Jah Stone

b. Gladstone Fisher, c.1953, Jamaica, West Indies. After working as a DJ on a variety of sound systems, Fisher recorded as Jah Stone with Bim Sherman. In 1977 Sherman inaugurated his own Scorpio label and due to financial restraints, was forced to employ Jah Stone to deliver two separate chants over the same rhythm track. The association with Sherman led to the dancehall favourites ‘Fat Ting’ and ‘Burning’. His notoriety led to work with producer Alvin ‘GG’ Ranglin, who featured the DJ in combination with Freddie McKay on his remake of ‘Picture On The Wall’ and the solo hit ‘Ten Ton Woman’. He was also employed on the Sonia Pottinger production of ‘Baby Love’ by the reactivated vocal group the Sensations. In 1978 Jah Stone recorded for Doctor Alimantado, the sessions producing the assertive ‘Militant Dread’. In 1979 Jah Stone recorded in session with Winston Jarrett of the Righteous Flames, resulting in the release of ‘War’ and ‘Kaya’, both of which were later featured on The Messiah. Notable album tracks included the admonishing ‘Sergeant Black’, the bizarre ‘Kung Fu Ballet’ and the chauvinistic ‘Irie Lickle Filly’. Sadly, the album signalled his swan song, and in spite of this and his work with a number of Jamaican producers, Jah Stone is usually only recalled as the DJ who recorded with Bim Sherman. The 1997 release of a Freddie McKay compilation featuring Jah Stone demonstrated the latter’s versatility and rekindled interest in the DJ’s work.