(1952 - 1999)
When dub music developed in the late sixties from reggae B-sides to become music in it's own right, Horace Swaby was still at school. He was already learning the piano, and his favourite hobby was to sneak into the church and mess with the organ. But Augustus Pablo (as he was later called), was to become famous for the most unlikely of instruments, the melodica. The instrument was used for teaching music at school and his first melodica was lent to him by a girl in his class.
Pablo's first recording came in 1971, when he was invited by producer Herman Chin Loy to work on some sessions. His most famous track from this period was "East Of The River Nile" which set the mould for his 'Far Eastern' sound. His signature is a combination of minor keys and modern melodies, and influences on his music ranged from ska trombonist Don Drummond to Studio One organist Jackie Mittoo.
By his second record, "Java", Pablo had established his career as a mainstay in dub music. As the seventies progressed, Pablo's output became more and more prolific. He gained experience working with names like Keith Hudson, Joe Gibbs, Gussie Clarke and Lee Perry. Eventually he worked with Tubby himself and released the milestone "King Tubby Meets The Rockers Uptown".
By 1980, Augustus Pablo had worked with most of the reggae greats and released a large amount of material on various labels including his own Rockers label. He also produced artists such as The Heptones, Jacob Miller, Dillinger, Big Youth and Hugh Mundell (including the classic Mundell album, "Africa Must be Free by 1983"). A collection of his key singles, "Original Rockers", was released by Greensleeves in 1980.
In the late eighties, electronics gradually became more apparent in his sound - "King David's Melody" featured a drum machine for the first time - but Pablo has always preferred an acoustic sound. His "Blowing With The Wind" album, released in 1990 was testament to the fact that he was still loyal to his audience whilst moving with the times. The traditional Rastafarian drum sounds of the fundae kettle and repeater were blended with a definite 90's atmosphere. "One Step Dub" comprises dub mixes (originally made for sound-systems) of the Pablo-produced Junior Delgado album, "One Step More".
In 1992, Greensleeves released his classic set, "King David's Melody", a compilation of some of Pablo's finest instrumental singles released throughout the years 1975-1982.
Augustus Pablo died of a nerve disorder on May 18 1999, aged 46. He had been one of a handful of Jamaican musicians who had shaped roots reggae music.
Pablo died of the nerve disorder Myasthenia gravis on May 18, 1999. He was known for his spiritual beliefs in Rasta.
He leaves his daughter Isis,and son Addis,his mate Karen,his brother Garth, his sister Claudia and his mother Buelah.http://www.elrockers.org/2/index.html
