Mad Professor

On the content of his character, and by the results of his recordings, he is one of

the sanest record producers.

The name Mad Professor was first given by friends at school, who were amazed

by the experiments he carried out as a youth.

Having built a radio and telephone system at the age of 10 years, it was no

surprise that his interest and subsequent career in electronics along with a love of

Motown, Philadelphia International, Treasure Isle and music of all types propelled

him onward.

The early Eighties, having built his own mixing desk, had launched Mad Professor

along with the Ariwa Studio/ label from his front room in Thornton Heath. Early

works include sessions with Ruts DC, Reggae Regulars, Merger, Jimmy Lindsay,

Mikey Dread, Johnny Clarke and many more international artists.

DUB ME CRAZY, the first in a 12 part series of albums, was to become his

beacon for the label. With an episode being issued every year, the titles all told a

different story.

Beyond the Realms of dub – Dub me crazy Pt2, The African Connection –

Dub me crazy Pt3, and Dub me crazy Pt 7 – Adventures of a dub sampler.

The distinct variation and surprising sound effects were unique for this time.

Dub, and the cool sound and clarity of his mixing encouraging many artists to the

growing label.

By the mid - Eighties, the studio / label moved from its launch base of Peckham

to Whitehorse Lane, South Norwood where it is still located. At this time he

incorporated remix projects for the Orb, 400 Blows, Beats International (Lindy

Layton), Sade and Brilliant.

A heavy schedule of touring Germany, Holland, France, Sweden, Denmark,

Ireland, Spain Austria, Italy, Yugoslavia, USA, Canada and Japan, while still

managing to produce the various artists’ projects was an enormous workload.

The label by then had a healthy 104 albums with more in the infancy stage of

planning.

By the mid Nineties, Mad Professor’s profile increased to legendary status

After remixing Massive Attack’s second album, Protection. No Protection was

instantly received by all corners of the globe, benefiting from Virgin / EMI

international launch pad.

Professor’s personal Dub tours were increased to be a major part of his schedule,

along with further remixes which include: Clementine, Tracy Spencer, The Boom,

Danny Red, Depeche Mode, Jamiroqui, Rancid, KLF, Beastie Boys, Cidade Negra,

Perry Farrell (Jane’s Addiction) along with the Massive Attack dub extravaganza

all benefiting from the Mad Professor touch.

Production work for various major labels include: Sony Music, EMI, Arista, Warner

Brothers, Capitol Record, and Virgin Records.

In 1998 the Ariwa record catalogue contained over 155 titles including over 30

dub albums from Mad Professor, 3 albums from U-Roy including the classic

Just how sane is the Mad Professor?

True Born African, 7 albums from the Upsetter, Lee Scratch Perry and many

classic Lovers Rock albums, including Country Life - Sandra Cross, If I gave my

heart - John Mclean, Black with Sugar – Kofi.

By the end of the Nineties, Mad Professor’s Ariwa label gained international

notoriety in many territories throughout the world. Mainly known for its Dub,

roots and Techno / drum and bass catalogue.

The turn of the century saw new releases from Lee Scratch Perry – Techno

Party, Macka B – Global Messenger, Mad Professor – Trix in the mix.

By 2004 Mad Professor worked with Sly & Robbie at Ariwa, where the Taxi gang

laid down their versions of Ariwa rhythms.

Over 100 rhythms were recorded. An album titled The Dub Revolutionarys was

released by Sanctuary Records owned Trojan Label.

Some of those rhythms also formed the backbone for the next album from Horace

Andy From the Roots. Also released by Trojan, this is Horace’s third album for

Ariwa Sounds.

Around this time Mad Prof collaborated with Mafia & Fluxy to produce Dancehall

Dub, as well as 2 Sci Fi Dub albums. From Mars with Dub followed by A new

galaxy of Dub.

By the year 2005 the Ariwa catalogue passed the 200 figure, bumped up by new

albums from Max Romeo, U-Roy and young protégée Joe Ariwa.

Fresh demand for the dub show has taken the Ariwa Sound to many far flung

places. In 2003 Mad Professor was invited to play at the Greenpeace festival in

Manáus, Brazil. Since then, Mad Professor has become an annual visitor to South

America, Playing also Argentina, Chile, and Venezuela, Australia, New Zealand,

Estonia, Portugal.

In 2005 the dub show played Seoul in Korea, driving several hundreds of fans

crazy to the warbler sounds. Bangkok in Thailand in 2006 and Goa in India in

2007, courtesy of the Big Chill. the Mad Traveller also played Dakar, courtesy of

the Senegalese govt. Mad Professor is also involved in the Back to Africa festival,

an annual celebration in the Gambia, committed to the positive movement of

descendants of Africans, back to Africa.

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