# Dean Fraser > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Dean_Fraser > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Dean_Fraser.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dean_Fraser > Source revision: 1329334884 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) **Dean Ivanhoe Fraser** (sometimes appearing as **Dean Frazer**; born 4 August 1957)[1] is a [Jamaican](/source/Jamaica) [saxophonist](/source/Saxophone) who has contributed to thousands of [reggae](/source/Reggae) recordings since the mid-1970s. He was awarded the [Musgrave Medal](/source/Musgrave_Medal) by the Jamaican government in 1993 in recognition of his services to music.[2] ## Biography Born in [Kingston, Jamaica](/source/Kingston,_Jamaica), Fraser started to play the [clarinet](/source/Clarinet) at the age of 12. Around this time he met Ronald "Nambo" Robinson and Junior "Chico" Chin at a youth club in [Jones Town](/source/Kingston,_Jamaica) and the three boys would eventually form a brass section.[2] Fraser took up saxophone at the age of 15.[1] The trio became the foremost horn section in Jamaica in the 1980s. In 1977 he joined [Lloyd Parks](/source/Lloyd_Parks)' We The People Band, backing [Dennis Brown](/source/Dennis_Brown) on several of his recordings for [Joe Gibbs](/source/Joe_Gibbs_(record_producer)).[2] Fraser's first album, 1978's *Black Horn Man*, was produced by Gibbs. This was followed in 1979 by *Pure Horns* and *Double Dynamite*, and in 1980 by *Revolutionary Sounds* for producer [Donovan Germain](/source/Donovan_Germain). Fraser provided horns for [Sly & Robbie](/source/Sly_%26_Robbie) in the 1980s, both on record and on tour.[2] Fraser appeared at the 1981 [Reggae Sunsplash](/source/Reggae_Sunsplash), performing an instrumental version of the recently deceased [Bob Marley](/source/Bob_Marley)'s "[Redemption Song](/source/Redemption_Song)", which led to the 1984 album *Pumping Air* on [Island Records](/source/Island_Records)' Mango label.[2] Fraser went on to record two albums of Marley covers, *Dean Plays Bob* and *Dean Plays Bob volume II*.[1] Dean Fraser married Sophia Wright on 21 March 1993 in [Clarendon, Jamaica](/source/Clarendon,_Jamaica). They share one daughter. The digital era of reggae, defined by the use of computers and drum machines to create the backing track, did not affect his output since acoustic instruments such as the saxophone were still in demand. Fraser has released several more albums since and he is recognized as one of Jamaica's top musicians. He toured extensively with [Luciano](/source/Luciano_(singer)) from the late 1990s to the mid-2000s,[3] as well as performing on and adding production to several of the singer's albums, including *[A New Day](/source/A_New_Day_(Luciano_album))*, *[Serious Times](/source/Serious_Times_(Luciano_album))* and *Jah Is My Navigator*.[4][5] More recently, Fraser has been recording, producing and touring with singers [Tarrus Riley](/source/Tarrus_Riley) and [Duane Stephenson](/source/Duane_Stephenson).[6][7] Also, Fraser has redone 16 tracks on CD 2 of *We Remember Gregory Isaacs*, which was recorded in 2011 on VP Records. ## Discography **Solo albums** - *Sings and Blows* (1988), [Greensleeves](/source/Greensleeves_Records)[8] **Collaborative albums** - *Two Colors - Dean Fraser and Ernie Ranglin* (2022), [VP](/source/VP_Records) / Tad's[9] **Albums produced by Dean Fraser** - *We Remember Bob Andy* (2023), VP[10] **Participated albums** - *[Never Ending](/source/Never_Ending_(album))* by [Beres Hammond](/source/Beres_Hammond) (2018), VP - horn[11] - *[Throw Down Your Arms](/source/Throw_Down_Your_Arms)* by [Sinead O'Connor](/source/Sinead_O'Connor) (2005), VP - saxophone[12] ## References 1. [ Allmusic.com biography by Sandra Brennan] 1. Larkin, Colin: *The Virgin Encyclopedia of Reggae*, Virgin Books, 1998. ISBN 0-7535-0242-9. 1. Van Pelt, Carter. [Luciano Interviewed by Carter Van Pelt](http://incolor.inetnebr.com/cvanpelt/lucianoint.html). inetnebr.com. 28 February 1999. Retrieved 2011-3-23. 1. [CD Reviews - Luciano](http://caribplanet.homestead.com/CDReviews_Luciano.html). CaribPlanet. Retrieved 2011-3-23. 1. Taylor, Angus. [Luciano *United States of Africa* Review](https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/cp8r). *BBC Music*. 2010-07-09. Retrieved 2011-3-23. 1. Taylor, Angus. [Interviews - Tarrus Riley](http://www.reggaenews.co.uk/interviews/tarrus_riley.asp) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20110927122818/http://www.reggaenews.co.uk/interviews/tarrus_riley.asp) 27 September 2011 at the Wayback Machine. *Reggae News*. Retrieved 2011-3-23. 1. [Duane Stephenson](http://www.ideasjamaica.com/artist/duane-stephenson-jamaica) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20120321182613/http://www.ideasjamaica.com/artist/duane-stephenson-jamaica) 21 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Imagine Dat Entertainment Services. 2009. Retrieved 2011-3-23. 1. ["Sings and Blows - Dean Fraser"](https://www.allmusic.com/album/sings-and-blows-mw0000200571). AllMusic. 1. ["Two Colors - Dean Fraser / Ernie Ranglin"](https://www.allmusic.com/album/two-colors-mw0003702526). AllMusic. 1. ["We Remember Bob Andy - Various Artists"](https://www.allmusic.com/album/we-remember-bob-andy-mw0003877826). AllMusic. 1. ["Beres Hammond - Never Ending"](https://www.allmusic.com/album/never-ending-mw0003204011/credits). AllMusic. 1. ["Throw Down Your Arms - Sinéad O'Connor | Album"](https://www.allmusic.com/album/throw-down-your-arms-mw0000350493#credits). AllMusic. ## External links - [Dean Fraser at Roots Archives](https://web.archive.org/web/20071027145828/http://roots-archives.com/artist/297) - [Dean Fraser album discography](http://reggaediscographies.free.fr/DeanFraser.htm) --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Dean Fraser](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dean_Fraser) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dean_Fraser?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.