But is Chaka Demus and Pliers spread the t'ing worldwide, When we go cross Europe and tour di world, people a wonder where we get that idea from.Ĭhaka: Even Fugees ask where we get this unique sound from. This combination thing, it used to happen in Jamaica with Michigan and Smiley, even people who older than dem. Pliers: Tanto Metro and Devonte carry a good vibes. SG: Is there any other duo you've seen recently that you think could make it? Or remind you of yourselves? Pliers: No, not on major shows, but we have performed separately. SG: Have you guys ever been booked for major shows separately? Mi deh a dance till all 1:00 or 2:00 a.m. Mi mother always a lock mi out fi go a dance, nuff time when mi old man lock mi out my mother let me in. SG: Did you guys always want to do music?Ĭhaka: From mi know myself mi always a sing. But mi nuh really identify dat stuff might be there. Pliers: Every human being have weaknesses, nuh care how yuh strong. SG: Are there, or have there been, any weaknesses? Pliers: Understanding and brotherly love. Is like when we come together we more powerful still. Remember we can perform by ourselves same way we're very versatile. Pliers have a likkle one showhim do it same way. If it was something dat did plan it woulda mash up already.Ĭhaka: We still do we song by wiself, Pliers have him solo song same way, mi have mine same way. SG: Was it your intention to stay together so long?Ĭhaka: Is just Jah. We come back to Jamaica and did a song called Gal Wine.Ĭhaka: That was our first song together, it went to number one in London, spent 33 weeks on the charts. So Chaka Demus suggest we could put it on record also. Di freestyle was di betta part of di show. Me perform before Demus and di end of Chaka Demus performance to end di show him call me on stage and we a do some freestyle. It was a big promoter at the time of the name Purple Mind and Chaka Demus introduce me to him and dem give me a job on the show and mi inna di country and do di show. Pliers: We decide to come together on a date Chaka Demus friend have in Tampa, Florida. That was the first time I really met Chaka Demus face to face, then we just reason. We were going on a small mini tour wid a radio disc jockey in New York. We had a show at the time, me, Chaka Demus, Shabba Ranking, Ninja Man and a lot of artistes. Pliers: We met at the United States Embassy. Just going around deejaying in the dancehall. Pliers: I used to have my own solo career, recording for different producers and singing on sound system and stuff, until I met Chaka Demus in early 1990s.Ĭhaka: Mi deh just a DJ on sound system like King Jammys, GT, Supreme of Love, Roots Majesty. SG: What were you each doing before coming together? again, yuh name is now Chaka Demus and mi love di name. A good friend of mine tell mi seh mi a sound better and better every day, so yuh nuh name Nicodemus Jr. Mi like how him sound so mi name myself Nicodemus Jr. First really I was going under my original name, Everton Bonner.Ĭhaka: Mi rate Nicodemus, yuh know. Is really Black Scorpio and Dignitary Stylish heard di singing one day and seh it sound like Pinchers, so it would be a perfect name for me at the time when Pinchers was hot in the dancehall. Pliers: I got my name from Pinchers, the dancehall singer. Sunday Gleaner: How did you get your name? The Sunday Gleaner talked with Chaka Demus and Pliers about their more fruitful years in dancehall. However, when they combined it was pure magic, Murder She Wrote being one of their songs stamped into Jamaican music history. Pliers, who worked with such producers as King Jammys, Winston Riley, King Tubby, Black Scorpio and Coxsone Dodd, recorded such solo hits as Snake In The Grass and Bam Bam. Demus launched his career on King Jammys sound, delivering singles such as One Scotch as a duet with Admiral Bailey, and Everybody Loves Chaka. With appeal that has crossed international borders, Chaka Demus and Pliers is the first Jamaican act to place three consecutive top five singles in the British charts.īetween June 1993 and January 1995, they notched up a record five consecutive UK Top 20 entries, including Twist & Shout, their number one hit with Jack Radics.īoth Chaka Demus (John Taylor) and Pliers (Everton Bonner) had established successful solo careers prior to combining their efforts. T he paradox of rough-voiced deejaying and sweet, soulful singing is what has made Chaka Demus and Pliers the most successful duo in Jamaican music history. Pliers (right) and Chaka Demus are friends and artistes together.
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