Country: Guyana
Rudolph Grant, born in Plaisance, Guyana, moved with his family to the United Kingdom in 1960. He is the younger brother of Eddy Grant, a member of The Equals. Early in his career, Rudolph recorded as Little Brother Grant, releasing the single "Let's Do It Tonight". In the 1970s, he emerged as a reggae deejay under the name The Mexicano, producing singles like "Gorilla in Manilla" and "Cut Throat". His biggest hit came in 1978 with "Move Up Starsky", which used Delroy Wilson’s "I’m Still Waiting" rhythm and topped the UK reggae charts, leading to an album of the same name. By 1981, Grant transitioned from deejay work to singing under his own name, releasing covers including John Lennon’s "Woman" and Stevie Wonder’s "Lately", the latter reaching the UK Singles Chart. This success led to a contract with Stiff Records, though further hits did not materialize. He continued releasing music, but none matched the impact of "Lately" or his earlier reggae deejay work. Grant found particular acclaim in his native Guyana with the 1987 single "Mash in Guyana", written during a 1986 visit. The song, recorded at his brother Eddy’s Coach House Studios in London, became the unofficial anthem of Mashramani, topping London’s first soca chart and earning a prominent place at the Notting Hill Carnival. His earlier hit "Lately" was later featured on the Dynamite Reggae Classics compilation in 2002, preserving his legacy in reggae and Caribbean music.
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