"Sister Nancy"
"Sister Nancy"
Sister Nancy, aka Muma Nancy, real name Ophlin Russell-Myers, (born Ophlin Russell, 2 January 1962, Kingston, Jamaica) is a dancehall DJ and singer. She is known to the world as the first female dancehall DJ and was described as being a "dominating female voice for over two decades" on the dancehall scene. One of her most famous songs is "Bam Bam", originally performed by Toots and the Maytals, is labeled as a "well-known reggae anthem" by BBC and a "classic" by The Observer.
Nancy Russell, Kingston, Jamaica, West Indies. Sister Nancy was one of 15 siblings; her brother Robert, known to her family as Dickie, found fame as Brigadier Jerry. The latter began chanting on Prince Norman's sound system before settling with Jahlove Music. While the Brigadier's reputation as the number one cultural DJ flourished, by her mid-teens, Nancy was occasionally performing on the sound system. Winston Riley was the first producer to take Nancy into the recording studio in 1980 for her debut, "Papa Dean". The tune was a success and Nancy's career began in earnest. She performed at Reggae Sunsplash, which was transmitted globally. A notable appearance on A Dee Jay Explosion saw Nancy performing "Chalice A Fe Burn" and "Boom Shacka Lacka". With Winston Riley in 1982 her debut One Two was released, featuring the title track, "Aint No Stopping Nancy", "Bam Bam" and "Only Woman DJ With Degree". She also recorded a classic rendition of "King And Queen" with Yellowman. With producer Henry "Junjo" Lawes, she recorded "A No Any Man Can Test Sister Nancy", "Bang Belly" and another Yellowman combination, "Jah Mek Us Fe A Purpose". She continued appearing live in the dancehall where she often performed alongside her brother on the Jahlove Music Sound System. The sound toured internationally to rave reviews, including a celebrated session at Brixton Town Hall, London, where both Jerry and Nancy made their debut performances in the UK.
Collaborations:
In 2004, she collaborated with DJ /rupture and Kid 606 on the "Little More Oil" single, and in 2006, she collaborated with Thievery Corporation on their 2006 compilation Versions, on the track "Originality". In 2007, Sister Nancy voiced a newer dubplate of her "Bam Bam" with new lyrics for Atlanta ragga/drum and bass DJ Tester.
Canadian Junglists, RCola, Division One and Krinjah, re-voiced and re-mixed "Bam Bam" for Jungle / Drum and Bass dancefloors; while Compton rapper Guerilla Black sampled "Bam Bam" in his "Compton" song. "Bam Bam" was also featured in Electronic Arts video game Skate and in the soundtrack for the movie Belly.