Dan-I

Dan-I (born Selmore Ezekiel Lewinson;[1] July 1956 – 19 May 2006[2]) was a British disco musician, signed to Island Records, who had a Top 30 hit in the UK Singles Chart in 1979 with a single called "Monkey Chop,” which later climbed to number 11 on “Top of the Pops” in Sweden by March 1980 and in the Top Ten in Milan, Italy and in New Zealand.[1][3][4][5][6] He originated from Clarendon, Jamaica. Without any further chart success, Dan-I remains listed as a one-hit wonder, although he continued to release several albums as a solo artist under independent record labels and as lead singer for various other bands, most notably the L.A.-based gospel reggae band, Unity, in the 1980’s.[7]

Dan-I
Birth nameSelmore Ezekiel Lewinson
Born(1956-07-01)July 1, 1956
DiedMay 19, 2006(2006-05-19) (aged 49)
Occupation(s)Musician
LabelsIsland Records, Dan-I Records
Associated actsD-Dancer, Unity Gospel Band, Unity

Career and background

His stage name derived from his interest in numerology, meaning "number one".[8] In the early 1970s he was asked by George Clinton to join his band Funkadelic, but he declined, believing he was too young.[8] During the 1970s he worked with Cat Stevens, Andy Fraser, and Joe Jammer, and led his own club band, D-Dancer.[8] D-Dancer split up in 1976, after which Dan-I spent a year in Nigeria before embarking on a solo career, signing with Island Records after being introduced by Linton Kwesi Johnson, and having a major hit with "Monkey Chop", which he described as "music for the new optimism".[8] The song was produced by Trevor Horn and Geoff Downes.

He moved to Los Angeles, California in the mid-1980s, where he recorded several demos. During the 1980s, he helped found The Unity Gospel Band.[9] He was also connected with a release by Unity, For The Glory Of Jah. He provided the lead vocals for the release.[10] He provided backing vocals for Busta Jones's 1988 single, "My Hands Are Shakin'".[11]

He then moved to South Africa before returning to London.

UK discography (unless stated otherwise)
7" Singles
Title Release info Year Notes
"Monkey Chop" / "Roller (Do It) Boogie" Island WIP 6520 1979
"Hidden Valley" / "Action" Island WIP 6572 1980
"Let's Be An Animal" / "Free Prison" Aura AUS 123 1980 [12]
12" Singles
Act Title Release info Year Notes
Dan-I "Hidden Valley" / "Dennis And The Spider", "Action" (long version) Island 12WIP 6572 1980 [13]
Dan I & Big Youth "Who Killed The Prophets" / "Monkey Chop" V.I.P Records 007 [14]
Albums
Title Release info Year F Notes
Sure Love The Feeling Selmore Records ALPSEL001 1989 LP [15]
Nicely Nicely The Vodka Label VDK 8001 1984 LP US release[16]
Living Figures Onset Records OSET CD 001 1999 CD [17]
Other releases
Act Title Release info Year F Notes
Unity For The Glory Of Jah Unity Productions UP 204A Cass L voc: Dan-I Lewinson
Bass: Raymond Barrow
Drums: Derrick Smith
Guitar: Lesmond Sosa
Keys: Craig Tomblin[18]
Simultations Dan-I Dan-I Records 2005 CD-R [19]

References
  1. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 139. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  2. Billiongraves.com
  3. "swedishcharts.com - Dan-I - Monkey Chop". swedishcharts.com. Retrieved 2020-07-08.
  4. Caroli, Daniele (July 12, 1980). "Ricordi Generates $ With Local, Intl Hits". Billboard. Retrieved July 8, 2020.
  5. "Billboard - Hits Of The World". Billboard. July 5, 1980. Retrieved July 8, 2020.
  6. "Billboard - Hits Of The World". Billboard. September 6, 1980. Retrieved July 8, 2020.
  7. "dan-i-biography". hstrial-pbarrow1.homestead.com. Retrieved 2020-07-08.
  8. "Nicely, Nicely!", Smash Hits, EMAP National Publications Ltd., November 29 - December 12, 1979, p.10
  9. Unity Band Memories - Photo Gallery
  10. Belize Music World - "DAN-I and UNITY" (UP204A)
  11. Discogs - Busta Jones – My Hands Are Shakin'
  12. 45Caat - Dan-I - Discography, UK
  13. Discogs - Dan-I – The Hidden Valley, Label: Island Records – 12WIP 6572
  14. Discogs - Dan I* & Big Youth / Dan I* – Who Killed The Prophets / Monkey Chop
  15. Discogs - Dan-I Discography, Albums
  16. Discogs - Dan-I Discography, Compilations
  17. Discogs - Dan-I Discography, Albums
  18. Belize Music World - "DAN-I and UNITY" (UP204A)
  19. Discogs - Dan-I – Simultations
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