CAPLETON was offered bail on Monday when he appeared at the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court in Half-Way-Tree. The 51-year-old singjay spent the weekend in lock up at the Half-Way-Tree Police Station after being arrested and charged on May 11 for rape.

Capleton emerged on the dancehall scene in the late 1980s. A decade later, he embraced Rastafari and is known for songs including Tour, Wings of The Morning, More Fire, Raggy Road, and Jah Jah City. He has released more than 20 albums and is one of dancehall’s elder statesmen.

The Jamaica Observer’s Splash takes a look at the entertainer’s rise to fame and events leading up to his current dilemma.

— 1967: Clifton George Bailey III is born on April 13 in Islington, St Mary.

— 1980s: He adopts the moniker Capleton after friends compared his manner of reasoning to a prominent local attorney. He counts Papa San, Peter Tosh and Bob Marley as early inspirations. He moves to Kingston at 18 to pursue music.

— 1985: Capleton meets Stewart Brown, owner of Toronto-based sound system African Star.

— 1989: Brown gets Capleton his first major break on a Canadian show alongside Ninjaman and Flourgon.

— 1990: Capleton releases his first single, B..bo Red, produced by Philip “Fatis” Burrell. The song is too risqué for radio play, but creates a buzz in Jamaica.

— He releases more hit singles including Number One Pon the Look Good Chart and Lotion Man.

— 1991: Releases his debut album, Capleton Gold, which contains the singles Gun Talk, Long John and Young, Fresh and Green.

— 1993: Capleton’s music makes a spiritual turn with the album Alms House. The set includes Make Hay, God Good and Unnu No Hear.

— 1994: Capleton embraces Rastafari. His album Good So is released and features tracks like Everybody, Cold Blooded Murderer and Sign & Wonder.

— He signs a record deal with Russell Simmons’ Def Jam Records.

— 1995: Capleton becomes a crossover act with the album Prophecy. The project features hip-hop and reggae infused tracks like Tour and Wings of The Morning.

— 1997: I Testament, his second album for Def Jam Records, includes Mark of The Beast with Big Youth and Nah Bow.

— 1999: Capleton refocuses on the Jamaican market, and begins working with VP Records. He releases One Mission, an album featuring Anthony B. It includes Good In Her Clothes and What They Gonna Do.

— 2000s: The outstanding album, More Fire, is released. Contains chart-toppers Jah Jah City and Hands Off.

— Beenie Man accuses Capleton’s followers of “boxing” him. In a 2005 feature in VIBE magazine, Beenie Man said they were booked for a show in New York. Beenie Man went on stage before Capleton’s set was finished, and alleges that Capleton’s friends assaulted him at the Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston.

— Capleton hosts inaugural St Mary Mi Come From, a charity show at Clements Park in St Mary.

— He continues to work with VP but establishes his label, David House Productions.

— 2002: Grammy-nominated Still Blazin’ album is released. It features How It Sound, Cooyah Cooyah and Pure Woman.

— 2004: Capleton releases the album Reign of Fire which includes the track That Day Will Come.

— 2007: Capleton comes under fire for lambasting homosexuals in his music and on stage. He signs the Reggae Compassionate Act in agreement with the Stop Murder Music campaign. He is accused of violating the agreement later that year.

— 2013: Pushed by fan onstage in California in June. Capleton confirms that the patron was just excited to see him.

— Cancels St Mary Mi Come From due to lack of sponsorship.

— 2016: St Mary Mi Come From returns after three-year break.

2018:

— April 28: According to the Corporate Communications Unit (CCU) of the Jamaica Constabulary Force, at around 11:20 am, Bailey hired a female hairdresser to groom his hair at a hotel in New Kingston. She accuses him of forcibly having sexual intercourse with her.

— May 2: The police say the woman filed a report based on alleged events of April 28. Capleton reports to the Half-Way-Tree Police Station to report that he is being extorted by the claimant. Investigations are launched.

— May 11: Capleton appears at Half-Way-Tree Police Station with his attorney Christopher Townsend for a question and answer interview. He is subsequently arrested and charged with rape. He spends the weekend in lock-up.

— May 14: Capleton appears at the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court in Half-Way-Tree and is granted bail in the sum of $250,000 by Parish Judge Vaughn Smith. Smith gives no other bail conditions, except that the artiste should avoid communication with the complainant.

— June 14: Capleton is scheduled to appear in court.