Shorty The President

Shorty The President - Presenting - Cactus - 1976

After a string of records for producer Rupie Edwards, Perry Williams aka Shorty Perry, aka Shorty The President, finally got a hit with ‘Yamaha Skank’. for Rupie Edwards in 1973, on the then massive ‘My Conversation’ rhythm. Typically that tune is not on this, his debut album for the said producer. Thankfully the eleven tracks are just as good as his big hit. Shorty’s style takes in Dillinger and Big Youth, but somehow you always know it’s Shorty. Rupie’s one of the most underrated producers of the early seventies era, despite having a number of hits.

Shorty The President - High Ranking – Live And Love - 1978

Around 77/78, Shorty turned up on in Bunny Lee’s camp. Bunny had by then aquired the title Striker Lee, and he wasn’t joking. In Bunny’s team then were the likes of Johnny Clarke, Barry Brown, Linval Thompson, Cornell Campbell and Leroy Smart. On the DJ side, well let’s just say it was a very big team. There was no way that Shorty could make a bad album under these conditions, and ‘High Ranking’ proves it. A real classic in terms of production, Bunny pulling out some very little know rhythms for Shorty, who responds with some great lyrics.