{{short description|Jamaican reggae singer-songwriter|bot=PearBOT 5}} {{for|the Australian rules footballers|Eric Donaldson (footballer, born 1899)|Eric Donaldson (footballer, born 1898)}} {{Use British English|date=January 2015}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}} {{Infobox musical artist | image = | name = Eric Donaldson | caption = | image_size = | background = solo_singer | birth_name = | alias = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=y|1947|06|11}} | birth_place = Bog Walk, Jamaica | death_date = | origin = Saint Catherine, Jamaica | instrument = Vocalist and songwriter | genre = Reggae | occupation = | years_active = 1964–present | label = | associated_acts = The West Indians | website = }}
'''Eric Donaldson''' (born 11 June 1947 in Bog Walk, Jamaica) is a Jamaican reggae singer-songwriter.<ref name="LarkinReggae">{{cite book|title=The Guinness Who's Who of Reggae|editor=Colin Larkin|publisher=Guinness Publishing|date=1994|edition=First|isbn=0-85112-734-7|pages=76/7}}</ref> He originated in Saint Catherine, Jamaica.
==Biography== Born in Kent Village, about two miles from Bog Walk, Donaldson first recorded for Studio One in 1964, although producer Clement Dodd declined to release the material.<ref name="Prato">Prato, Greg "[http://www.allmusic.com/artist/eric-donaldson-mn0000800332/biography Eric Donaldson Biography]", Allmusic. Retrieved 6 August 2014</ref><ref name="Alleyne">Alleyne, Mike (2012) ''The Encyclopedia of Reggae'', Sterling, {{ISBN|978-1-4027-8583-2}}, p. 70</ref> In the mid-1960s he formed The West Indians with Leslie Burke and Hector Brooks, and they had a hit with the J.J. Johnson-produced "Right On Time" in 1968, going on to record with Lee "Scratch" Perry and subsequently changing their name to the Kilowatts, but without further success.<ref name="Prato" /><ref name="Alleyne" />
Donaldson then pursued a solo career, and submitted "Cherry Oh Baby" to the 1971 Jamaican Festival Song Competition, going on to win the competition and giving him a big Jamaican hit single.<ref name="Prato" /> Donaldson has won the competition six times, in 1971, 1977, 1978, 1984, 1993 and 1997.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jcdc.org.jm/PopularSong/winners.htm |title=The Festival Song Winners 1966 – 2005 |accessdate=10 February 2008 |publisher=The Jamaican Cultural Development Commission |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071015015034/http://www.jcdc.org.jm/PopularSong/winners.htm |archive-date=15 October 2007 }}</ref> "Cherry Oh Baby" has been covered by both The Rolling Stones (on their 1976 album, ''Black and Blue'') and UB40 (on their 1983 album, ''Labour of Love'').<ref name="Prato" /> The riddim has remained extremely popular – over 30 cover versions have been recorded, including an update by Donaldson himself.<ref name="LarkinReggae"/> Two of his festival winners ("Sweet Jamaica" (1977) and "Land of My Birth" (1978)) were written by Winston Wallace.<ref>Campbell, Howard (2014) "[http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/entertainment/Winston-Wallace-s-Land-of-My-Birth_17306694 Winston Wallace's Land of My Birth]", ''Jamaica Observer'', 6 August 2014. Retrieved 6 August 2014</ref> In an online poll held in 2013 by the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission, "Land of My Birth" was voted the most popular winner in the contest's history.<ref>"[http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/ERIC-DONALDSON-tops-festival-poll_14825277 Eric Donaldson tops festival poll] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140810070959/http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/ERIC-DONALDSON-tops-festival-poll_14825277 |date=10 August 2014 }}", ''Jamaica Observer'', 5 August 2013. Retrieved 6 August 2014</ref>
Donaldson currently lives in Kent Village, Jamaica.<ref name="Prato" />
==Discography== ===Albums=== *''Eric Donaldson'' (1971), Jaguar – reissued with bonus tracks as ''Love of the Common People'' *''Keep on Riding'' (1976), Dynamic Sounds *''Kent Village'' (1978), Dynamic Sounds *''Juan De Bolas'' (1980), Dynamic Sounds – also released as ''Stand Up'' *''Rock Me Gentle'' (1981), Serengeti *''Come Away'' (1982), Dynamic Sounds
* ‘Traffic Jam’ (1983)
*''Right On Time'' (1985), Dynamic Sounds *''Rocky Road'' (1986), Capitol Records and EMI Nigeria. *''The System'' (1985), WEA – reissued as ''Children of Jah'' *''Crazy You Crazy Me'' (1988) *''Trouble in Afrika'' (1991) *''Blackman Victory'' (1993) – reissued with bonus tracks as ''Beautiful Day'' *''Peace and Love'' (1998), Joe Gibbs – reissued as ''Young and Reckless'' *''In Action'' (2000), Roots & Culture – with Sil Bell & Keith Coley *''Mr. Pirate'' (2004), Ice – reissued as ''100% of Love''
===Compilation albums=== *''Cherry Oh Baby'' (1997), Trojan *''The Very Best of Eric Donaldson'' (1992), Rhino *''Very Best of Eric Donaldson'' (1998), Musicrama *''Oh What a Feeling'' (1998), Rhino *''Beautiful Day'' (1999) *''Freedom Street'' (1999), Rhino *''Super Medley Hits'' (2000), T.P. *''Greetings'' (2001), Rhino *''The Very Best of Eric Donaldson Vol.1'' (2002), Rhino *''Anthology'' (2003), Creole *''Cherry Oh Baby'' (2003), Smith & Co *''Eric Donaldson Sings 20 Jamaica Classics'' (2004) *''Cherry Oh Baby (The Best Of)'' (2006), Trojan
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[https://www.reggae-vibes.com/articles/interview/2017/07/eric-donaldson-interview-east-london/ interview with Eric Donaldson] {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Donaldson, Eric}} Category:Jamaican reggae musicians Category:1947 births Category:Living people Category:Musicians from Saint Catherine Parish Category:Rochester Institute of Technology alumni Category:Trojan Records artists