Mikey Bennett is a Jamaican music producer, composer, musician and singer.[1][2][3][4]

Early life and influences

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Mikey Bennett was born into a Christian family in Jamaica. Church is where Bennett realised he had musical talent. At the age of 12, Bennett was influenced greatly by guitarist Mikey Chung. He would write his lyrics and Chung would help Bennett put them to music.[5] He attended what is now the Northern Caribbean University based in Mandeville, Jamaica.

Career

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Bennett has been on the music scene since the 1980s. He has composed and produced music for international artists including Ziggy Marley, Maxi Priest, Dennis Brown, and UB40, Shabba Ranks, J.C. Lodge, Cocoa Tea, Home T Four, Admiral Bailey, and Johnny Osbourne.[6] He recently directed and produced a reggae album titled The Heart of Jamaica for the longtime rum producer Appleton Estate.[7]

Bennett is the CEO of Grafton Studios in Vineyard Town, St. Andrew, Jamaica. He has also taught song writing at the University of Technology (Utech), Kingston, Jamaica. He has received many honours, among them the Jamaica Reggae Industry Association (JaRIA) award in 2017 for mentorship.[8]

Social responsibility

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Bennet is involved in the Tower Street Correctional Facility music programme in Kingston, Jamaica and the St Catherine adult correctional centre.[9] Bennett also judges competitions for spotting local musical talents.[10]

Discography

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Year Album Artist Mikey Bennett
2018 A Real Labour of Love UB40 Composer
2014 More Jammy$ from the Roots King Jammy Musician
2014 Evolution of Dub, Vol. 8: The Search for New Life Alborosie / Shane Brown / Prince Jammy / Two Friends Crew Producer
2013 Total Reggae: Chart Hits Reggae Style Producer
2012 Playlist: King of Kings-Reggae Hits Producer
2011 100% Tubes de L'Eté 2011 Composer
2008 The Best of Maxi Priest Maxi Priest Producer
2007 The Most High Daddy Rings Producer, Audio Production, Main Personnel, Various Instruments, Instrumentation
2007 Joe Gibbs Reggae Christmas Joe Gibbs Composer
2007 From Dubplate to Download: The Best of Greensleeves Producer
2007 12" Rulers: Gussie Clarke Vocals (Background)
2006 What a World Bunny Rugs Producer
2005 Hail the King Fantan Mojah Arranger
2005 Black, Gold, Green Third World Engineer
2003 Ultimate Reggae Producer, Composer
2003 The Rhythm King King Jammy Musician
2003 Sing Our Own Song Judy Mowatt Producer
2003 Monday Morning Blues: The Best of Mikey 'Bumper' Melody Mikey Melody Producer, Musician
2003 Dragonfly Ziggy Marley Vocal Arrangement
2003 Can't Stop a Man: The Ultimate Collection Beres Hammond Producer, Composer
2003 Abijah Ras Abijah Producer, Composer
2002 Under the Moonlight Ghost Producer, Keyboards, Vocal Arrangement
2002 The Dot.com Rhythm Engineer
2002 Reggae Xplosion 2002 Composer
2001 The Reggae Box Producer
2001 Reggae for Jesus Producer, Arranger
2001 Modern Roots David Kirton Producer, Keyboards, Bass, Composer
2001 Coming at You Stevie Face Musician
2001 Adrenalin Don Yute Producer
2001 Absolutely the Best: 1957-1999 Dennis Brown Producer
2000 Spirit of a Woman Marijah Composer
2000 Doin' Fine Word! Producer, Executive Producer
2000 Babymother Composer
1999 Stranger David Kirton Producer, Vocal Arrangement, Percussion Arrangement, Drum Arrangements, Harmonic Arrangement
1999 Shabba Ranks and Friends Shabba Ranks Producer, Arranger
1998 Tuff Tracks: Tuff Gong Compilation Marley Girls Producer
1998 My Son the Fanatic My Son the Fanatic Composer
1998 Music of the World Cup Producer
1998 Living Dangerously Barrington Levy Composer
1998 Hardcore Ragga: The Music Works Dancehall Hits Vocals (Background), Vocal Arrangement, Composer, Lyricist
1998 Earth, Vol. 3 LTJ Bukem Percussion
1997 Ragga Beat: Slammin' on a Ragga Tip! The Eurobeats Composer
1997 Natty Queen Divas Producer, Musician
1997 Little Sound Boy Little Sound Boy Composer, Lyricist
1997 Klash: Kaught Up in Da Mix Composer
1997 Fallen Is Babylon Ziggy Marley / Ziggy Marley & the Melody Makers Harmonic Arrangement
1997 Dub Wicked Michael Rose Engineer
1996 Yard Style Johnny King Keyboards, Bass, Vocal Arrangement
1996 Serious Girl Chevelle Franklin Producer
1996 Nuh Carbon Mykal Rose Bass
1996 Love From a Distance Beres Hammond Producer, Composer
1996 Greensleeves Sampler 13 Composer
1996 Dancehall Queens: What a Bam Bam Producer
1995 Welcome to Jamerica Ipso Facto Producer
1995 Set Me Free Gregory Isaacs Vocals (Background)
1994 Worl-A-Girl Worl-A-Girl Producer
1994 Hey Now (Girls Just Want to Have Fun) Cyndi Lauper Producer
1994 Greatest Hits Shabba Ranks Producer, Arranger
1994 DJ Red Alert's Propmaster Dancehall Show Producer
1993 Vibes of the Time Tony Rebel Producer
1993 Reggae Ambassadors: 20th Anniversary Collection Third World Producer, Synthesizer
1993 MTV Party to Go, Vol. 3 Producer
1993 Call Me Mr. Easy Ian Dyer Producer
1993 Beach of the War Goddess Caron Wheeler Composer
1993 As a Matter of Fox Red Fox Producer, Composer
1992 The Word Hopeton Lindo Producer, Keyboards, Bass, Executive Producer
1992 Rough & Ready, Vol. 1 Shabba Ranks Producer, Arranger
1992 Mr. Maximum Shabba Ranks Producer, Mixing, Vocals (Background), Vocal Arrangement
1992 House Call [CD EP] Shabba Ranks Producer, Composer
1992 Groovin' in the Midnight [CD] Maxi Priest Producer
1992 Fe Real Maxi Priest Producer
1992 Deep Cover Producer
1992 Committed Third World Producer, Synthesizer, Vocals (Background), Composer
1992 Carlene Davis Carlene Davis Producer, Keyboards
1992 Authorized Cocoa Tea Vocals (Background), Vocal Supervision
1992 Another One for the Road Home T Producer
1991 Two Friends: Twin City Spin 2 Producer
1991 Two Friends: Ting and Ting Producer, Composer
1991 The Best of Me Maxi Priest Producer
1991 Over Proof Dennis Brown Producer, Keyboards, Executive Producer, Vocal Arrangement, Composer
1991 Moonlight Dean Fraser Producer
1991 Me Gone Buck Wild: Reggae Dance Hall Killers Producer
1991 As Raw as Ever Shabba Ranks Producer, Arranger, Keyboards
1991 After Hours [VP] Producer, Vocal Arrangement
1989 Greensleeves Sampler 4 Composer
1988 Rappin with the Ladies Shabba Ranks Vocals (Background), Vocal Arrangement
1980 Three Sides to My Story Culture Vocal Supervision
Total Reggae: Summer Vibes Composer
Total Reggae: Greensleeves 40th, 1977-2017 Composer, Producer
The Classic 90s Collection [Sony Music] Producer
Songs for Reggae Lovers, Vol. 3 Producer
Reggae Mandela Producer
Party on: The Only Party Album You'll Ever Need Producer
Massive Hits: Reggae And Ska Composer, Lyricist
Down in Jamaica: 40 Years of VP Records Composer

References

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  1. ^ Moskowitz, David Vlado, "Caribbean Popular Music: An Encyclopaedia of Reggae, Mento, Ska, Rock Steady, and Dancehall", page 28, Greenwood Press, 2006
  2. ^ "The Reggae Story Mikey Bennett", Jamaican Information Service (JIS), aired: 16/2/2019
  3. ^ Walters, Maxine (Ed),"Serious T'ings a Go Happen: Three Decades of Jamaican Dance Hall Signs", Hat & Berd Press, Dec 2016
  4. ^ Thomas, Polly, "The Rough Guide to Jamaica", Rough Guide Ltd, Aug,2010, p330,304
  5. ^ "Music Producer Mikey Bennett Discusses His Career & Accomplishments", Jamaica Information Service (JIS), 20 Feb 2018.
  6. ^ "Mikey Bennett 'Pencils Out' Songwriting Career", The Gleaner newspaper (Jamaica), 10 December 2010
  7. ^ "Appleton Serves The Heart Of Jamaica", The Gleaner newspaper (Jamaica), 7 November 2018.
  8. ^ Gardner, Sade, "All set for JaRIA awards", Jamaica Observer newspaper, 25 February 2017
  9. ^ "5 Questions With Mikey Bennett", The Gleaner newspaper (Jamaica), 21 June 2019
  10. ^ "British High Commission Stages Song Competition", The Gleaner newspaper (Jamaica), 18 January 2019.