Garland Jeffreys

Garland Jeffreys (born 29 June 1943 in Brooklyn, New York) is an american singer, songwriter and guitarist. His music is a mix of rock 'n' roll, reggae, blues, soul and even hip-hop... He began his career performing solo in Manhattan clubs in 1966 after attending college at Syracuse University as an art major, where he became friends with Lou Reed (future co-founder of The Velvet Underground). After graduation, he spent some time in Italy studying art before coming back to Manhattan to further his education at New York's Institute of Arts while working with several New York bands. In 1969 he formed a group called Grinder's Switch, they released just one album - Garland Jeffreys & Grinder's Switch. Members of Grinder's Switch played on debut solo album of another co-founder of The Velvet Underground, John Cale - Vintage Violence (1970). Garland even wrote one song for this album (Fairweather Friend) and did back-up vocals for it. In 1973 Jeffreys released his own debut album simply title as 'Garland Jeffreys'. During mid-70s he was touring with reggae artists like Jimmy Cliff and Toots & The Maytals. In 1980 Garland Jeffreys made a cover of ? & the Mysterians' 96 Tears. Then after a long silence he released Don't Call Me Buckwheat (1992). Every songs in this album has strong antiracial lyrics ('Welcome To The World', 'Hail Hail Rock'n'Roll', 'I Was Afraid of Malcolm' etc.). He followed with Wildlife Dictionary in 1997. In 2003 Garland covered Skip James' Washington D.C. Hospital Center Blues for the film by Wim Wenders from the project Martin Scorsese Presents the Blues: The Soul of a Man. Another compilation of greatest hits (with three new songs) - I'm Alive was released in 2006). 1969 - Garland Jeffreys & Grinder's Switch 1973 - Garland Jeffreys 1977 - Ghost Writer 1978 - One Eyed Jack 1979 - American Boy & Girl 1980 - Escape Artist 1982 - Rock'n'Roll Adult 1983 - Guts for Love 1992 - Don't Call Me Buckwheat 1992 - Matador & More... 1997 - Wildlife Dictionary 2006 - I'm Alive