b. Vivian Jackson, 14 August 1946, Kingston, Jamaica, West Indies. Yabby acquired his nickname from the drawn-out, chanting refrain on his 1972 debut single, "Conquering Lion": "Be You, Yabby Yabby You". Despite courting controversy in his repudiation of Rastafarian godhead Haile Selassie, in favour of a personalized form of Christianity, his output throughout the 70s and early 80s nonetheless rarely deviated far from the orthodox Rastafarianism typically expressed at the time. As leader of the Prophets (additional personnel at various times included Alric Forbes, Dada Smith, Bobby Melody and the Ralph Brothers), Yabby recorded a remarkable series of roots reggae classics, including "Jah Vengeance", "Run Come Rally", "Love Thy Neighbours", "Valley Of Jehosaphat", "Judgement On The Land", "Fire In Kingston", "Chant Down Babylon' and many others, mostly appearing on his own Vivian Jackson and Prophets labels in Jamaica.

With the release of Ramadam in 1975, the UK variation of the Jamaican-issued Conquering Lion (several tracks were different), Yabby swiftly acquired cult status in the UK, his name becoming synonymous with reggae music of a particularly deep, spiritual nature. The subsequent King Tubby dub albums (Prophecy Of Dub, King Tubby Meets Vivian Jackson, Beware Dub) are rightly regarded as classics. Jackson also gained a reputation as a producer of other artists, including DJs Trinity, Jah Stitch, Dillinger, Prince Pompado, Tapper Zukie and Clint Eastwood, and singers Wayne Wade, Junior Brown, Willie Williams, Patrick Andy, Tony Tuff and Michael Prophet. In the 80s he retreated from the music business as his health deteriorated, though he made something of a comeback in the early 90s with some new productions and the reappearance of many of his classic singles and albums, re-pressed from the original stampers to cater for the large European collectors" market.

-- Courtesy (Encyclopedia of Popular Music) --

Yabby You was born Vivian Jackson in a Kingston ghetto. By the time he was 17, Jackson was so malnourished that he had to be hospitalized. He eventually left with severe arthritis and crippled legs. While he could not work, he had musical talent and taking his cues from divine inspiration that he feels comes from the sounds of nature around him, and the help of friends founded a harmony trio, the Prophets, in 1972. They made their single debut with "Conquering Lion," a classically styled reggae song with a deeply personal message. They made a few more singles and eventually they all appeared on Jackson's debut album, Conquering Lion. Throughout the decade, he recorded frequently on his Prophets labels. He was closely affiliated with King Tubby, whose dubs often appeared on the B-sides of Jackson's singles. It was Tubby who gave Jackson his famous nickname Yabby You. Some of Yabby You's better-known albums from this period include Deliver Me from My Enemies (1977) and Chant Down Babylon Kingdom.

When not recording his own material, Yabby You launched the careers of other new singers including Michael Prophet, Wayne Wade, and Tony Tuff. He also began producing the early recordings of such performers as Willie Williams, Ras I-buna and Half Pint. A Yabby You-produced recording usually features a distinctive bass line combined with organs, horns and soaring harmonies that he uses to create a meditative, spiritual atmosphere. He continued recording steadily through the mid-'80s, and then abruptly stopped after a 1985 North American tour with his backup band, the Gladiators. He often needed crutches to perform. After that, he recorded, but nothing was released so in essence, Yabby You disappeared until 1991 when some of those recordings began to emerge. After that, he resurfaced and began releasing new and old material again. In 2000 he released a singles remix project with Glen Brown. The album included remixes of "Conquering Lion" by Smith and Mighty and a remix of Glen Brown by Small Axe and Terminal Head.

-- Courtesy (Sandra Brennan, All-Music Guide) --