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Junior Murvin
Junior Murvin (born Murvin Junior Smith, circa 1946[1][2]
Junior Murvin
– 2 December 2013)[3] was a Jamaican reggae musician. He is
best known for the single "Police and Thieves", produced by Lee
"Scratch" Perry in 1976.

Contents
Early life
Music career
In popular culture
Death
Discography
Albums
See also
References Background information
External links Birth name Murvin Junior
Smith
Born c. 1946

Early life Saint James,

Jamaica
He was born in Saint James Parish, Jamaica, probably in 1946
though some sources state 1949, and moved to Port Antonio after Died 2 December 2013
his father's death.[3][4] He began singing as a child, influenced (aged 67)

particularly by Curtis Mayfield, and began performing in public Port Antonio,

after his family moved to Montego Bay. He studied mechanics at Jamaica
the Montego Bay Technical High School, and then moved to Genres Reggae
Trenchtown in Kingston, where he lived with his aunt and
auditioned unsuccessfully for Lee Perry and Coxsone Dodd.[4] Occupation(s) Musician
Years active 1965–2013

Music career
He first recorded under the name Junior Soul for Sonia Pottinger's Gayfeet label, and then began
recording regularly for the Crystal label owned by Derrick Harriott, where he had a minor hit with
"Solomon" in 1972. He also performed as a member of the Hippy Boys, and later the Mighty Falcons
and the Tornadoes, in Kingston's nightclubs and tourist hotels.[4][5]

In 1976, he auditioned again for Perry with his own song, "Police and Thieves". This time Perry
agreed to record him, and the single was released to international commercial success in Jamaica,
Britain and elsewhere. Though written in the context of Jamaica's turf wars and police violence, it
became closely associated with the rioting at London's Notting Hill Carnival that year.[6] Murvin and
Perry co-wrote more songs together and completed an album for Island Records, Police and Thieves,
released in 1977 and regarded as one of Perry's best productions.[4][5] The title song was heard by
British punk rock band The Clash, whose version appeared on their debut album released in April

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1977.[5] Murvin continued to record singles with Perry, including several versions of Curtis Mayfield
songs, and also made recordings with producers Joe Gibbs and Alvin Ranglin. In 1980, Murvin's
"Police and Thieves" finally reached the UK singles chart, peaking at no.23 after being used in the
film Rockers.[7][8]

Murvin continued to record through the 1980s, but his singles had less success. However, he sang
with one of Jamaica's top bands, Jah Postles, and toured widely in Europe.[3] He recorded with
various producers and musicians, including Joe Gibbs, Errol Thompson, Mikey Dread with whom he
recorded the 1982 album Bad Man Posse, Henry "Junjo" Lawes, Prince Jammy, and King Tubby. His
other local hits included "Miss Kushie", "Cool out Son", "I'm in Love", "Bad Man Posse", and
"Muggers in the Street".[3] He released his last album, Signs and Wonders, in 1989, but continued to
record and release singles locally in Jamaica, some of them on his small Murvin label in Port Antonio.
His last released recording was a single entitled "Wise Man", released on the London-based Dubwise
record label in 1998.[4][5]

In popular culture
Australian musician Paul Kelly made a reference to Murvin in his Christmas song, "How To Make
Gravy".[9] Murvin's song "Cool Out Son" was featured on the soundtrack for the 2010 video game
Skate 3. American musician and animator Bill Wurtz references Murvin in his 2014 song "Hey Jodie
Foster"

Death
Murvin died on 2 December 2013, in a hospital in Port Antonio.[1] His age was reported to be 67 or
64.[1][6] He had been suffering from diabetes[3] and hypertension.[1]

Discography

Albums
Police and Thieves (1977), Island
Tedious (1978), Mango
Bad Man Posse (1982), Dread at the Controls
Muggers in the Street (1984), Greensleeves
Apartheid (1986), Jammy's
Signs and Wonders (1989), Live & Love
World Cry (1995), Sunvibes
Inna de Yard (2007), Makasound

See also
List of reggae musicians
List of roots reggae artists
Caribbean music in the United Kingdom
Island Records discography

References
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1. "Jamaican reggae singer Junior Murvin dies, aged 67" (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainmen

t-arts-25195933). BBC. 3 December 2013.
2. David Katz, "Junior Murvin obituary", theguardian.com, 3 December 2013 (https://www.theguardia
n.com/music/2013/dec/03/junior-murvin)
3. " 'Police And Thieves' Singer Is Dead" (http://jamaica-gleaner.com/latest/article.php?id=49654).
Jamaica Gleaner. 2 December 2013. Retrieved 2 December 2013.
4. Junior Murvin biography at Reggae-vibes.com (http://www.reggae-vibes.com/concert/juniorm/juni
ormu.htm) Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20051126023717/http://www.reggae-vibes.com/
concert/juniorm/juniormu.htm) 26 November 2005 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2
December 2013
5. Huey, Steve. "Junior Murvin" (https://www.allmusic.com/artist/p92062/biography). Allmusic.
Retrieved 2 December 2013.
6. "Reggae singer Junior Murvin dies aged 64" (https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/m
usic/news/reggae-singer-junior-murvin-dies-aged-64-8978615.html). The Independent. 2
December 2013. Retrieved 2 December 2013.
7. Betts, Graham (2004). Complete UK Hit Singles 1952-2004 (1st ed.). London: Collins. p. 541.
ISBN 0-00-717931-6.
8. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records
Limited. p. 384. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
9. "Reggae star Junior Murvin, of Paul Kelly and The Clash fame, dies" (http://www.smh.com.au/ent
ertainment/music/reggae-star-junior-murvin-of-paul-kelly-and-the-clash-fame-dies-20131203-2yn
ae.html). The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 3 December 2013.

External links
Junior Murvin (https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2294676/) at IMDb
Discography at Discogs (https://www.discogs.com/artist/94501-Junior-Murvin)

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