Biography

This Kingston, Jamaica-born dancehall artist is a former member of Scare Dem Crew, who emerged in the mid-'90s. Although his compatriot, Elephant Man, went on to find greater commercial success, Harry Toddler was the first from the crew to gain a big solo hit -- 1998's "Bad Man Nuh Dress Like Girl" -- and he ultimately enjoyed a career that spanned four decades. His longevity in the business is proven by his involvement in over 300 singles. Born Patrick Ricardo Jackson in 1975, his career as a DJ developed during teenage years spent on sound systems performing under the name Dirty Harry. When a producer suggested a name change, he settled on Harry Toddler. It was Bounty Killer who first noticed his true potential by assembling Scare Dem Crew in 1995 and placing him alongside Elephant Man, Boom Dandimite, and Nitty Kutchie. Just like Bounty Killer, Scare Dem Crew benefitted from the guidance of Johnny Wonder in their early career. Their Steely & Clevie-produced debut, "Pure Gal," turned heads, but it was with 1997's "Nuh Run Dung Gal" -- a track on which Harry Toddler and Elephant Man shared the lead vocal -- that the crew achieved one of their biggest hits. They enjoyed a steady series of these -- while simultaneously attempting to pursue solo careers -- but when Harry Toddler broke through on his own with "Bad Man Nuh Dress Like Girl," it led to an amicable parting of ways. Subsequently, Harry Toddler experienced his professional golden years between 1999 and 2001, releasing a prolific run of singles from "Hand Mi Di Fire" through to "Gun Angel," despite the period coinciding with several family bereavements. His profile was also boosted by an appearance in Chris Browne's 1999 film Third World Cop, and tours of the Caribbean, Canada, and Europe. Alongside the steady flow of his own releases, the 2000s saw him step up his production and writing work for others. A notable single from this era was 2008's concise and frenetic "Don't Run In." In 2010, he collaborated with Chi Ching Ching on "Too Many Men," speaking out for better representation of women in the dancehall genre. During the 2010s, Harry Toddler was a regular performer at Sting, Jamaica's infamous, long-running, annual celebration of dancehall and reggae. 2021 saw him release two albums: Nah Nah Nah and History Lesson 1, and late 2022 brought the uncharacteristically laid-back, but highly danceable "Psycho Bunny." ~ James Wilkinson