Red Dragon (musician)

Leroy May (18 March 1966[1] – 31 July 2015), better known as Red Dragon and initially as Redman, was a Jamaican deejay who was active starting in the early 1980s.

Red Dragon
Birth nameLeroy May
Also known asRedman
Born(1966-03-18)March 18, 1966
Kingston, Jamaica
DiedJuly 31, 2015(2015-07-31) (aged 49)
Kingston, Jamaica
GenresReggae, dancehall
Years activeEarly 1980s – 2015
LabelsTechniques, Dragon, VP
Associated actsFlourgon Buju Banton

Biography

Born in Kingston, Jamaica, May deejayed with several sound systems in the early 1980s, including Barrington Hi Fi, Stone Love, People's Choice, and his own Rambo Mango, initially working under the name Redman.[2] His "Laughing Dragon" dubplate became popular, prompting a change of stage name to Red Dragon.[2] Early recordings included "Computer" for producer Charlie Chaplin, "Nah Get Nutten" for Harry J, and his first big hit "Hol' a Fresh" for Winston Riley.[2][3] He went on to record for King Tubby and King Jammy, and in 1989 his debut album was released, a split LP with his brother, the deejay Flourgon.[2] He also started his own Dragon label, and moved into production, and helped to nurture the early careers of artists such as Buju Banton and Terry Ganzie.[2] In the early 1990s, he returned to recording, enjoying hits with a variety of producers including Riley, Bobby Digital, and Sly & Robbie, and had a major hit single along with Brian & Tony Gold with "Compliments on Your Kiss" in 1994, the single reaching number two in the UK Singles Chart.[2][4]

May died on 31 July 2015 at the University Hospital of the West Indies after being ill for some time. Leroy 'Red Dragon' May is survived by spouse, three children, three brothers and one sister[5][6]

Discography
  • Red Dragon vs. Flourgon (1989), Techniques
  • Pum Pum Shorts (1992), Dragon
  • Good Old College (1992), VP
  • Bun Them (1994), VP
  • Rusty Magnum (1998), Slammin

References
  1. BNF 14031626x
  2. Larkin, Colin (1998) The Virgin Encyclopedia of Reggae, Virgin Books, ISBN 0-7535-0242-9, p. 243-4
  3. Moskowitz, David V. (2006) Caribbean Popular Music: an Encyclopedia of Reggae, Mento, Ska, Rock Steady, and Dancehall, Greenwood Press, ISBN 0-313-33158-8, p. 253
  4. "Red Dragon With Brian And Tony Gold", Chart Stats, retrieved 2011-03-15
  5. "'Hol A Fresh' Singer Red Dragon Dies", Jamaica Gleaner, 1 August 2015. Retrieved 2 August 2015
  6. Campbell, Howard (2015) "Remembering Red Dragon", Jamaica Observer, 5 August 2015. Retrieved 8 August 2015
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