Dan-I

Dan-I
Birth name Selmore Ezekiel Lewinson
Born (1956-07-01)July 1, 1956
Died May 19, 2006(2006-05-19) (aged 49)
Occupation(s) Musician
Labels Island Records, Dan-I Records
Associated acts D-Dancer, Unity Gospel Band, Unity

Dan I (born Selmore Ezekiel Lewinson[1] - born 1 July 1956, died 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".[1] He originated from Jamaica, and Trevor Horn was the uncredited record producer of "Monkey Chop". Without any further chart success, Dan I remains listed as a one-hit wonder.

Career and background

His stage name derived from his interest in numerology, meaning "number one".[3] In the early 1970s he was asked by George Clinton to join his band Funkadelic, but he declined, believing he was too young.[3] During the 1970s he worked with Cat Stevens, Andy Fraser, and Joe Jammer, and led his own club band, D-Dancer.[3] 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".[3] 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.[4] He was also connected with a release by Unity, For The Glory Of Jah. He provided the lead vocals for the release.[5] He provided backing vocals for Busta Jones's 1988 single, "My Hands Are Shakin'".[6]

He then moved to South Africa before returning to London. He was murdered in May 2006.[7]

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 [8]
12" Singles
Act Title Release info Year Notes
Dan-I "Hidden Valley" / "Dennis And The Spider", "Action" (long version) Island 12WIP 6572 1980 [9]
Dan I & Big Youth "Who Killed The Prophets" / "Monkey Chop" V.I.P Records 007 [10]
Albums
Title Release info Year F Notes
Sure Love The Feeling Selmore Records ALPSEL001 1989 LP [11]
Nicely Nicely The Vodka Label VDK 8001 1984 LP US release[12]
Living Figures Onset Records OSET CD 001 1999 CD [13]
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[14]
Simultations Dan-I Dan-I Records 2005 CD-R [15]

References

  1. 1 2 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. 1 2 3 4 "Nicely, Nicely!", Smash Hits, EMAP National Publications Ltd., November 29 - December 12, 1979, p.10
  4. ↑ Unity Band Memories - Photo Gallery
  5. ↑ Belize Music World - "DAN-I and UNITY" (UP204A)
  6. ↑ Discogs - Busta Jones – My Hands Are Shakin'
  7. ↑ The Guardian - Five years of London murder victims listed, 77
  8. ↑ 45Caat - Dan-I - Discography, UK
  9. ↑ Discogs - Dan-I – The Hidden Valley, Label: Island Records – 12WIP 6572
  10. ↑ Discogs - Dan I* & Big Youth / Dan I* – Who Killed The Prophets / Monkey Chop
  11. ↑ Discogs - Dan-I Discography, Albums
  12. ↑ Discogs - Dan-I Discography, Compilations
  13. ↑ Discogs - Dan-I Discography, Albums
  14. ↑ Belize Music World - "DAN-I and UNITY" (UP204A)
  15. ↑ Discogs - Dan-I – Simultations
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