Clevie Browne (JM)

Jamaican drummer, producer and godfather of riddim Cleveland ‘Clevie’ Browne is a crucial electronic music pioneer. In the early 80’s he introduced the drum machine into reggae music and played a crucial role in the transition from analogue to digital ‘riddims’ in the Jamaican music scene. The electronic experimentations of his legendary duo Steely & Clevie, with his deceased partner Wycliffe ‘Steely’ Johnson, became the foundation of crucial club music genres and influences that are still elemental to a lot of electronic music today. Their 1987 ‘Punanny’ riddim, for example. is a classic template for dancehall music, a genre they helped pioneer. And their 1989 ‘Fish Market’ riddim became the foundation of what is now the world dominating sound of reggaeton. Next to jump starting entire musical movements and genres, Clevie has worked with everyone from Bob Marley to Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry, from Shabba Ranks to Elephant Man, and from Sean Paul to Mr. Vegas.