While he was not a singer, deejay or selector, Joe Lick Shot made his mark at countless dances during the 1980s. The self-described “vibes man” fired his ‘shots’ to introduce top artistes or give sound systems approval in clashes.

Joe Lick Shot (given name Harold Jackson) died in Kingston on November 11 at age 70 from prostate cancer, his brother Robert told Observer Online.

From the Coburn Gardens area of Kingston, Joe Lick Shot was a regular at dances in his hometown before branching out with major sound systems like Kilamanjaro. His colleagues there included Early B, Puddy Roots, Super Cat and U U Madoo.

Early B, Super Cat and U U Madoo went on to mainstream success, each scoring with hit songs. Sugar Minott, Tenor Saw and Yami Bolo, were other hardcore dancehall acts from the 1980s who Joe Lick Shot made the sound system rounds with during the 1980s.

His mimicry of gunfire became a feature at dances by other leading ‘sounds’ such as Gemini, Stur Gav, Volcano and Metro Media. Joe Lickshot also supported smaller sound systems such as Creation from Spanish Town, where he first met a deejay named Oneil Famous during the mid-1980s.

In recent months, Joe Lick Shot hyped the crowd at Dancehall Thursday, Oneil Famous’ popular weekly show in Kingston that salutes vintage dancehall music.

“Him use to drink an’ enjoy himself. Always a gi joke, always a jovial person,” Oneil Famous told Observer Online. He last saw Joe Lick Shot three weeks ago at Dancehall Thursday.

– Howard Campbell