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Sky High the Mau Mau
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Sky High the Mau Mau
Early life and sound system roots Sky High the Mau Mau with Ziggy Marley in Chicago 1986 | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Hartnel L. Henry |
| Born | July 23, 1953 Clarendon, Jamaica |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1974–present |
| Website | skyhighmau |
Hartnel "Sky High the Mau Mau" Henry (born July 12, 1954) is a Jamaican record producer, founder of Sky High Records, and pivotal figure in the development of roots reggae and dub music. Known for his militant production style and work with the Marley family, Henry has produced over 100 albums and managed tours for Burning Spear, Ziggy Marley, Julian Marley, and Damian Marley. His moniker's inclusion of "Mau Mau" reflects his Pan-Africanist themes and raw sonic aesthetic, drawing parallels to Kenya's anti-colonial movement.[1]
Early life and sound system roots
[edit]Born in rural Clarendon, Henry migrated to Kingston in 1967, where he apprenticed under sound system legends Duke Reid and Coxsone Dodd. By age 16, he was a selector (DJ)|selector for Sir Percy's sound system, honing his ear for rhythm and crowd dynamics. In his memoir, he recounts:
"Sound systems were our CNN. We played records, but we also spread news and revolutionary ideas under the radar."[1]
Sky High Records and production innovations
[edit]Founded in 1974, Sky High Records became synonymous with uncompromising roots reggae. Henry's productions stood out for:
Signature techniques
[edit]- Nyabinghi fusion: Incorporating Rastafari drumming into dub, as heard on Sky High in Dubland (1995). Engineer Scientist noted:
"Sky High pushed us to record drums outdoors for that live, rebel sound. No one else did that."[2]
- Militant lyricism: Collaborations with Big Youth ("Rock Holy," 1976) and Ninja Ford ("Jah Love," 1978) addressed neo-colonialism and Black empowerment. Music historian Roger Steffens wrote:
"His productions were the musical wing of Jamaica's Black Power movement."[3]
Key albums and artists
[edit]- Blackout (1994): Featuring dancehall pioneer Blackout, this album blended digital rhythms with live instrumentation, presaging the "ragga" era. The Beat magazine called it
"A missing link between roots and dancehall."[4]
- In the Beginning (1994): Launching Luciano's career, this album included the hit "Chant Out Babylon." Luciano later reflected:
"Sky High taught me to sing from the soul, not for the charts."[5]
Tour management and the Marley legacy
[edit]After Bob Marley's death in 1981, Henry became the Marley family's trusted road strategist:
- 1983 Africa Tour: Orchestrated logistics for the historic "Zimbabwe Independence Celebration" with The Wailers. Rita Marley stated:
"He kept Bob's spirit alive on that tour. The crowds felt it."[6]
- Grammy-winning tours: Managed Julian Marley's Awake (2009) and Damian Marley's Welcome to Jamrock (2005–2007), praised by Rolling Stone for
"Flawless production that honored reggae's roots while pushing boundaries."[7]
Archival work and publications
[edit]- Digitization project: Partnered with the Jamaica Music Museum to preserve 500+ hours of unreleased sessions (1974–2000). Director Herbie Miller noted:
"This is the most comprehensive private reggae archive we've acquired."[8]
- Books: Authored Life Is a Journey (2023) and its visual companion, the photo book Life Journey with over 1000 of his personal photographs, was hailed by The Gleaner as
"An indispensable reggae historical document."[9]
Legacy and influence
[edit]Sky High's impact spans generations:
- Sound system culture: Inspired David Rodigan's dub selections, per his BBC Radio 1 documentary (2021).[10]
- Modern reggae: Producers like Stephen "Di Genius" McGregor cite his work as foundational.[11]
Discography
[edit](Selected)
- 1976: Rock Holy – Big Youth
- 1978: Jah Love – Ninja Ford
- 1983: African Woman – Shorty the President
- 1994: Blackout – Blackout
- 1994: In the Beginning – Luciano
- 1995: Lion Jungle (compilation)
- 1995: Sky High in Dubland (dub album)
Full discography: Discogs entry
References
[edit]- ^ a b Henry, Hartnel (2023). Life Is a Journey: From Clarendon to the World Stage. BookBaby. p. 47. ISBN 9798888661202.
- ^ Shields, Kevin (November 2018). "Classic Track: Sky High's 'Jah Light'". Echoes.
- ^ Steffens, Roger (2017). So Much Things to Say: The Oral History of Bob Marley. W.W. Norton. p. 213. ISBN 9780393241025.
- ^ Katz, David (1994). "Blackout: The Sky High Sessions". The Beat. 13 (4): 32. ISSN 0749-158X.
- ^ "Luciano: The Journey" (Documentary). VP Records. 2019.
- ^ Johnson, Richard (April 18, 2020). "Rita Marley Reflects on Zimbabwe 1983". Jamaica Observer. p. 12.
- ^ Hermes, Will (September 8, 2005). "Damian Marley's Sonic Rebellion". Rolling Stone.
- ^ "Jamaica Music Museum Acquires Sky High Collection" (Press release). Ministry of Culture, Jamaica. March 15, 2022.
- ^ Walters, Basil (June 4, 2023). "Book Review: Life Is a Journey". The Gleaner. p. 23.
- ^ "Rodigan's Reggae Revolution". BBC Radio 1Xtra. August 12, 2021.
- ^ McGregor, Stephen (July 18, 2022). "Di Genius' 10 Essential Reggae Albums". Complex.
External links
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