Biography
Who is Mad Professor?
Early life and background
Born Neil Joseph Stephen Fraser in Georgetown, Guyana, the artist later became widely known by his stage name, Mad Professor. This nickname was given to him during his childhood because of a strong interest in electronics and gadgets. At the age of 13, he moved from Guyana to London, settling in the United Kingdom.
Before establishing himself as a full-time musician, he worked as a service technician. This technical background served him well as he began collecting recording and mixing gear. In 1979, he opened his own recording studio called Ariwa Sounds in his Thornton Heath home, initially utilizing a four-track setup to produce his early work.
Studio career and Ariwa Sounds
The studio eventually moved to Peckham in 1982, where the equipment expanded to an eight-track configuration. This location saw the production of his first album and the start of the Dub Me Crazy series. These releases gained significant attention from radio personality John Peel, who frequently played the tracks on air. As the label grew, the studio moved once more to South Norwood, eventually becoming the largest black-owned studio complex in the United Kingdom.
Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, the label recorded various vocalists and bands, including Deborahe Glasgow, Sandra Cross, Johnny Clarke, and Pato Banton. The studio also attracted international talent, drawing in Jamaican artists like Bob Andy and Faybiene Miranda. The facility remained a hub for lovers rock and dub production for many years.
Collaborations and production style
Mad Professor has a productive history of collaborating with established artists both within and outside the reggae genre. In 1983, he first teamed up with Lee Scratch Perry, leading to the recording of their 1989 album, Mystic Warrior. Their creative partnership continued over several decades with projects like Black Ark Experryments and Super Ape Inna Jungle.
His production work extends far beyond traditional reggae. He has collaborated with artists such as big Attack, Sade, the Orb, Grace Jones, and Perry Farrell. In 1995, he produced No Protection, which is an electronic dub version of the big Attack album Protection. His remix work is vast, including projects for the Beastie Boys, Jamiroquai, Rancid, and Japanese pop singer Ayumi Hamasaki.
Discography highlights
The artist has created many series of albums, including 12 installments of the Dub Me Crazy series and 5 albums under the Black Liberation Dub banner. His early records include 1983's In A Rub A Dub Style and 1985's A Caribbean Taste of Technology. Later original releases include 2005's Method to the Madness and 2012's The Roots of Dubstep.
His collaborative discography is equally expansive, featuring works like 1984's Jah Shaka Meets Mad Professor at Ariwa Sounds and 2004's Dub Revolutionaries with Sly and Robbie. He continues to release music, with recent projects including 2019's big Attack vs Mad Professor Part II and 2025's Mad Professor Meets Youth.
Birthday and age
Mad Professor was born on March 27, 1955, which makes Mad 71 years old today. That birthday falls under the Aries sign. Mad shares the date with 77 other famous people.
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