Michael May (born c.1970), better known as Flourgon, is a Jamaican dancehall artist.

Flourgon
Birth nameMichael May
Bornc.1970
Kingston, Jamaica
GenresReggae, dancehall
Years activeMid-1980s–present
LabelsTechniques, VP, Exterminator

Biography

edit

May got his nickname of 'Flourgon', which became his stage name, due to his love of dumplings.[1] After being tutored by Charlie Chaplin, he gained experience deejaying on various Kingston sound systems, he started his own — Sweet Love, which featured Buju Banton early in his career.[1][2] He often performed with his brother, the deejay Red Dragon, and with his close friends Daddy Lizard (also his brother-in-law) and Sanchez.[1][2]

He released several Jamaican hit singles in the late 1980s and 1990s, recording for producers such as Winston Riley, Steely & Clevie, and Philip "Fatis" Burrell, both solo efforts and in combination with other deejays and singers such as Red Dragon, Freddie McGregor ("Bless My Soul"), Sanchez ("Madly In Love"), Ninjaman ("Zip It Up"), and Thriller U ("Girls Just Wanna Have Fun").[2][3][4][5] His success continued into the 21st century, and he continued to perform live but his releases became less frequent.[1][2] In 2010 he announced the intention to release a new album titled Can't Live Without You, but it has yet to be released.[5]

May became a Rastafarian and no longer performs some of his earlier material, saying in 2008: "certain songs mi used to do mi wouldn't do anymore. I'm more conscious now".[1]

In 2016 he released the single "You Got Me Talking", and planned to tour Europe with Sanchez.[6]

Flourgon's son, Chad Hype, is an upcoming artist who draws inspiration from dancehall and reggae music from his father's era.[7]

In March 2018, Flourgon filed a law suit against Miley Cyrus and record label RCA for copyright infringement, saying that Cyrus's song "We Can't Stop" includes lyrics from his song "We Run Things."[8][9]

Discography

edit
  • Red Dragon Vs Flourgon (1989), Techniques
  • Count Out (1989), VP

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c d e Henry, Krista (2008) "Glory days - Flourgon 'Run Tings' in late '80s Archived 25 December 2010 at the Wayback Machine", Jamaica Gleaner, 13 April 2008, retrieved 2011-05-09
  2. ^ a b c d Moskowitz, David V. (2006) "Flourgon" in Caribbean Popular Music: am Encyclopedia of Reggae, Mento, Ska, Rock Steady, and Dancehall, Greenwood Press, ISBN 0-313-33158-8, p. 113
  3. ^ Larkin, Colin (1998) "Flourgon" in The Virgin Encyclopedia of Reggae, Virgin Books, ISBN 0-7535-0242-9, p. 100-101
  4. ^ Barrow, Steve & Dalton, Peter (2004) The Rough Guide to Reggae, 3rd edn., Rough Guides, ISBN 1-84353-329-4, p. 302, 312
  5. ^ a b McLean, Roxroy (2010) "Where are they now? Deejay Flourgon Archived 24 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine", Jamaica Star, 12 February 2010, retrieved 2011-05-09
  6. ^ Jackson, Kevin (2016) "Flourgon back on the trail", Jamaica Observer, 1 June 2016. Retrieved 5 June 2016
  7. ^ "Jamaica Observer Limited".
  8. ^ "Miley Cyrus Slapped With Lawsuit Over 'We Can't Stop' Lyrics". TheWrap. 13 March 2018. Retrieved 14 March 2018.
  9. ^ "Miley Cyrus Lawsuit: Listen to the Jamaican Song 'We Can't Stop' Is Accused of Copying". www.msn.com. Retrieved 14 March 2018.