# Pablo Gad > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Pablo_Gad > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Pablo_Gad.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pablo_Gad > Source revision: 1356697038 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) **Pablo Gad** is a [British Jamaican](/source/British_Jamaican) [Conscious](/source/Conscious) [Roots reggae](/source/Roots_reggae) singer and songwriter. He is considered one of the UK's most [militant](/source/Militant) and outspoken vocalists in roots reggae music.[1][2] ## Biography Pablo Gad was born in [Jamaica](/source/Jamaica) and came to live in the [United Kingdom](/source/United_Kingdom) in 1974.[3] With a voice reminiscent of singer [Fred Locks](/source/Fred_Locks), Gad began recording in the late 1970s. His first singles were "International Dread" and "[Kunta Kinte](/source/Kunta_Kinte)" on the Caribbean label in 1977. In 1978 Gad emerged with "Bloodsuckers" on the Burning Sounds label.[4] Further singles included "Natty Loving", "Trafalgar Square", "Throw Your Dreams" and "Riddle I Dis". His first album *Trafalgar Square* was released in 1979 riding on the "Bloodsuckers" hit. The album was composed, produced and arranged by Pablo himself.[5] 1980 was a prolific year for Pablo, releasing a string of hits such as the [discomix](/source/Discomix) "Gun Fever", "Nursery Rhyme", "Oh Jah", "Fly Away Home" and "Hard Time", all of which were enthusiastically received by the devoted followers of [Lloyd Coxsone](/source/Lloyd_Coxsone) and [Jah Shaka](/source/Jah_Shaka) sounds.[4] The *Hard Times* album that featured some of these hits was released in 1980 on the FORM label. The single "Hard Time" was inspired by a visit back "home" to Jamaica where Gad noticed that there was a different type of suffering experienced. He had noticed that life in the UK was not as bad as it seemed as people "got their Giro every week".[3] Gad toured regularly with [Black Slate](/source/Black_Slate) as the main backing band. The band's Ras Elroy played bass on "Hard Time" with Keith and Tony Douglas on harmonies and [Gooseberry Sound Studios](/source/Gooseberry_Sound_Studios)' Mark Lusardi, renowned for his groundbreaking work with Creation Rebel and [Prince Far I](/source/Prince_Far_I), as [sound engineer](/source/Sound_engineer).[3] The records helped him win two gold discs for best album and best male vocalist in the *[Black Echoes](/source/Echoes_(magazine))* magazine readers poll in 1980.[3] Gad continued to record songs through the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s and he is still recording currently. The *Best of Pablo Gad* compilation album on the Reggae On Top label in 1993 featured his early singles. He recorded with Conscious Sounds label with [The Bush Chemists](/source/The_Bush_Chemists). ## Sampled In 1990s some of Pablo Gad's tunes were sampled by [Breakbeat hardcore](/source/Breakbeat_hardcore) artists. "Hard Time" has been sampled by [The Prodigy](/source/The_Prodigy), on their ["Fire"](/source/Fire/Jericho) single[6] and also Nu Matic on their "Hard Times" single.[7] ## Discography ### Albums - 1979: *Trafalgar Square* aka *Blood Suckers* (Burning Sounds/Celluloid) - 1980: *Hard Times* (FORM) - 1983: *Bloodsuckers* (Sound Products Holland) - 1993: *[Epistles](/source/Epistles) of Dub - Chapter One* (Reggae On Top) - 1993: *Life Without Death* (Reggae On Top) - 2003: *Don't Push Jah* (Reggae On Top) - 2012: *Armageddon Dawn “Raw”* At King Earthquake Studio (Reggae On Top) - 2012: *Armageddon Dawn “Refined”* At Conscious Sounds Studio (Reggae On Top)[8] ## References 1. [\[1\]](http://www.easternblocrecords.com/index.php/pablo-gad-trafalger-square-lp.htm) [dead link] 1. ["Reggaediscography: PABLO GAD - DISCOGRAPHY: (Reggae Singer)"](https://reggaediscography.blogspot.com/2012/05/pablo-gad-discography-reggae-singer.html). 19 May 2012. Retrieved 11 October 2025. 1. ["Don't Call Us Immigrants" Pressure Sounds](http://www.savagejaw.co.uk/pressuresounds/pscd28.htm) *Savagejaw.co.uk* 1. [Pablo Gad Biography](http://www.allmusic.com/artist/pablo-gad-mn0001176142), *[AllMusic](/source/AllMusic)* 1. Pablo Gad Trafalgar Square sleeve notes (2015 re-issue) - Michael de Koningh 1. [Prodigy sampled Pablo Gad](http://www.whosampled.com/sample/787/The-Prodigy-Fire-Pablo-Gad-Hard-Times/) *Whosampled.com* 1. [Nu-Matic's Hard Times sampled Pablo Gad](http://www.whosampled.com/sample/3878/Nu-Matic-Hard-Times-Pablo-Gad-Hard-Times/) *Whosampled.com* 1. ["Pablo Gad"](https://www.discogs.com/artist/154092-Pablo-Gad). *Discogs.com*. Retrieved 11 October 2025. --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Pablo Gad](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pablo_Gad) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pablo_Gad?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.