Lee "Scratch" Perry

The Profile

Lee "Scratch" Perry (Rainford Hugh Perry) was a Jamaican producer, singer, and visionary studio innovator, central to reggae and a pioneer of dub. He founded the Black Ark studio in Kingston, led The Upsetters, produced early recordings for Bob Marley & the Wailers, and collaborated widely, including with Mad Professor. Active until his passing in 2021.

Jamaican dub and reggae pioneer; creator of the Black Ark sound; leader of The Upsetters; produced early Bob Marley & the Wailers sessions; long‑running collaborations with artists such as Max Romeo, Junior Murvin, and Mad Professor.

Two glowing reviews hail Lee "Scratch" Perry as a foundational voice of dub and reggae. One spotlights the Black Ark-era selections on Soul Fire as a perfect entry point. The other digs into his team-up with Mad Professor, praising its hypnotic, head‑nodding electronics. Across both, Perry’s influence and studio wizardry take center stage.