E.T. Webster

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E.T. Webster
Birth nameErrol Webster
Bornc.1945
Montego Bay, Jamaica
GenresReggae
Years active1960s–present
LabelsTwinkle, Runn, Mr & Ms

Errol "E.T." Webster (born c. 1945)[1] is a Jamaican reggae singer active since the 1960s, but best known for his roots reggae releases since the 1980s.

Biography[edit]

Born in Montego Bay, Webster began singing in the 1960s and joined Billy Vernon and the Celestials in 1967 after a successful audition.[2] The group toured the North coast hotel circuit in Jamaica and Webster also toured California with the band in 1969, and provided lead vocals on the band's debut album.[1][2][3] In the 1970s he was a member of the New Breed and began a solo career, becoming a popular cabaret artist.[1][2]

Webster's best known work is his material recorded since the mid-1980s including the Jamaican number one single "Can We Meet" and work with producers Norman Grant of the Twinkle Brothers and later Ocho Rios-based Barry O'Hare, which has resulted in several albums, primarily comprising roots reggae.[2][3][4]

Webster suffered a stroke in 2008, which restricted his movement and he now uses a wheelchair.[1] He has continued to record, including the Inner Path album in 2011.[1] He was honoured at the 2011 Reggae Sumfest festival with the 'Reggae Icon' award.[1][5][6]

Discography[edit]

  • Hit A-Boom (1984), Twinkle
  • Music is Life (1987), Sonic Sounds
  • Musical Explosion (1990), Sonic Sounds
  • Twinkle Sample volume 1 (1990), Twinkle – split with Twinkle Brothers
  • Twinkle Sample volume 2 (1990), Twinkle – split with Twinkle Brothers
  • Changes (1990), Twinkle
  • Reflections (1993), Imp
  • Lament of a Dread (1993), Twinkle
  • Mankind (1996), Twinkle
  • Freedom Fighter (1998), Runn
  • Colour You (2002), Mr & Ms
  • Inner Path (2010), Mr & Ms
  • Sings Golden Hits (2011), Mr & Ms

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f "Sumfest Hails ET Webster", Jamaica Gleaner, 28 June 2011. Retrieved 20 October 2012 (aged 66 in 2011)
  2. ^ a b c d Larkin, Colin (1998) The Virgin Encyclopedia of Reggae, Virgin Books, ISBN 0-7535-0242-9, p. 316-7
  3. ^ a b Barrow, Steve & Dalton, Peter (2004) The Rough Guide to Reggae, 3rd edn., Rough Guides, ISBN 1-84353-329-4, p. 369-370
  4. ^ "Sumfest to honour Beres, Isaacs, ET Webster Archived 14 September 2011 at the Wayback Machine", Jamaica Star, 24 June 2011. Retrieved 20 October 2012
  5. ^ Lawson, Joel (2011) "E.T. Webster to be honoured at Sumfest 2011 Archived 2 January 2013 at the Wayback Machine", Western Mirror, 9 July 2011. Retrieved 20 October 2012
  6. ^ Campbell-Livingston, Cecelia (2011) "Outstanding performances bring Reggae Sumfest to a close Archived 23 December 2011 at the Wayback Machine", Jamaica Observer, 25 July 2011. Retrieved 20 October 2012