Gregory Anthony Isaacs was born on July 15 1951, Fletchers Land, Kingston, Jamaica. Isaacs became a veteran of the talent contests that regularly took place in Jamaica. In 1968, he made his recording debut with a duet with Winston Sinclair, "Another Heartache", recorded for producer Byron Lee.
The single sold poorly and Isaacs went on to team up with two other vocalists Penroe and Bramwell in the short-lived trio The Concords, recording for Rupie Edwards and Prince Buster. The trio split up in 1970 and Isaacs launched his solo career, initially self-producing recordings and also recording further for Edwards.
In 1973 he teamed up with another young singer, Errol Dunkley to start the African Museum record label and shop, and soon had a massive hit with "My Only Lover", credited as the first lovers rock record ever made.
He recorded for other producers to finance further African Museum recordings, having a string of hits in the three years that followed, ranging from ballads to roots reggae, including "All I Have Is Love", "Lonely Soldier", "Black a Kill Black", "Extra Classic", and his cover version of Dobby Dobson's "Loving Pauper". In 1974 he began working with producer Alvin Ranglin, and that year he had his first Jamaican number one single with "Love Is Overdue".
Isaacs recorded for many of Jamaica's top producers during the 1970s, including Winston "Niney" Holness, Gussie Clarke "My Time", Lloyd Campbell "Slavemaster", Glen Brown "One One Cocoa Fill Basket", Harry Mudie, Roy Cousins, Sidney Crooks, and Lee "Scratch" Perry "Mr. Cop".
By the late 1970s, Isaacs was one of the biggest reggae performers in the world, regularly touring the US and the UK, and only challenged by Dennis Brown and Bob Marley. Between 1977 and 1978, Isaacs again teamed up with Alvin Ranglin, recording a string of hits including "Border" and "Number One" for Ranglin's GG's label.
In 1978 Isaacs signed to the Virgin Records offshoot Front Line Records, and appeared in the film Rockers, in which he performed "Slavemaster". The Cool Ruler and Soon Forward albums, however, failed to sell as well as expected, although they are now considered among his best work.
In 1981, he made his first appearance at the Reggae Sunsplash festival, returning annually until 1991, and he moved on to the Charisma Records offshoot Pre, who released his The Lonely Lover and More Gregory albums along with a string of increasingly successful singles including "Tune In", "Permanent Lover", "Wailing Rudy", and "Tribute to Waddy".
He signed to Island Records and released the record that finally saw him break through to a wider audience, "Night Nurse", the title track from his first album for the label Night Nurse 1882. Although "Night Nurse" was not a chart hit in either the UK or US, it was hugely popular in clubs and received heavy radio play, and the album reached #32 in the UK.
This success for Isaacs coincided with drug problems which saw him serve a six-month prison sentence in Kingston in 1982 for possession of unlicensed firearms. Isaacs claimed that he had the weapons only for protection, but it emerged that this was his 27th arrest and that Isaacs had become involved in drug dealing and had become addicted to crack cocaine. He celebrated his release form prison with his second album for Island, "Out Deh!"1983.
In 1984 with the "Kool Ruler Come Again" single Issac began a period of prolific recording, working with producers including Prince Jammy, Red Man, Bobby Digital, Tad Dawkins, and Steely & Clevie, maintaining a consistent standard despite the volume of work produced.
Isaacs then built a strong relationship with Gussie Clarke of the Music Works label. They began with Isaacs' 1985 album Private Beach Party, and had a massive hit with "Rumours" in 1988, which was followed by further popular singles including "Mind Yu Dis", "Rough Neck", "Too Good To Be True", and "Report to Me". The association with Clarke continued into the early 1990s, teaming up with singers including Freddie McGregor, Ninjaman, and JC Lodge. He duetted with Beres Hammond on the 1993 Philip "Fatis" Burrell-produced "One Good Turn", Burrell also producing Isaacs' 1994 album Midnight Confidential.
In the 1990s the African Museum label continued to release all of Isaacs' music, and that of artists he produced. In 1997 Simply Red covered "Night Nurse" and had a hit with it. Isaacs continues to record and perform live in the 2000s. In 2005 Lady Saw produced another version of "Night Nurse" with her toasting over the original lyrics.
Isaacs' drug addiction had a major impact on his voice, with most of his teeth falling out as a result.
Isaccs said of his addiction in 2007
After some 40 years as a recording artist, Gregory Issac is still one of the best reggae artist to come out of Jamaica.
Albums
In Person (1975) Trojan
All I Have Is Love (1976) Trojan
The Best Of Vol. 1 (1977) GG's
Extra Classic (1977) African Museum
Mr Isaacs (1977) DEB
Cool Ruler (1978) Front Line
Soon Forward (1979) Front Line
Slum (Gregory Isaacs in Dub) (1978) Burning Sounds
Gregory Isaacs Meets Ronnie Davis (1979) Plant (with Ronnie Davis)
Showcase (1980) Taxi
Lonely Lover (1980) Pre
More Gregory (1981) Pre
The Best Of Vol. 2 (1981) GG's
Night Nurse (1982) Island/Mango
Out Deh! (1983) Island/Mango
Let's Go Dancing (1984)
Judge Not (1985) Greensleeves (with Dennis Brown)
Private Beach Party (1985) RAS
Easy (1985) Tad's
Double Dose (1986) Blue Trac (with Sugar Minott)
All I Have is Love Love Love (1987) Tad's
Victim (1987) VP
Watchman of the City (1987) Rohit
Come Along (1988), Live & Love
Red Rose for Gregory (1988) RAS
Warning (1989) Firehouse
I.O.U. (1989) RAS
On The Dance Floor (1990) Heartbeat
Call Me Collect (1990) RAS
Set Me Free (1991) Vine Yard
No Intention (1991) VP
Boom Shot (1991) Shanachie
State of Shock (1991) RAS
Past and Future (1991) VP
Pardon Me! (1992) RAS
Rudie Boo (1992) Star Trail
Unattended (1993) Pow Wow
Unlocked (1993) RAS
Midnight Confidential (1994) Greensleeves
Dreaming (1995) Heartbeat
Not a One Man Thing (1995) RAS
Private Lesson (1996) Heartbeat
Mr. Cool (1996) VP
Maximum Respect (1996) House of Reggae
Hold Tight (1997) Heartbeat
Hardcore Hits (1997) Ikus
Dance Curfew (1997), Acid Jazz - with Dread Flimstone
Kingston 14 Denham Town (1998) Jamaican Vibes
New Dance (1999) Prestige
Turn Down The Lights (1999) Artists Only
So Much Love (2000) Joe Gibbs Music
Future Attraction (2000) VP
Father & Son (2000), 2B1 - Gregory Isaacs & Son
It Go Now (2002), 2B1
Life's Lonely Road (2004)
Give It All Up (2004) Heartbeat
Rat Patrol (2004) African Museum
Masterclass (2004) Greensleeves
Revenge (2005) P.O.T.
Substance Free (2005) Vizion Sounds
Hold Tight (2008) Mafia & Fluxy
Brand New Me (2008) African Museum