TRIBUTE TO FATHER BOGLE aka MR WACKY

This week Dancehall Saturdaze in Helsinki (Finland) hosts a Tribute to Father Bogle, the greatest dancer in the dancehall. I was in Jamaica in January 2005 when he was murdered, and the following events are forever ingraved in my memory: the terrible news and the shock, the investigations, John Hype's house burning, Beenie Man's 1million reward offer, the epic "nine nights" at the Black Roses corner, the funeral, and the annual tribute shows. Although his death was tragic, he had already made a huge positive impact both locally and internationally. One of Bogle's mottos and advice to the young dancers around him was "It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice". Mr Wacky is gone, but his dancing lives on.

FATHER BOGLE

Bogle (22 August 1964 – 20 January 2005), born Gerald Levy, and also known as Bogle Dancer, Mr. Bogle, Father Bogle, and Mr. Wacky, was a Jamaican dancehall star. His stage name was a reference to Jamaican National Hero Paul Bogle.

Bogle was called the "Dancehall Master" and was best known for his dancing. He had the ability to seemingly create dances without effort and his dances would become extremely popular. Creator of the Willie Bounce (named after Bogle's friend and Black Roses Crew member Willie Haggart), Wacky Dip, Urkle Dance, Sesame Street, Bogle Dance, Pelper, LOY, Jerry Springer, Zip It Up, Hotti Hotti Bogle, World Dance, Pop Yuh Collar, Row di Boat, Out and Bad, Sweeper, Stuckie, and many other popular dances. He was also in Belly.

BEENIE MAN - WORLD DANCE feat FATHER BOGLE aka MR WACKY



In the 1990s, Levy created the Bogle Dance, the scene's first crossover dance move. He was also a major influence on breakout artists such as Elephant Man and Beenie Man, who gave shout-outs to Levy in songs like "Row Like a Boat": "Seh Mr. Bogle have di brand new style/Come get di style, come get di style."

On January 20, 2005, Levy and four others were in his car at a shopping-district gas station, when two men on a bicycle rode by, shooting into the vehicle. The passengers were rushed to Kingston Public Hospital, where the forty-year-old Levy was pronounced dead. The home of John Hype, Levy's creative rival over the previous year, was burned to the ground just hours later. In the wake of Bogle's murder, Beenie Man offered a $1 million reward for the capture of the killers.

LEGACY

Bogle lives on throughout the dancehall community as Jamaica's greatest dancer of all time. Many dancehall artists and dancers respect "Father Bogle" and give him shout-outs in songs. Popular DJ Bounty Killer credits Bogle for making him want to dance. In 2005, the trio Voice Mail had the hit single "Wacky Dip" on the Junkanoo Riddim. Elephant Man who previously recorded songs for Bogle's dances had the hit single "Willie Bounce" which is by far one of Bogle's most popular dances. Buju Banton also recorded a song called "Bogle Dance", which was inspired by Bogle. In R&B singer Rihanna's music video Rude Boy, she is seen doing "The Bogle".




See also:
BOGLE INSPIRES A GENERATION: A LOOK AT JAMAICA'S MOST INFLUENTIAL DANCERS

Facebook event: DANCEHALL SATURDAZE - 90's SPECIAL on Saturday September 14 - Tribute to Father Bogle aka Mr Wacky - Jamaica's greatest dancer of all time