BIOGRAPHIE
~Available in English~
Omar Perry (Mark de son véritable prénom), né à Kingston en Jamaïque en 1968, est un musicien de reggae jamaïcain.
Il est le fils de Lee Scratch Perry.
À l’âge de 6 ans, Omar Perry et sa petite sœur Marsha enregistrent quelques chansons du répertoire de leur père telles que Thanks we get et Ram Goat Liver. À cette époque, fréquentant les plus grands artistes de l’avènement du reggae (Max Romeo, Junior Murvin, Bob Marley accompagnés des Wailers,...), il s’initie à la batterie.
Adolescent, il quitte l’école dans les années 1980 et monte le groupe « The Upsetter Juniors » avec son frère Sean et sa sœur Marsha. Ils créent leur propre label du même nom, jouent de temps à autre quelques concerts, produisent quelques artistes locaux ainsi que leur unique single Positive Vibration, jusqu'en 1990.
Il commence alors une carrière d’ingénieur du son dans le studio d’un de ses amis équipé de 4 pistes avant de rencontrer Boris Gardener qui lui fera profiter d’un équipement de 8 pistes. La boucle sera bouclée au studio One Blood de Junior Reid avec 24 pistes où il travaille avec des artistes tels que Tyrone Taylor, Big Youth, Terry Ganzie et Jah Mason.
En 1996, Omar Perry quitte la Jamaïque pour s’envoler vers l’Afrique comme il a en toujours rêvé. Pendant quatre ans, il se fait ambassadeur du Reggae en Gambie lors d’animations DJ sur Radio nationale 1, dans quelques clubs et parcourt les villages en faisant de nombreux concerts.
Omar Perry se produit rapidement en DJ - sélecteur et micro – dans un premier temps pour atteindre la scène live. Véhiculant son style, Omar vit et travaille actuellement en Belgique où il se produit régulièrement dans les festival et dans les salles en Europe, ou encore en première partie de Sly & Robbie, Mykal Rose, Buju Banton, Horace Andy, Alton Ellis. Parallèlement, il collabore également avec quelques noms établis tels que Dreadzone, Mafia & Fluxy, Mad Professor, Ruff Cutt, enregistre avec Ghetto Priest, Earl Sixteen, Dub Incorporation et K2R Riddim. En 2003, Adrian Sherwood produit son premier single Rasta Meditation.
Alors qu’il participe à une grande tournée d’Horace Andy en 2005 , Omar Perry rencontre le réalisateur artistique Guillaume “Stepper” Briard . Ils travailleront ensemble à la réalisation de son premier album, produit par Dominique Misslin de No Direction Home (Mano Negra, NTM, Lokua Kanza, Willy N’For, Ismael Isaac, Mory Kanté, Takfarinas, Earl Sixteen, Horace Andy, Ken Boothe).La même année, il participe à la chanson Achtah de Dub Incorporation . L’album Man Free sort fin 2007.
En 2007, Omar Perry fait une tournée européenne, associé avec l’artiste Jah Mason. Il poursuit en ce moment ses concerts à travers toute l'Europe.
Ses prestations scéniques, authentiques et présentes, sont unanimement reconnues par la critique et le public.
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Omar Perry was born in Kingston Jamaica 1968, the son of the legendary producer and songwriter Lee “Scratch” Perry.
At the age of 6, he and his little sister Marsha recorded on some of their father’s production such as “Thanks we get” by Junior Byles and “Ram Goat Liver” by Pluto Shervington.
Omar, at that time, was interested in playing the drums, being among musicians such as Horsemouth Carlton Barrett. Growing up in such a musical environment with some of the greatest artists that ever worked in his father’s studio, the “Black Ark” : Max Romeo, Junior Murvin, The Congos, Junior Byles, Bob Marley & The Wailers, …. Omar knew one day he would livicate his life to Reggae Music.
After leaving school, as a teenager in the mid 80s, he decided to form a group with his brother Sean and sister Marsha. The group was called “The Upsetter Juniors” which they performed at small gigs and talent concerts. Inspired by their father, they started their own record label under the name : “Upsetter Juniors” that produced a few local artists and their only single entitled “Positive Vibration” sung by Sean Perry.
After the splitting of the group by 1990, Omar was still drawn by the music and began searching for his own way. Following his father’s foot step, he started working as an engineer in a 4 tracks studio then he met Boris Gardener who had an 8 tracks studio. Then he was introduced to Junior Reid by Aston “Familyman” Barrett. So reaching 24 tracks at Junior Reid’s “One Blood” studio was a big accomplishment where he worked with artists like Tyrone Taylor, Big Youth, Terry Ganzie & Jah Mason.
After leaving Jamaica in 1996, he headed for london where he lived for some time. Omar then found himself on a journey to Africa fulfilling a life long dream to touch the mother land. He lived in The Gambia for four years and established himself as a Reggae ambassador taking the opportunity to become a Disc Jockey playing on the national radio station “Radio 1” and working with some local artists in night clubs and local venues around the villages.
After leaving the trail of a Conscious Reggae storm in Africa, by 2000 Omar set himself a new goal, the new challenge was Europe. On reaching the European scene as a Disc Jockey, Omar did not waste any time in making himself an household name, not only as a Disc Jockey but to be known as a good performer as well. Omar now lives and works in Belgium where he performed at the biggest festivals ; Couleur Café, Dour, Reggae Geel, Fêtes de la Musique and venues like l’Ancienne Belgique, VK* club, Petrol club and as supporting act for Sly & Robbie + Mykal Rose, Buju Banton, Horace Andy, Alton Ellis, The Abyssinians, Kymani Marley, Max Romeo, ....
In 2003, Adrian Sherwood produced his first single entitled “Rasta Meditation” (collectors).
While on a small tour with Horace Andy in 2005, he became good friend with Guillaume “Stepper” Briard who was known not only as a musician but as a producer as well. Stepper seeing Omar’s potential, they decided to work together to launch his first album ‘Man Free’ released in December 2007.
The successful 2007 French tour with Jah Mason was a preparation of what was yet to come. Like a man on a mission in 2008, Omar emerged as an artist of the future : his ability to captivate and energize the massive is breath taking.
we can truly say he confirmed his rightful place in the world of reggae music .
In 2009 he toured with the legendary singer (Rockers) and inna de yand member Kiddus I.
Omar perry as now launch his second album ‘Can’t stop us’ released by Makafresh 2009.
