Dave Barker

Dave Barker, born David Crooks on October 29, 1947, in Franklyn Town, Kingston, Jamaica, is a renowned reggae and rocksteady singer whose career spans over five decades. He is best known as one half of the duo Dave and Ansell Collins, famous for the UK number one hit "Double Barrel" and the follow-up "Monkey Spanner" in 1971 .
Raised by his grandmother and uncles after his mother emigrated to England in 1952, Barker was introduced to music at a young age. Influenced by American soul artists like James Brown and Otis Redding, he began singing as a teenager. His first group, the Two Tones, recorded unsuccessfully for Duke Reid. Later, he joined Winston Riley's Techniques, singing alongside Riley and Bruce Ruffin. Through his association with Glen Brown, Barker met Lee "Scratch" Perry, who encouraged him to adopt a deejay vocal style, leading to hits like "Prisoner of Love" and "Shocks of a Mighty" .