DWIGHT PINKNEY also known as Brother Dee, was born in Manchester Parish, Jamaica in 1945. He is a Jamaican guitarist best known for his work as a session musician and as a member of Zap Pow and the Roots Radics, who since 1999 has recorded as a solo artist.
In the mid-1960s he joined The Sharks as guitarist, the band recording for Studio One and backing The Wailers on their 1965 Jamaican hit single "Put It On", also providing backing for recordings by Ken Boothe and The Gaylads.
1967 Pinkney wrote one of his most successful songs, while a member of The Sharks, is "How Could I Live", which was originally released as the b-side of Jeff Dixon and Marcia Griffiths' "Words" single, and has since been recorded by artists including Myrna Hague, The Heptones, Richie Stephens, George Nooks, and Dennis Brown (as "How Could I Leave").
1969 Pinkney moved on to work with Zap Pow, a band with members including Beres Hammond, David Madden, and Glen DaCosta. Zap Pow recorded two albums and their best-known song, "This is Reggae Music", was co-written by Pinkney.
In the mid-1970s, Pinkney put his recording career on hold to attend the Jamaican School of Music, undertaking a course in Afro-American music, and studying arranging, and later taking on a teaching role.
1979 Pinkney's arrangement of The Astronauts' Festival Song Competition-winning "Born Jamaican" won him a Guinness Jamaica award, and he returned once again to recording.
In the early 1980s he joined the Roots Radics, replacing Sowell Radics, and he also worked on a number of albums for the following artists: Barry Brown, Bunny Wailer, Culture, Frankie Paul, The Itals, Yellowman, and Gregory Isaacs.
1999 he reelased his debut solo album, the award winning Jamaican Memories by the Score, which includes an updated version of "How Could I Live".
2000, he formed a new band, the Distinguished Personalities Band (aka the DP Band) along with Keith Francis and Earl Fitzsimmons.
Albums that followed were in 2000 and 2002.
2004 he contributed to the album Is it Rolling Bob? A Reggae Tribute to Bob Dylan.
2008 Pinkney released an album of instrumental versions of Bob Marley songs, Dwight Pinkney Picks Marley Melodies.
Pinkney has also appeared in the films Smile Orange, Land of Look Behind, and Holyland.
SOLO DISCOGRAPHY
▪ Jamaican Memories by the Score (1999) RAS/TP
▪ All Occasions (2000)
▪ More Jamaican Memories (2002) VP
▪ Home Grown Jamaican (2005)
▪ Reggae Chronicles (2006) Hallmark
▪ Love & Peace (2007)
▪ Dwight Pinkney Picks Marley Melodies (2008) VP
AWARDS
▪ Guinness Jamaica Award for "Born Jamaican" (as arranger), 1979
▪ Jamaica Federation of Musicians Union (JFMU) Award for Jamaican Memories by the score
▪ Reggae-Soca Music Award for Jamaican Memories by the Score
▪ Canadian Pippers Award, 2002
▪ International Reggae and World Music Award (IRAWMA) of Honour for contribution the development of Jamaican music, 2008.
PRODUCTIONS
Zap Pow - Zap Pow [1973-78]
APPEARS ON
• Beres Hammond & Friends
AS A MUSICIAN
GUITAR
African Brothers - Want Some Freedom [1970-78]
African Brothers & King Tubby - The African Brothers Meets King Tubby In Dub [197X]
Barry Brown & Little John - Showdown Vol 1 [1983]
Beres Hammond - Beres Hammond [1985]
Beres Hammond - Let's Make A Song [1981]
Bunny Wailer - Crucial Roots Classics [1978-82]
Bunny Wailer - Live ! [1983]
Bunny Wailer - Rock'n'Groove [1981]
Bunny Wailer - Tribute [1981]
Culture - Culture In Culture [1986]
Delroy Wilson - Worth Your Weight In Gold [1984]
Dennis Brown & Gregory Isaacs - Judge Not [1984]
Don Carlos & Gold - Them Never Know Natty Dread Have Him Credential [1982]
Don Carlos & Gold & Gladiators - Showdown Vol 3 [1984]
Earl Sixteen - Songs For A Reason [1983]
Frankie Paul - Strange Feeling [1983]
Freddie McGregor - Rhythm So Nice [1983]
Itals - Cool And Dread [1982-83]
Jah Thomas - Dance Hall Connection [1982]
John Holt - Vibes [1985]
Johnny Osbourne - Dancing Time [1984]
Johnny Osbourne - Rock Me Rock Me [1985]
Johnny Osbourne Meets Roots Radics - 1980-1981 Vintage [1980-81]
Junior Byles - Rasta No Pickpocket [1986]
Junior Reid - Original Foreign Mind [1985]
Junior Reid & Don Carlos - Firehouse Clash [1986]
Kiddus I - Graduation In Zion [1978-80]
Knowledge - Rasta Don't Take Bribe [1978X]
Lone Ranger - Rosemarie [1981]
Lone Ranger - Rosemarie Meet DJ Daddy [1981-82]
Michigan & Smiley - Step By Step [1982]
Peter Chemist - Dub Mixture [1984]
Peter Chemist - Dub Prescription [1984]
Ring Craft Posse - St. Catherine In Dub [1972-84]
Ringo - Pancoot [1982]
Robert Ffrench - The Favourite [1985]
Roots Radics - Radicfaction [1982]
Scientist - Crucial Cuts Vol 2 [1984]
Scientist vs Professor - Dub Duel At King Tubby's [1983]
Sugar Minott - With Lots Of Extra [1983]
Sugar Minott & Frankie Paul - Showdown Vol 2 [1983]
Super Cat - Boops ! [1986]
Techniques - I'll Never Fall In Love [1983]
Techniques - Techniques In Dub [197X]
Triston Palmer - Joker Smoker [1982]
Triston Palmer & Toyan - Nice Time [1982]
Tyrone Evans - Don Evans [1983]
U Roy - Line Up And Come [1987]
Various Artists - One-A-Way Style [198X]
Welton Irie - Reprobate [197X]
Winston Jarrett - Wise Man [1979]
Yellowman - Jack Sprat [1982]
Yellowman & Fathead - One Yellowman [1982]
Yellowman & Fathead & Purpleman - Showdown Vol 5 [1984]
Zap Pow - Love Hits [197X]
Zap Pow - Now [1976]
Zap Pow - Revolutionary Zap Pow [1971]
Zap Pow - Zap Pow [1973-78]
VOCALS
Zap Pow - Love Hits [197X]
Zap Pow - Revolutionary Zap Pow [1971]
Zap Pow - Zap Pow [1973-78]
BASS
Sugar Minott - Herbman Hustling [1984]
BACKING VOCALS
Zap Pow - Zap Pow [1973-78]
LEAD GUITAR
Al Campbell - The Other Side Of Love [1981]
Barrington Levy - Open Book [1982-84]
Bim Sherman - The Need to Live [1981-95]
Bingy Bunny - Me And Jane [1982]
Clint Eastwood & General Saint - Two Bad D.J. [1981]
Colour Man - Kick Up Rumpus [1986]
Danny Dread I - Hit Me With Music [1983]
Dillinger - Join The Queue [1983]
Don Carlos - Just A Passing Glance [1984]
Early B - Ghost Busters [1985]
Edi Fitzroy - Check For You Once [1982]
Edi Fitzroy - First Class Citizen [1982]
Edi Fitzroy - Youthman Penitentiary [1982]
General Trees - Everything SoSo [1985]
General Trees - Negril [1986]
Gregory Isaacs - All I Have Is Love, Love, Love [1986]
Gregory Isaacs - Night Nurse [1982]
Horace Martin - Watermelon Man [1985]
I Roy - The Classic I Roy [1986]
Jah Thomas & Roots Radics - Prophecy Of Dub [1980-82]
Jimmy Reid - Are You Ready [1985]
Johnny Osbourne - Reality [1984]
Josie Wales - Ruling [1986]
Leroy Sibbles - Selections [1985]
Leroy Smart - She Just A Draw Card [1982]
Little John - Ghetto Youth [1983]
Mighty Diamonds - Backstage [1983]
New Age Steppers - Foundation Steppers [1982]
Nicodemus - Mr. Fabulous [1986]
Nicodemus - The Very Best Of Nicodemus [1983]
Pablo Moses - Tension [1985]
Paula Clarke - It's All Over [1986]
Peter Metro & Friends - Dedicated To You [1984]
Phillip Frazer & Triston Palma - The Big Showdown [1984]
Ranking Toyan - Ghetto Man Skank [1983]
Red Rose & King Kong - Two Big Bull In A One Pen [1986]
Robert French - Mr French Showcase [198X]
Scientist - The People's Choice [198X]
Scientist Meets Roots Radics - Scientist Meets The Roots Radics [1981]
Shelly Thunder - Small Horse Woman [1986]
Tetrack - Trouble [1983]
Triston Palmer - Show Case [1982]
Triston Palmer - Touch Me, Take Me [1982]
Twinkle Brothers - Dub Massacre Part 1 & 2 [1983-87]
Twinkle Brothers - Enter Zion [1984]
U Brown - Jam It Tonight [1983]
Viceroys - Brethren And Sistren [1983]
Viceroys - Chancery Lane [1984]
Wailing Souls - Stranded [1984]
RHYTHM GUITAR
Early B - Ghost Busters [1985]
Early B & Malibu - My Friends Circle Jamaica [198X]
Freddie McGregor - Come On Over [1983]
General Trees - Ghost Rider [1985]
George Faith - Sings For Lovers Only [1987]
Gregory Isaacs - All I Have Is Love, Love, Love [1986]
J.C. Lodge - Revealed [1984]
Jimmy Reid - Are You Ready [1985]
Leroy Sibbles - On Top [1982]
Michael Prophet - Settle Yu Fe Settle [1987]
Pablo Moses - Tension [1985]
Twinkle Brothers - Burden Bearer [1983]
Viceroys - Chancery Lane [1984]
PICK GUITAR
Ijahman - Africa [1984]
KEYBOARDS
Itals - Cool And Dread [1982-83]
Mighty Diamonds - Kouchie Vibes [1978-84]
