| B i o g r a p h y |
Date of Birth (DOB): 5/5/48
From: Guyana
Best Known for: Singer of "Electric Avenue" Owner of Ice Records
Edmond Montague Grant was
born in Plaisance, Guyana on Mar 5, 1948. His family migrated to
London, England when he was only 12. In 1965 he formed the Equals as
the lead vocalist/guitarist, in 1967 they got a record contract and the
following year they appeared on the charts with “I Get So
Excited," their first hit. In 1968, "Baby Come Back," climbed to number
one on the British charts. A heart attack at the age of 21 from the
stresses of stardom spurred Grant to leave disband the Equals.
He was also a shrewd business-man, in 1972 he set up the first
black-owned studio in Europe, Coach House and began recording his own
music on his Label Ice Records. He scored a hit “Living on the
Frontline” under a distribution deal with Columbia U.K. bought
the masters to all of his recordings with the Equals and set up a
record pressing plant.
In 1981 Grant relcoated to Barbados and built the Blue Wave studio
complex recording the album “Killer on a Rampage” that
would spawn his International smash hit “Electric Avenue”.
He also had another International hit on the soundtrack for the film
“Romancing the Stone”. In 1991, Grant was the host of the
first annual Carribean Music Awards at the Harlem’s Apollo
Theater in New York City.
He shifted his focus to his label Ice Records, and began re-issuing
recordings by Calypso and Soca legends such as the Mighty Sparrow,
Roaring Lion, Lord Melody and others. He has been married for over 20
years and has 4 children. He spend his time between his studio, label
and Pepperpot Nightclub. In 2000 he released a greatest hits
compilation.
Eddy says, "in my heart, I know that Soca and Ringbang have the same potential as reggae to achieve great popularity… but there has never been any proper commitment to marketing these artists and their music. We are not Sony, and the artists on board realise it will take time. It is an upliftment process."