Editing Augustus Pablo

{{EngvarB|date=September 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2014}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name              = Augustus Pablo
| image             = 
| image_size        = 
| caption           = 
| birth_name        = Horace Michael Swaby<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ascap.com/repertory#/ace/search/workID/917017382 |title=A JAVA INSTRUMENTAL |website=ASCAP |publisher=American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers |access-date=July 11, 2023}}</ref>
| alias             = 
| birth_date        = {{birth date|df=yes|1953|6|21}}
| birth_place       = [[Saint Andrew Parish, Jamaica|St. Andrew]], Jamaica
| origin            = 
| death_date        = {{death date and age|df=yes|1999|5|18|1953|6|21}}
| death_place       = 
| instrument        = {{hlist|[[Melodica]]|[[guitar]]|[[organ (music)|organ]]|[[piano]]}}
| genre             = {{hlist|[[Roots reggae]]|[[dub music|dub]]}}
| occupation        = {{hlist|Musician|songwriter|producer}}
| years_active      = 1970s–1999
| label             = 
| associated_acts   = Now Generation, [[King Tubby]]
| website           = 
}}

'''Horace Michael Swaby''' (21 June 1953&nbsp;– 18 May 1999),<ref name="Thompson">[[Dave Thompson (author)|Thompson, Dave]] (2002). ''Reggae & Caribbean Music''. Backbeat Books. {{ISBN|0-87930-655-6}}, pp. 200–202.</ref> also known as '''Augustus Pablo''', was a Jamaican [[roots reggae]] and [[Dub music|dub]] composer, performer, [[record producer]], and multi-instrumentalist. He was active from the 1970s until his death. He was known for playing the [[melodica]].

== Biography ==
He was born in [[Saint Andrew Parish, Jamaica|St. Andrew]], Jamaica, and learned to play the organ at the Kingston College School, where a girl lent him a melodica. He also met [[Herman Chin Loy]], who after working at his cousin [[Leslie Kong]]'s Beverley's record shop, had set up his own Aquarius store in [[Half Way Tree]]. Swaby recorded several tracks, including "Higgi Higgi", "East of the River Nile", "Song of the East" and "The Red Sea" between 1971 and 1973, for Chin-Loy's Aquarius Records.<ref name="Larkin">[[Larkin, Colin]] (1988). ''The Virgin Encyclopedia of Reggae''. Virgin Books. {{ISBN|0-7535-0242-9}}.</ref> Chin Loy had previously used the name Augustus Pablo generically for keyboard instrumentals recorded by [[Lloyd Charmers]] and [[Glen Adams]],<ref name="Barrow">[[Barrow, Steve]]; Dalton, Peter (1997) ''Reggae: The Rough Guide''. Rough Guides. {{ISBN|1-85828-247-0}}.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.reggae-vibes.com/concert/augpablo/augpablo.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130621011723/http://www.reggae-vibes.com/concert/augpablo/augpablo.htm|archive-date=21 June 2013|title=Article: In memory of... Augustus Pablo|publisher=Reggae Vibes Productions|author=Teacher & Mr. T.}}</ref> and Swaby took the name for this recording.

He soon joined Now Generation ([[Mikey Chung]]'s band) and played keyboard with them while his friend [[Clive Chin]] began his own career as a record producer. Pablo and Chin recorded "Java" (1972) together<ref name="Larkin" /> after Pablo quit Now Generation. He has recorded with Chin and Chin's uncle, [[Leonard Chin]], and [[Lee "Scratch" Perry|Lee Perry]]. Pablo formed the labels Hot Stuff, Message and Rockers (named after his brother's [[Sound system (DJ)|soundsystem]], Rockers). Pablo's 1974 album ''[[This Is Augustus Pablo]]'' was recorded with Clive and Pat Chin. This was followed by a collaboration with [[King Tubby]] in their 1975's ''[[Ital Dub]]''.

Pablo produced a number of songs in the 1970s, including "Black Star Liner" (with [[Fred Locks]]).<ref>{{cite web |last=Greene |first=Jo-Ann |title=Augustus Pablo Biography |website=[[AllMusic]] |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/augustus-pablo-mn0000052151#biography}}</ref> He has also worked with [[Dillinger (musician)|Dillinger]], [[I-Roy]], [[Jacob Miller (musician)|Jacob Miller]], [[The Immortals (band)|the Immortals]], [[Paul Blackman]], [[Earl Sixteen]], [[Roman Stewart]], [[Lacksley Castell]], [[the Heptones]], [[Bob Marley]], [[Delroy Wilson]], [[Junior Delgado]], [[Horace Andy]] and [[Freddy McKay]].

With Jacob Miller, he recorded "Baby I Love You So" in 1974. Pablo's [[Dub music|dub]] version of the song, titled "[[King Tubby Meets Rockers Uptown (song)|King Tubby Meets Rockers Uptown]]", was mixed by sound engineer King Tubby. It was named the 266th greatest song of all time by ''[[Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time|Rolling Stone]]''.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=16 February 2024 |title=The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-songs-of-all-time-1224767/augustus-pablo-king-tubbys-meets-rockers-uptown-1225072/ |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]}}</ref>

Pablo later released a few LPs, including ''[[King Tubbys Meets Rockers Uptown]]'' (1976) and [[Hugh Mundell]]'s ''Africa Must Be Free by 1983''. This was followed by ''[[East of the River Nile]]'' (1978), ''[[Original Rockers]]'' (1979) and another album, ''[[Rockers Meets King Tubbys in a Firehouse]]''. In 1980, he appeared on the soundtrack of the documentary ''[[D.O.A. (1980 film)|DOA]]''. He released ''[[Rising Sun (Augustus Pablo album)|Rising Sun]]'' in 1986. He also toured throughout the world, recording a live album in Tokyo in 1987.

In 1997, he played melodica on [[Primal Scream]]'s single "[[Star (Primal Scream song)|Star]]".<ref>{{cite web |first=Tim |last=Sendra |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/star-mw0001011135 |title=Star - Primal Scream &#124; Songs, Reviews, Credits |website=[[AllMusic]] |date=1997-06-16 |access-date=2020-04-17}}</ref>

Augustus Pablo died as a result of a collapsed lung on 18 May 1999.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.elrockers.org/disco/records/the_definitive_augustus_pablo.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120218163300/http://www.elrockers.org/disco/records/the_definitive_augustus_pablo.html|archive-date=18 February 2012|title=Augustus Pablo & Various Artists&nbsp;– The Definitive Augustus Pablo |access-date=8 January 2010 |last=Masouri |first=John |quote=He died in a Kingston hospital on Wednesday may 19th 1999 after being admitted the previous week with a collapsed lung and spending the interim period on a life support system.|publisher=elrockers.org}}</ref> He had been suffering for some time from the nerve disorder [[myasthenia gravis]].<ref>Pareles, Jon (20 May 1999). [https://www.nytimes.com/1999/05/20/arts/augusto-pablo-46-musician-helped-shape-reggae-s-sound.html Augusto Pablo, 46, Musician; Helped Shape Reggae's Sound]. ''[[The New York Times]]'' (Arts).</ref>

==Personal life==
Pablo was a [[Rastafari movement|Rasta]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Augustus Pablo |url=https://trojanrecords.com/artist/augustus-pablo/ |access-date=2021-05-19 |first=Dave |last=Hendley |website=[[Trojan Records]]}}</ref> His son, [[Addis Pablo]], followed him into a career in music, as did his daughter, Isis Swaby.<ref name="Campbell">Campbell, Howard (2012) "[http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/entertainment/Journey-continues---Addis-Pablo-keeps-his-father-s-legacy-alive_11887481 Journey continues – Addis Pablo keeps his father's legacy alive]", ''[[Jamaica Observer]]'', 5 July 2012, retrieved 13 July 2012</ref>

== Selected discography ==
=== Albums ===
{{col-start}}{{col-1-of-2}}
* ''[[This Is Augustus Pablo|This Is...Augustus Pablo]]'' (1974)
* ''[[Ital Dub]]'' (1974)
* ''Thriller'' (1975)
* ''[[King Tubbys Meets Rockers Uptown]]'' (1976)
* ''[[East of the River Nile]]'' (1977)
* ''[[Original Rockers]]'' (1979)
* ''Africa Must Be Free by... 1983 Dub'' (1979)
* ''[[Rockers Meets King Tubby in a Firehouse|Rockers Meets King Tubbys in a Firehouse]]'' (1980)
* ''Authentic Golden Melodies'' (1980)
* ''[[Earth's Rightful Ruler]]'' (1982)
* ''[[King David's Melody]]'' (1983)
* ''[[Rising Sun (Augustus Pablo Album)|Rising Sun]]'' (1986)
* ''Rebel Rock Reggae'' (1986)
* ''Rockers Come East'' (1987)
* ''Eastman Dub'' (1988)
* ''Presents Rockers Story'' (1989)
* ''Blowing with the Wind'' (1990)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Augustus-Pablo-Blowing-With-The-Wind/release/15499801|title=Augustus Pablo – Blowing with the Wind|date=19 June 2020 |publisher=Discogs}}</ref>
* ''Presents Rockers International Showcase'' (1991)
* ''Heartical Chart'' (1993)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/Augustus-Pablo-Heartical-Chart/release/700158|title=Augustus Pablo – Heartical Chart|date=November 2022 |publisher=Discogs}}</ref>
* ''Meets King Tubby at the Control in Roots Vibes'' (1996)
* ''[[Red Sea (Augustus Pablo album)|Red Sea]]'' (1998){{col-2-of-2}}
* ''Let's Get Started / Eastman Dub'' (1998)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Tetrack-Augustus-Pablo-Lets-Get-Started-Eastman-Dub/release/12186689|title=Augustus Pablo – Let's Get Started / Eastman Dub|date=22 June 2018 |publisher=Discogs}}</ref>
* ''Valley of Jehosaphat'' (1999)
* ''El Rocker's'' (2000)
* ''The Great Pablo'' (2000)
* ''Dubbing with the Don'' (2001)
* ''Jah Inspiration'' (2001)
* ''Skanking with Pablo: Melodica for Hire 1971–77'' (2002)
* ''In Fine Style: 7" & 12" Selection 1973–79'' (2003)
* ''The Essential Augustus Pablo'' (2005)
* ''Augustus Pablo Meets Lee Perry & the Wailers Band (Rare Dubs 1970–1971)'' (2006)
* ''The Mystic World of Augustus Pablo: The Rockers Story'' (2008)
* ''Born to Dub You'' (2014)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Augustus-Pablo-Born-To-Dub-You/release/5940022|title=Augustus Pablo – Born to Dub You|year=2014 |publisher=Discogs}}</ref>
* ''Augustus Pablo Presents Rockers International'' (2015)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/release/augustus-pablo-presents-rockers-international-mr0004447734|title=Augustus Pablo – Augustus Pablo Presents Rockers International|publisher=Allmusic}}</ref>
* ''Augustus Pablo Presents Rockers International 2'' (2015)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Augustus-Pablo-Rockers-International-2/release/8192129|title=Augustus Pablo – Augustus Pablo Presents Rockers International 2|date=18 January 2022 |publisher=Discogs}}</ref>
* ''Augustus Pablo Original Rockers'' (2016)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Augustus-Pablo-One-Step-Dub/release/15688674|title=Augustus Pablo – Augustus Pablo Original Rockers|date=31 July 2020 |publisher=Discogs}}</ref>
* ''One Step Dub'' (2020)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Augustus-Pablo-One-Step-Dub/release/15688674|title=Augustus Pablo – One Step Dub|date=31 July 2020 |publisher=Discogs}}</ref>
* ''Ancient Harmonies'' (2020)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Augustus-Pablo-Ancient-Harmonies/release/15518098|title=Augustus Pablo – Ancient Harmonies|date=19 June 2020 |publisher=Discogs}}</ref>
{{col-end}}
=== Contributing artist ===
* ''[[The Rough Guide to Reggae]]'' (1997, [[World Music Network]])

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{refbegin}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20120204054337/http://www.elrockers.org/ elrockers.org] Fan site
* [https://www.discogs.com/artist/41891-Augustus-Pablo Discography at Discogs]
* {{YouTube|719924Uts1w|Augustus Pablo - AP Special}}
* {{IMDb name|id=0655038|name=Augustus Pablo}}
{{refend}}
{{Augustus Pablo}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pablo, Augustus}}
[[Category:1953 births]]
[[Category:1999 deaths]]
[[Category:Dub musicians]]
[[Category:Jamaican keyboardists]]
[[Category:Melodica players]]
[[Category:People from Saint Andrew Parish, Jamaica]]
[[Category:Jamaican reggae musicians]]
[[Category:Jamaican record producers]]
[[Category:Island Records artists]]
[[Category:Jamaican Rastafarians]]
[[Category:Deaths from respiratory failure]]
[[Category:Heartbeat Records artists]]
[[Category:Greensleeves Records artists]]