If you know the hits It Wasn’t Me, Ange and Oh Carolina then you already know Shaggy, who is the man behind those hits. A musician and Jamaican-American of Jamaican descent, he is widely recognized as a reggae-dancehall star. Proving he has what it takes to survive in the music industry, Shaggy has managed to sustain his career over the years. Here’s everything you need to know about the musician.
Who is Shaggy?
Orville Richard Burrell, better known as Shaggy, was born on October 22, 1968 in Kingston, Jamaica to Clinton Burrell and Veronica Miller. He was nicknamed Shaggy after the Scooby Doo character. In 1986, he moved to his mother, who remained in Brooklyn, New York, where he attended Erasmus Hall High School.
Shaggy started playing with his friends and soon released a debut song Man A Mi Yard. It was not so easy for the young musician, and in the hope of surviving, he joined the US Marines in 1988, was stationed in Iraq and served in the Persian Gulf War. He rose to the rank of Lance Corporal before retiring from the Marines. After his retirement, he then resumed his musical career.
A revamped version of the 1958 song Oh Carolina by John Folkes served as Shaggy’s ticket to fame. In 1993, he released his debut album Pure Pleasure with Oh Carolina and Pleasant and Charming to Be the hit hits. The following year, his second album Original Doberman was released, but failed to garner as much attention as the first. Deciding to make improvements Shaggy released the third album Boombastic which was undoubtedly a huge success winning the Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album. By 1997 he had four albums to his credit, the latest being Amant Midnitewhich included tracks such as Tender Love and My Dream
Shaggy continued his career and released a fifth album Hot Shot in 2000. The album was a huge success and topped the charts in countries such as New Zealand and Germany. Other successive albums include Lucky Day (2002), Clothes Drop (2005), Intoxication (2007), Shaggy and Friends (2011), Summer in Kingston (2011), Ride (2012) and On Many, One Music (2013 ).
Away from music, Shaggy made cameo appearances in comedy action films such as Explosion and Game Over Man
Five facts to know about the musician
- 1. He’s a family man
Besides being a full-time musician and DJ, Shaggy is a husband and father. Prior to his current marriage, he had a relationship with Carol Johnson who bore him two sons – Richard Burrell Jnr. and Tyler Burrell. Also, he has three daughters with his girlfriend-turned-wife, Rebecca Packer; Twins – Kelsey and Madison and an older daughter, Sydney.
His wife, Rebecca Packer, is an art director for films and music videos. It was during one of her many jobs that she met Shaggy; the two became an item in 2000. Shaggy maintained the relationship with Rebecca for over a decade before finally marrying her in 2014. The Oh Carolina Crooner said he tries to spend as much time as possible with his children.
- 2. Robb Banks
Shaggy’s son, Richard O’Neil Burrell, nicknamed Robb Banks, follows in his father’s footsteps. The American hip-hop artist released his debut album Year of the Wild on October 2, 2015. Robb Banks is also planning to release another album with the title Falconia. He has produced several mixtapes and EPs and has actively toured.
- 3. Net worth
The Jamaican Reggae-Dancehall sensation, with over 10 albums, has an accumulated net worth of $12 million, with hit albums such as Boombastic and Hot Shot
- 4. Height and weight
Shaggy, who is of medium build, is 5ft 10in tall and weighs 80kg.
- 5. charities
The 50-year-old music icon is also recognized as a philanthropist. When asked in an interview what he would like to be remembered as, he said he would like to be remembered as a person who smiles at others. Therefore, by initiating the Shaggy and Friends Project , he was able to give back to society. With his wife working with him on this project, he managed to donate over $1 million to the Bustamante Children’s Hospital of Jamaica.