DJ DILLINGER MAKES LONG-AWAITED STARTIME DEBUT ON JANUARY 9 !!

A DJ who is as famous as his gangster namesake, Lester “Dillinger” Bullock was one of the second wave of Jamaican toasters who sprung up in the wake of the successes of U Roy, Dennis Alcapone, I Roy and Big Youth. By the mid 1970s, the young Dillinger had deejayed his way to top of the peak, winning international acclaim in the process; and remains one of the most innovative and humorous deejays of his time.

Dillinger began his career an equipment loader and budding DJ for the popular El Paso Sound System operated by Dennis Alcapone and Lizzy; and this led to the more famous DJs passing him the mic from time to time. Then when Alcapone left El Paso,  Dillinger took his place, and his name deejaying as Dennis Alcapone Jr. and then Young Alcapone.

It was the legendary producer Lee Perry who convinced Dillinger to change his name, and first recorded him and the rest –as they say – is history !!

His popularity grew steadily as his catalogue of hits mounted for Perry and producers like Agustus Pablo, Vivian “Yabby You” Jackson, Winston “Niney” Holness and Count Ossie.

But when Clement “Coxsone” Dodd released Dillinger’s first album “Ready Natty Dreadie” in 1976, he was then able to fully establish himself and cement his standing amongst his many peers.

Then came international recognition with his follow-up album CB 200 for the Channel One label. The title track “CB 200”, a version of Gregory Isaacs’ “Sun Shines For Me” was a no.1 smash, followed by “Plantation Heights” a version of the Mighty Diamonds “I Need A Roof” which also went to the top of the charts; but none more so than ”Cocaine In My Brain” which swept the world like a drug epidemic itself.

Many of his hit recordings like “Ragnampaiza”, “Bionic Dread”, “Caymanas Park”, “The War Is Over”, “Natty Sing A Hit Song”,  “Natty BSC”, “Natty Kung Fu”, “Natty Ten To One”, “Stop The War”, “Give Me Little Loving” “Eastman Skank” and “First Time Girl” sound just as stunning over 30 – 35 years after their initial release. His innovations continue to reverberate through reggae and rap and though his records and live appearances are now fewer, Dillinger is still one of the more in-demand deejays on the European circuit.

His captivating stagemanship coupled with his humourous social commentary  is guaranteed to entertain the massive as Dillinger makes his overdue Startime debut at the Mas Camp on Saturday January 9.