Derrick Morgan - Tougher Than Tough (a.k.a. Rudie's In Court)

Derrick Morgan was born 1940 in Clarendon Parish. In the 1950s, he won on the Vere Johns' Opportunity Knocks Talent Show with his imitation of Little Richard singing Long Tall Sally. An important Jamaican musical institution, Opportunity Knocks was broadcast on Jamaican radio and then eventually on TV. It provided a steppingstone that helped launch more than a few reggae singers, including Morgan's long and interesting career. After winning, he was snatched up by the island's top comedic act, Bim & Bam, to add his Little Richard imitation to their stage show. His recording career began at the very end of the 1950s with a string of R&B sides. The first was Lover Boy for producer Duke Reid. But, as was then the producer's prerogative, Reid decided against releasing it, keeping it instead as an exclusive for his sound system. This angered Morgan who quit Reid to work with other producers. But the dispute was temporary, as the song would eventually be released and Morgan would return to work further with Reid.

Morgan recorded steadily from 1959 through to 1977, and sporadically in the 1980s, releasing well over three hundred singles and ten albums over this span. But it was the 1960s that was his decade, hit filled and storied. Massively popular, at one point in an unmatched feat, he simultaneously held the top seven spots on the Jamaican record chart. Meanwhile, he had a hand in launching the careers of some of the biggest singers in reggae. Working for producer Leslie Kong, he arranged Jimmy Cliff’s first records. As a talent scout, he not only brought Desmond Dekker to Kong, but also helped him develop his first record. The first ever live Wailers performance was part of a big show that was honoring Morgan’s pending move to England. He would give Bob Marley feedback on his stage work, advising him to dance less and concentrate on his singing. He was a participant in perhaps the most famous of reggae's many musical battles. Morgan’s onetime producer, Prince Buster felt betrayed that Morgan left him for Kong, and released a single accusing him of lacking racial loyalty, called Blackhead Chinaman. Morgan gave a seven inch response called Blazing Fire, that, adding insult to injury, repurposed the melody of Buster’s hit, Madness. Naturally, Buster fired back. In the end, the feud resulted in five records, big hits for both combatants and no hard feelings.

Though a solo artist, Morgan also recorded a fair number of duets either with established male ska stars or the female supporting vocalists of the era. In addition to the aforementioned Reid, Kong and Buster, Morgan worked with Coxsone Dodd and others producers. He would also produce some of his own recordings and those of other artists. He even brought his brother-in-law into the production field; the prolific Bunny “Striker” Lee. In spite of failing eyesight, Derrick Morgan still performs occasionally today.

Produced by Leslie Kong in 1967, Tougher Than Tough is a true example of grace under pressure. This classic and frequently imitated track was commissioned from Derrick Morgan under threat by a dangerous rude boy named Busby who wanted to be celebrated in song. And, as per Busby's requirements, the song had to be written, recorded and pressed for a dance that was just days away.

The resulting Tougher Than Tough is a good reminder that Duke Reid did not own a monopoly on crystal clean rock steady. With Gladstone Anderson's bright piano out front over Bryan Atkinson's bouncing melodic bass, rhythm guitar chirps from Lyn Taitt and drums from Joe Isaacs, Morgan is provided a rock steady backing as fresh as any. He rides the breeze right into a courtroom. A drama unfolds that has Morgan playing the judge, in a speak-sung role. Desmond Dekker, with his half-brother George in tow to provide harmony, play defiant rude boys on trial. And in rude boy fashion, they steal the show, harmonizing plaintively and getting much more mic time than headliner Morgan. The judge calls the court to order and reads a list of serious charges: “You're brought here for gun shooting, ratchet using, and bomb t'rowing”. The rude boys begin their defense, singing: “Your honor, rudies don't fear. Rougher than rough, tougher than tough, strong like lion, we are iron”. Their closing argument consists of, “Rudies are free, yeah, boy, rudies are free”. No doubt won over by a well sung legal argument featuring the irresistible power of Jamaican harmony, the judge agrees, declaring, “Court adjourned”.

Tougher Than Tough was great music and great fun. A big hit, it delighted rock steady fans. It also had a lasting impact resulting in reverberations of similar songs that spanned decades. Though not reggae's first courtroom drama (see Big Sid by golden-age mento band Chin's Calypso Sextet, previously described in the chapter on this group), it provided a particular template that others quickly followed. In particular, Prince Buster responded with a number of court records (Barrister Pardon, Judge Dread, Judge Dread Dance) where instead of being freed, the rudies received comically severe jail sentences. Morgan got the last word in this musical feud with his Judge Dread In Court, where the judge declares Buster a fraud and gives him jail time! Peter Tosh's Here Comes the Judge (a song described later in this book) finds historical figures of colonialism on trial. Even the 1970s UK ska revivalists The Specials got into the act, and quite nicely, as Stupid Marriage found the singer in divorce court. Peoples Court Parts 1 and 2 by dub poet Mutabaruka in 1991 and 1994 continued the form, now sporting a roots reggae sensibility.

But there was no bigger fan of the song than Busby himself. Ironically, the lifestyle that spurred the song would severely truncate his enjoyment of it. Celebrating wildly upon hearing it played at the dance, he spilled wine on a rival gang's girlfriends. Morgan well remembers the next night at the dance, when a youth of about twelve, hands shaking, shot Busby in the head in retribution, as Morgan stood dangerously close by.

Tougher Than Tough is readily available today on several Derrick Morgan CD collections. It was also featured on – and gave its name to – Island Records' biggest reggae compilation, the 1993 4-CD box set called Tougher Than Tough: The Story Of Jamaican Music.