Major Worries

b. Wayne Jones, 1966, Spanish Town, Jamaica, West Indies, d. August 1987, Kingston, Jamaica, West Indies. Jones began his career in 1985 as a DJ on the King Jammy sound system. He was noted for his mimicry, which he used to full effect in his DJ recitations. His debut release, the King Jammy-produced ‘Topa’, was a poignant yet witty tale of an alcoholic in search of liquor and was an assured dancehall hit. The follow-up, ‘Babylon Boops’, was a discomix in response to a series of tunes that surfaced in Jamaica relating to the ‘sugar daddy’ phenomenon. By 1987 Major Worries was recognised at the top DJ on King Jammys’ sound alongside Admiral Bailey. With Bailey and Chaka Demus in combination, Worries recorded the riotous ‘Go Go’, alongside, ‘Nuh Touch It’, ‘Done Now Nuh’ and ‘Don Move’ on the DJ’s posthumous album release, Babylon Boops. He also freelanced with a number of top Jamaican producers. His initial releases included productions by King Jammy and also with Hyman Wright on ‘Product Of Jamaica’. Major Worries had also recorded with Hugh James and Jack Scorpio but he did not see their official release as his career was cut short by the escalating violence that plagued Jamaica. Major Worries was shot following his intervention in an argument between his friend and a Kingston policeman. The shooting led to a public outcry and allegations of a conspiracy. His demise led to a series of releases including, ‘Mek Some Money’, ‘Twist And Rock’, ‘Run Down Money’, ‘Ku Pon Yu’, ‘Hunters Crossing’, ‘Doo Doo’, ‘Me Nah Response’ and a combination with Little Tenna, ‘Freezone’. In 1994, Beenie Man acknowledged the influence of Major Worries in his career when he recorded ‘No Mama No Cry’, that documented the incident alongside the fate of others such as Tenor Saw, Free I and General Echo.