Pluto Shervington
Pluto Shervington, also known as Pluto (born Leighton Shervington; 13 August 1950[1] in Kingston, Jamaica), is a reggae musician, singer, engineer and producer.
Pluto Shervington | |
---|---|
Birth name | Leighton Shervington |
Born | 13 August 1950 |
Origin | Kingston, Jamaica |
Genres | Reggae |
Occupation(s) | Singer, musician, engineer, producer |
Instruments | Vocals, bass guitar |
Years active | 1970–present |
Labels | Opal, Trojan Records, KR Records |
Career
Shervington began his career in the early 1970s as a member of the showband Tomorrow's Children.[2] Inspired by the success of Ernie Smith's "Duppy or a Gunman" and Tinga Stewart's "Play de Music", both delivered in heavy patois, he recorded "Ram Goat Liver" in a similar style.[2] The follow-up single, "Dat" – about a Rastafarian trying to buy pork (without naming it aloud), contrary to his faith, so that he can afford marijuana – achieved considerable chart success internationally in 1976, reaching the number 6 spot in the UK Singles Chart.[2] Trojan Records capitalized on this success by reissuing his first single, which peaked just outside the top 40 in the UK.[2][1]
Shervington moved to Miami, Florida, in the early 1980s. He continued to record, and reached the UK top 20 again when "Your Honour" originally recorded in 1975[3] but never previously released, was re-issued in early 1982 together with a new recording "No Honour Among Tiefs" . Shervington often performs live in Miami, and periodically returns to his homeland for performances. As of 2007 he plays solo at Bahama Breeze in Kendall, Florida, and every other Sunday at Black Point Marina in Cutler Bay with a five piece band. Pluto appeared at the St. Kitts Music Festival on Friday 22 June 2007, sharing the bill with Steel Pulse and Sean Paul, among others.[4]
In addition to his work as a singer, Shervington gained a reputation as a talented bass guitarist, and as a recording engineer, notably engineering Little Roy's 1974 album, Tafari Earth Uprising.[5]As of 2018 Shervington was performing solo multiple times a week at the Bahama Breeze restaurant in Miami when not on tour. [6]
Discography
Albums
- Ram Goat – (Wildflower 1974)
- Pluto – (Wildflower 1975)
- Pluto – (Opal 1976) different titles from previous LP
- Greatest Reggae Hits – (Wildflower 197x)
- Ire Mas Rockers Carnival – (Top Ranking 1981)
- Reggae Fever – (Buck Ram records 1982)
- Pluto Again – (KR 1982)
- Best of Pluto Shervington Volume 1 – (K&K)
- Best of Pluto Shervington Volume 2 – (K&K)
- Best of Pluto – (Rhino 1998)
- Pure Gold – (Pluto Vibes 2004)
- Dat: The Best of Pluto Shervington – (Trojan 2004)
- Second Wind – (2009)[7][5]
Singles
- "Dat" – (1976) – UK Number 6
- "Ram Goat Liver" – (1976) – UK Number 43
- "Your Honour" – (1982) – UK Number 19[8]
See also
References
- "Pluto Shervington | Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 28 January 2014.
- Larkin, Colin (1998), The Virgin Encyclopedia of Reggae, Virgin Books, ISBN 0-7535-0242-9
- "KR – UK – Gallery". 45cat.com. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
- "Entertainment". SKNVibes. Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 28 January 2014.
- "Artist : Pluto Shervington". Roots Archives. 1 December 2008. Archived from the original on 6 July 2007. Retrieved 28 January 2014.
- "Live Music - Miami, FL | Bahama Breeze Caribbean Restaurant". www.bahamabreeze.com. Retrieved 18 December 2018.
- "Second Wind – Pluto Shervington | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 28 January 2014.
- Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 496. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.