# Dobby Dobson > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Dobby_Dobson > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Dobby_Dobson.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dobby_Dobson > Source revision: 1335279776 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|Jamaican reggae singer (1942–2020)}} {{Use British English|date=January 2015}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Dobby Dobson | image = | image_size = | caption = | birth_name = Highland Ralph Dobson | birth_date = {{birth date |1942|7|5|df=y}} | birth_place = [Kingston, Jamaica](/source/Kingston%2C_Jamaica) | death_date = {{death date and age|2020|7|21|1942|7|5|df=y}} | death_place = [Coral Springs, Florida](/source/Coral_Springs%2C_Florida), US | genre = [Rocksteady](/source/Rocksteady), [Reggae](/source/Reggae) | occupation = Singer, record producer | instrument = Vocals | years_active = 1970s–2020 | label = [Blue Cat](/source/Blue_Cat_Records_(UK)), [Capo](/source/Capo_Records) | associated_acts = | website = }} '''Highland Ralph Dobson''' [OD](/source/Order_of_Distinction_(Jamaica)) (5 July 1942{{Cite web|url=https://www.clintonlindsay.com/2020/07/21/legendary-singer-dobby-dobson-dies-at-78/|title=LEGENDARY SINGER DOBBY DOBSON, DIES AT 78! ||website=Clintonlindsay.com| date=22 July 2020 |accessdate=23 July 2020}}{{Cite news|url=https://sflcn.com/reggae-singer-dobby-dobson-dies-complications-covid-19/|title=Reggae Singer Dobby Dobson Dies from Complications of COVID-19|date=22 July 2020|newspaper=South Florida Caribbean News|accessdate=23 July 2020}} – 21 July 2020) was a Jamaican [reggae](/source/reggae) singer and record producer, nicknamed "The Loving Pauper" after one of his best known songs.{{cite book |last=Larkin |first=Colin |title=The Virgin Encyclopedia of Reggae |year= 1998 |publisher=Virgin Books |isbn=0-7535-0242-9 }} ==Biography== Dobson began singing while a student at Central Branch School in Kingston and at Kingston College, where he sang in the chapel choir, and successfully took part in [Vere Johns](/source/Vere_Johns) ''Opportunity Hour'' talent contest as a member of The Twilights."[http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/Entertainment/Dobby-Dobson-for-KC-fund-raiser_11988709 Dobby Dobson for KC fund-raiser] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120825193923/http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/entertainment/Dobby-Dobson-for-KC-fund-raiser_11988709 |date=25 August 2012 }}", ''[Jamaica Observer](/source/Jamaica_Observer)'', 20 July 2012. Retrieved 29 July 2012{{cite book |last=Barrow |first=Steve |author2=Dalton, Peter |title=Reggae: The Rough Guide |year=1997 |publisher=Rough Guides |isbn=1-85828-247-0 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/reggaeroughguide00barro }}Black, Roy (2015) "[https://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/entertainment/20150222/roy-black-column Roy Black Column]", ''[Jamaica Gleaner](/source/Jamaica_Gleaner)'', 22 February 2015. Retrieved 22 February 2015 While at Kingston College he wrote the [doo-wop](/source/doo-wop) song "Cry a Little Cry" as a tribute to his biology teacher. He recruited a group of schoolmates from the Delta stream at the college to back him on a recording of the song, under the name the Dobby Dobson and the Deltas;"[https://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/entertainment/20151112/dobsons-mastery-english-language-powered-his-songwriting-skills Dobson’s mastery of English language powered his songwriting skills]", ''[Jamaica Gleaner](/source/Jamaica_Gleaner)'', 12 November 2015. Retrieved 15 November 2015 The group included Howard Barrett (who later formed [The Paragons](/source/The_Paragons)). Released by Lyndon and [Sonia Pottinger](/source/Sonia_Pottinger)'s Tip-Top label in 1959, it topped the RJR charts that year. Leaving school in 1959, Dobson went on record with Charles Josephs as part of the duo Chuck and Dobby, before becoming a solo artist in the early 1960s, again recording for Pottinger. He later moved on to work with both [Coxsone Dodd](/source/Coxsone_Dodd) and [Duke Reid](/source/Duke_Reid), recording as a member of both The Virtues and The Sheiks,{{cite book |last=Thompson |first=Dave |title=Reggae & Caribbean Music |year= 2002 |publisher=Backbeat Books |isbn=0-87930-655-6 }} and recorded "Loving Pauper" with Reid, which became his signature tune. Despite his musical success, Dobson kept his job as a salesman and proof-reader for ''[The Jamaica Gleaner](/source/Gleaner_Company)''. In 1971, he recorded "That Wonderful Sound" for [Rupie Edwards](/source/Rupie_Edwards), which sold over 40,000 copies in the Caribbean, and was followed up by the equally successful "[Endlessly](/source/Endlessly_(Brook_Benton_song))", which was also a minor hit on the [UK Singles Chart](/source/UK_Singles_Chart). Disappointing album sales led Dobson to move into production, including [The Meditations](/source/The_Meditations)' late 1970s albums ''Message From The Meditations'' and ''Wake Up'', as well as early work by [Barrington Levy](/source/Barrington_Levy). In 1979, Dobson emigrated to New York City, where he worked in real estate, although he would still occasionally visit the recording studio, and performed at both the [Reggae Sunsplash](/source/Reggae_Sunsplash) and the [Reggae Sumfest](/source/Reggae_Sumfest) festivals. He continued to be popular with international fans, and was still releasing albums. Dobson was featured in a 2009 [3-D](/source/3D_film) documentary called ''Dobby Dobson: An Interview with Jamaica's Music Ambassador'', which had the tagline: "See The Double-D in 3D". On 6 August 2011, being the 49th anniversary of the country's independence, the [Governor-General of Jamaica](/source/Governor-General_of_Jamaica) conferred the [Order of Distinction](/source/Order_of_Distinction_(Jamaica)) in the rank of Officer (OD) upon Dobson, for his contribution to reggae music and representation of Jamaican culture.{{cite web|url=http://www.dancehall.mobi/2011/08/06/dennis-brown-millie-small-dobby-dobson-get-national-awards/|title=Dennis Brown, Millie Small & Dobby Dobson Get National Awards|website=Dancehall.mobi|accessdate=23 September 2011|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111004142527/http://www.dancehall.mobi/2011/08/06/dennis-brown-millie-small-dobby-dobson-get-national-awards/|archivedate=4 October 2011}} He became a born-again Christian and recorded several gospel albums. ==Death== Dobson, who had Alzheimer's disease, died from [COVID-19](/source/COVID-19) at a hospital in [Coral Springs, Florida](/source/Coral_Springs%2C_Florida), on 21 July 2020, during the [COVID-19 pandemic in Florida](/source/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Florida).{{Cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/31/obituaries/dobby-dobson-dead-coronavirus.html | title=Dobby Dobson, Versatile Jamaican Singer and Songwriter, Dies at 78 | newspaper=The New York Times | date=31 July 2020 | last1=Kurutz | first1=Steven }}{{Cite web|url=http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/lead-stories/20200721/beloved-jamaican-singer-dobby-dobson-dies-78|title=Beloved Jamaican singer Dobby Dobson dies at 78|date=21 July 2020|website=Jamaica-gleaner.com}} ==Albums== *''Wonderful Sound'' (1970), Success *''Strange'' (1970), [Pama](/source/Pama_Records) *''God Bless Our Love'', Straker's *''Baby I'm Yours'' (1977), WIRL/Double-D *''Something Old Something New'' (1977), Double-D *''Sweet Dreams'' (1978), Federal *''Dobby Dobson'' (1978), Gorgon *''Oh God, Are You Satisfied'' (1978), [United Artists](/source/United_Artists) *''Sweet Christmas'' (1978), Top Ranking (featuring Ringo) *''Lovers Roots'' (198?), Success – split with [Rupie Edwards](/source/Rupie_Edwards) *''Nothing But Love Songs Vol.3'' (1980), Pioneer International *''For Lovers Everywhere'' (1983), K&K *''Sweet Dream Again! Volume 2'', Pioneer International *''Love You Thru It All'', Studio One *''History For Lovers'' (1990), Shelly's *''At Last'' (1994), Angella *''If I Only Had Time'' (1997), Angella *''Hide Under The Bed'' (2001), Innerbeat *''Lovers Prayer'' (2005) *''Those Days are Gone'' (2006) *''He Knows My Heart'' (2008), Dobby Dobson *''Tomorrow'' (2007), Dobby Dobson *''Love Songs for Jesus'' (2008), Dobby Dobson *''You Raised Me Up'' *''A Songs For Everyone'' (2011), MVD *''I'm Just a Nobody'' (2012) *''Desperation'' (2012), Dobby Dobson *'' i can't breathe'' (2020), Dobby Dobson *'' T.N.T'' (1942), AC/DC ;Compilations: *''Through The Years'' (1991), [Studio One](/source/Studio_One_(record_label)) *''Best of Dobby Dobson'' (1997), Super Power *''Greatest Hits'' (1997), Sonic Sounds *''The Vintage Series'' (2000), [VP](/source/VP_Records) *''The Best of Dobby Dobson'' (2001), TP ==References== {{Reflist|30em}} ==External links== *{{Official website|https://www.dobbymusic.com/}} *[https://web.archive.org/web/20080424010247/http://www.roots-archives.com/artist/495 Dobby Dobson at Roots Archives] {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Dobson, Dobby}} Category:1942 births Category:2020 deaths Category:Singers from Kingston, Jamaica Category:Jamaican reggae musicians Category:Jamaican record producers Category:Blue Cat Records (UK) artists Category:Capo Records artists Category:Officers of the Order of Distinction Category:Deaths from the COVID-19 pandemic in Florida --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Dobby Dobson](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dobby_Dobson) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dobby_Dobson?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.