Jamaica 60 icons: Charlie Chaplin (1987)

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This year, 2022, Jamaica celebrates 60 years of independence and I will be sharing, as we go along, video clips of reggae dancehall icons who have been honoured by the Jamaican entertainment industry.

Richard Patrick Bennett, OD, better known by the stage name Charlie Chaplin, is a Jamaican dancehall and ragga singer and deejay. It was common for Jamaican deejays of the era to name themselves after film stars or characters. Bennett, however, had been nicknamed after the comedian since his youth. His career began in 1980 when he began working with U-Roy’s Stur-Gav Hi-Fi collective. He became extremely popular throughout Jamaica, memorable for his focus on cultural and social themes instead of the “slack” (rough, violent) lyrics that were popular at the time. His popularity as a live performer prompted Roy Cousins to produce some recording sessions with the young DJ. Chaplin’s debut album was the Cousins-produced Presenting Charlie Chaplin in 1982, with several albums following for the producer over the next three years.

The contrast between Chaplin’s “culture” lyrics and the other major deejays of the day led to the 1984 “clash” album with Yellowman Slackness Vs Pure Culture.

Que Dem (1985), was produced by George Phang and he continued recording, working with Bunny Roots, Josey Wales, Sly & Robbie, Henry “Junjo” Lawes, Roots Radics, and Doctor Dread.

In 2013, Bennett was awarded the Order of Distinction by the Jamaican government.

Bennett started his own Crown Production label, on which he released his own music. An album, Armageddon, was set for release in the summer of 2016.

The veteran deejay received a doctorate in Security and Professional Studies from the California-based Global University of Lifelong Learning in June 2018.