Shaggy | |
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Shaggy in 2006
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Background information | |
Birth name | Orville Richard Burrell |
Born |
Kingston, Jamaica |
October 22, 1968
Origin | New York City, New York, U.S. |
Genres | Reggae fusion |
Occupation(s) |
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Years active | 1992–present |
Labels | |
Associated acts |
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Website | www.shaggyonline.com |
Orville Richard Burrell CD (born October 22, 1968), known mostly by his stage name Shaggy, is a Jamaican-Americanreggae fusion singer and deejay. He is best known for his hit singles "Oh Carolina", "Boombastic", "It Wasn't Me" and "Angel". He was nicknamed after Shaggy Rogers, the cartoon character from the popular television series Scooby Doo.
Burrell was born on October 22, 1968 in Kingston, Jamaica. At the age of 7, he and his family moved to the New Edinburgh area of Ottawa, Canada. In 1987, he took singing courses and was discovered a year later, while singing in the streets with friends. His son is rapper Robb Banks from Florida.
Shaggy enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and obtained the MOS of 0811 (field artillery cannon crewman). He served with a firing battery from the 10th Marine Regiment in Saudi Arabia during the Persian Gulf War. The highest rank he achieved was lance corporal, although he was reduced in rank twice. Shaggy perfected his signature singing voice in the Marine Corps.
Shaggy decided to pursue his music career and his first hit in 1993, "Oh Carolina", was a dancehall re-make of a ska hit by the Folkes Brothers, which appeared in the film Sliver. The same year, Shaggy appeared on Kenny Dope's hip hop album The Unreleased Project. He worked together with producers such as Sting International, Don One, Lloyd 'Spiderman' Campbell, Robert Livingston and Frankie Cutlass on a remix from his Maxi-Single title "Nice and Lovely". He had further big hits, including "Boombastic" in 1995, the theme tune of a popular Levi's commercial, and sang with Maxi Priest on his Top 20 hit from 1996 "That Girl".