken up any other profession for a source of income, “it has always been stage shows and dubplates.”
GAINED WIDE EXPOSURE
He gained wide exposure with the release of his fourth song, Gal Come Here, produced by Bobby Digital.
However, a life-threatening accident in 1996, in which he suffered a neck fracture, paused his recording career.
He shared, “God alone know how I survived that but I see my life as golden now. It was painful to perform or even voice a tune and some people think I would not return to music.”
In 1999, he received an opportunity to perform overseas and went, but recording music was still slow.
“I go through nuff, getting shunned by the industry and nuff time people ask how dem nuh hear from me and the badmind persons who don’t want me get work seh me dead or nuh deh bout,” he said.
In pursuit of international attention, Shugo Banton said he spent much time between 2015 and 2018 with family in the US (New York, Pennsylvania and Georgia).
“Dem long- time supporters and close links mek me do some shows,” he said. Since the accident, he goes by Shugo Gold, and has released new music under Master Mine Records. One of the singles is Perseverance.
“It is about my life, the struggles I face in the music industry and is through perseverance why I am still here. Success hard but me still deh ‘ere. Is me say when we shoot, we nuh shoot and miss,” he said.