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Scion Sashay Success is a Jamaican born singer. His career took flight one September morning in the fall of 1982, Brooklyn, New York, when he visited Jah Life Records backbone executive, Percy Chin. After listening to his demo tape, they decided to work with him and by February 1983 they released Scion's first record, "Can't Leave Jah Alone" b/w "Dancehall Queen". The records' success and Scion's artistry indubitably made him New Yorks' ace reggae singer.

Singing at dances and duly becoming a part of the reggae music circle, Scion would, six months later, have a second release from the Jah Life camp (Ashantites) "Pain A Back" b/w "My Love". It blew a fresh breeze over New Yorks' reggae town, making significant dents in reggaes' rough frontier city. And now obvious was Scion's maturity as New Yorks' premier reggae singer.

This however, was the period when he was being called "Sammy Levi". In England (as was written on the Greensleeves release of his "It A Go Done" 12") and in Jamaica, on dubplate. An unfortunate mistake by Junjo Lawes who was "bigging" up his sound with exclusive Scion Success dubplates at that time. As it was, a dubplate of Sammy Levi in a batch of Scion Success dubplates, proved the name (Sammy Levi) easier to pronounce and so they called all the dubplates "Sammy Levi".

The mistake was eventually corrected somewhat and in those corrected areas we saw a new era of mispronunciation of Scion's name. The correct pronunciation however is "Skee-On"....think winter, snow and Ski....On!

Scion Success took it all in stride and only excelled to be rougher and by February of 1984, Jah Life Records release of "Put It On" b/w "Take It Off" gained him the notch as a decisive artist with credibility and endurance. In England, he was voted one of the best new reggae artists of '84 by Black Echoes Magazine, bringing New York reggae into a new international view.

A busy season at Jah Life Records found Scion recording for New York dj pioneer & producer, Mikey Jarrett, a 12" single called "Young African" b/w "Settle Them A Settle". Jah Life, also had him back in the saddle shortly thereafter with "Every Style Get Regular" b/w "If A Minstrel".

Scions' popularity had now taken on a more international focus. With a second release in England and a first in Jamaica, he made his first JA debut with the Black Cinderella, "Sister Carol", his stable mate all that time. It was to be, that a young Jammys (then with Chakademus, Nitty Gritty, Admiral Bailey and Tonto Irie, not yet tasting the fruits of success) would help set the stage. Jamaica now for the first time would get some of the American-Jamaican dancehalls vibes, after having flown so much Jamaican dancehall vibes to America. Scion Success and Sister Carol were the best ambassadors.

On return to New York, busy season at Jah Life found Scion again recording for another producer, Philip Smart, who had been his studio engineer on all his releases so far. The 12" single on Eclipse was called "Cry Fi Mi Girl". It was now July of '86 and Scion was making his debut on stage. Sharing audience with Super Cat, then famous as the Boops man, Tenor Saw, in his first NY appearance and Barrington Levy fresh from England with his big hit "Here I Come". Scions' performance raved outstanding, surprising many a doubtful Thomas to his unpretentious star quality.

In October, the same year, his debut album, "Success" was released by Jah Life and the cut "Sound Bwoy Fall" created havoc in the dance halls, and mimics of his style were heard all over the reggae world.

1987 marked an unprecedented five years in NY reggae for Scion, who had set the stage, opened the curtains and in mid-act found out that that the contributing actors did not know their lines. He released his manager just when the influx and birth of new artists and producers in the NY reggae scene began growing immensely, as he had expected. Again, he turned to his engineer, Philip Smart, for a new release, this time taming the Bob Marley *Piyaka* rhythm track (computer style) with "Jah Light Shining".

September of '87 Scion designated his hand at producing. He released a 12" on his newly formed label, Selectors Choice, entitled "No Worry You Mind". A classical treasure that has, is and will continue to prove its' lyrical and musical success as the years passed.

1988, the year of blessings, he found strength in unity and joined up with Philip Smart to produce another 12" for Eclipse entitled, "Nuff A We A Rude Boy" which followed up with the LP "In The Balance", his second in six years.

Scion has yet to pose for a promotional picture of any kind and though many are awed, his fans increase just the same. The shows he does are rare delights and to his fans, excitement. His artistry embodies a lyricist whose vision, is.

***Editors' note: The bio ends here, all additions are welcome and due credit will be given. Please email me if you have anything you'd like to add. Email SilkAgency

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