Tiger

Norman Washington Jackson, better known as Tiger (born 6 June 1960), is a Jamaican dancehall musician recognized for his distinctive growling style of deejaying, which has been widely imitated by subsequent artists. Born in Kingston, Jamaica, Tiger first recorded as a singer under the name Ranking Tiger, releasing his debut single, "Why Can't You Leave Dreadlocks Alone?" in 1978. In the early 1980s, he transitioned to DJing with the Black Star Sound System, performing alongside fellow deejay Bruk Back and singer Anthony Malvo, and quickly gained attention in the local dancehall scene. Tiger rose to prominence in the mid-1980s with hits like "No Wanga Gut" and "No Puppy Love," and signed with Mango Records to release his first album, Me Name Tiger, in 1986. Over the next few years, he became one of Jamaican music’s major stars, recording for producers including Harry J, King Jammy, Gussie Clarke, Sly & Robbie, Philip "Fatis" Burrell, and Donovan Germain. Tiger also began producing his own material and founded the Tiger label. His music crossed over internationally, with singles like "Cool Me Down" featured on the Cool Runnings soundtrack, and he collaborated with the Fat Boys in 1989 on "T'ings Nah Go So," marking one of the earliest ragga/hip hop crossovers. In January 1994, Tiger suffered serious head injuries in a motorcycle accident, which affected his voice and temporarily halted his career. Despite these challenges, he returned to live performance in 2003 on the Dons of Dancehall UK tour and continued to appear at major reggae events, including Reggae Sumfest in 2007 and the 2010 "Reewind and Come Again" concert in New York. Tiger’s innovative deejay style and contributions to 1980s and early 1990s dancehall have cemented his place as a highly influential figure in the genre.