Leonard Dillon

• Active: '90s
• Genres: Reggae
• Instrument: Producer

Biography

Reggae legend Leonard Dillon was born in Port Antonio, Jamaica on December 9, 1942. After relocating to Kingston in 1963, he was befriended by Peter Tosh, who in turn introduced him to the legendary producer Coxsone Dodd; with Tosh and his fellow Wailers singing harmony, Dodd cut four of Dillon's songs -- among them the hit "Ice Water" -- released in 1965 under the name Jack Sparrow. Soon after he formed the Ethiopans with Stephen Taylor and Aston Morris, one of the seminal groups of the Rock Steady era and a major force in Jamaican music until Taylor's death in 1975. Reeling from the tragedy, Dillon retreated to Port Antonio for two years, finally resurfacing to reform the Ethiopans for a session with producer Niney the Observer later released as Slave Call. He later recorded as a solo act as well, yielding the 1999 retrospective On the Road Again. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Music Guide