Tony Tuff

Dancehall veteran singer Tony Tuff was born Winston Morris in 1955 in Kingston, Jamaica. He started his career singing in the vocal group the <a href="http://www.bigupradio.com/artistDetail.jsp?aid=436">African Brothers</a> alongside <a href="http://www.bigupradio.com/artistDetail.jsp?aid=24">Sugar Minott</a> and Derrick 'Bubbles' Howard. The group enjoyed a number of hits in the mid-70s, notably 'Party Night', and also recorded a number of bonafide classic roots anthems such as "Righteous Kingdom" and "Lead Us Heavenly Father". Most of these tracks are collected on a compilation album on <a href="http://www.bigupradio.com/labelDetail.jsp?lid=793">Easy Star</a> Records. 
In 1978 the African Brothers broke up and Sugar Minott went to <a href="http://www.bigupradio.com/labelDetail.jsp?lid=75">Studio One</a> to begin his well-documented solo career. Tony became the lead singer for the Soul Syndicate band as well as embarking on his own solo venture. His first release "I'm So Glad", a self-production, was a reasonable success and gave him the confidence to continue. His first solo album was produced by Sugar Minott in 1980 and was titled "Presenting Tony Tuff". 
Tony also recorded a number of killer roots side such as "Rumours Of War" and "One Big Family", the latter for <a href="http://www.bigupradio.com/artistDetail.jsp?aid=424">Yabby You</a>, and both of these were large hits on the UK reggae scene. Yabby You also produced the album "Tony Tuff" that was released on the Grove label in the UK. 
In the early 80s Tony Tuff became part of the famous Volcano sound system owned by Henry "Junjo" Lawes, who was at that time the leading dancehall producer in Jamaica. He performed alongside <a href="http://www.bigupradio.com/artistDetail.jsp?aid=9">Barrington Levy</a>, <a href="http://www.bigupradio.com/artistDetail.jsp?aid=149">Little John</a>, Toyan, <a href="http://www.bigupradio.com/artistDetail.jsp?aid=634">Josey Wales</a>, Lee Van Cleef, <a href="artistDetail.jsp?aid=425">Yellowman </a> and others, and became a household reggae name. The story of Volcano in this period is contained in the book "Reggae Inna Dancehall Style". Tony adapted well to the new dancehall style and scored with two massive hits "Come Fe Mash It" and "Water Pumpee", both produced by Junjo. These were followed by many other reggae hits such as "Mix Me Down", "You'll Never Find", "Sweet Reggae Music" and many more. 
When the music changed dramatically in the mid 80s in Jamaica, Tony recorded less often than before but maintained his status as a dancehall veteran by recording the occasional side and touring the reggae world. He had a big hit for Germain with "I've Got To Get You" in 1991, and also cut two classic singles for Studio One in the mid 90s - "Cool It" over the Satta rhythm and the sublime "Love Light Shining" that has become one of the greatest Studio One sides ever. 
<a href="http://www.bigupradio.com/artistDetail.jsp?aid=236">Rootsman</a> met Tony Tuff in Jamaica in 1999 but they were not to meet again until August 2002 when Tony visited the <a href="http://www.bigupradio.com/labelDetail.jsp?lid=56">Third Eye Studio</a> to voice some dubplates. A second visit followed a few weeks later in September 2002 when Tony voiced a crucial new track called "I Don't Know", produced by Rootsman.

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