Eek-A-Mouse
Biography
Ludicrous, bizarre, and uniquely original, few DJs have made such a splash in the dancehall scene than Eek-A-Mouse. An artist who in any other country would have been a one-hit wonder, in Jamaica became a household name having invented a whole new vocal style, sing-jay, flooding the airwaves with his catch phrases and going on to become a respected toaster. Eek-A-Mouse didn't start out as a novelty act. He was born Ripton Hilton in 1957 in Kingston, Jamaica, and his first foray into the music world was as a cultural roots singer.
While barely out of his teens and still in college, Hilton released two singles in the mid-'70s, "My Father's Land" and "Creation," to an apathetic public. Not discouraged, the young man continued plugging away, DJing for a variety of sound systems while also releasing occasional singles, all under his real name. To his friends, however, he was known as Eek-A-Mouse. A rather cruel jab, for that was the name of the losing racehorse Hilton kept throwing his money away on; of course as so often happens, the one time he declined to bet was the sole time the obstreperous equine won. The name stuck and by 1979, the singer decided a change was in order, and placed his musical fortune on this new moniker. That year, Eek-A-Mouse went into the studio with producer Joe Gibbs and walked out with the sizeable hit "Once a Virgin." His follow-ups in 1980, "Wa-Do-Dem" and "Modelling Queen," were equally successful, while the Bubble Up Yu Hip album, produced by Linval Thompson, proved that a growing share of Jamaicans were taken by the Mouse experience.
Before the year was out, the artist had joined forces with producer Junjo Lawes and remixer Scientist. Backed by the Roots Radics, Eek cut "Virgin Girl" and "Noah's Ark," before having another go at "Wa-Do-Dem." The latter did the trick and Eek-A-Mouse had arrived with a sound so unlike any other, equal parts singing, DJing, and disconcerting Oriental-esque weirdness, that soon all of the island was raving about the rodent. He was the toast of Reggae Sunsplash in 1981, his bubbling lunacy providing a cathartic release to a festival otherwise in mourning for Bob Marley. "Biddy biddy beng" roiled out across the crowd, and the audience shouted it back as one, instantly cementing the syllables as the catchprase of the new decade. Eek saw out the year with the holiday hit, "Christmas A-Come."
1982 was the year of the Mouse, with a litter of smash singles including "Wild Like a Tiger," "For Hire and Removal," "Do You Remember," and "Ganja Smuggling," and the seminal album Wa Do Dem, rounding up most of the hits and more. With "Operation Eradication," Eek proved there was a thinking man inside the mouse costume on a single inspired by the tragic vigilante killing of close friend and fellow DJ Errol Scorcher. A rabid appearance at Reggae Sunsplash was also captured on tape and released in 1984. Skidit appeared before the year closed and although it was less hit-driven than its predecessor, was just as strong nonetheless. More smash singles followed in 1983, while Mouse and the Man proved to be another classic set. Again produced by Linval Thompson and backed by the Roots Radics, this remains one of the artist's masterpieces. The following year's Mouseketeer, produced by Junjo Lawes, included several hits, while also taking on contemporary issues and finally answering fans' number one question on "How I Got My Name."
In 1985, Eek began working with producers Anthony and Ronald Welch, for whom he recorded the Assassinator album, which was his U.S. debut. It was a rather depressing and violent affair thematically, although even the most serious subjects have a comic irony under the artist's oddball delivery. Surprisingly, or not, Eek's international audience was found amongst the rock crowd. Which explains why The King and I, also released that year, was recorded in the U.K. with producer Cliff Carnegie. But it was on 1988's wittily titled Eek-A-Nomics that the DJ began seriously courting this new audience. Bolstered by the hit single "Freak," a version of the Addams Family theme song, Eek signed to the Island label the following year and even grabbed a role in the film New Jack City. The U-Neek album was the pinnacle of cross-pollination between reggae and rock, highlighted by a cover of Led Zeppelin's own Hindenberg attempt at reggae, "D'Yer Maker." The album also spawned the hit single "You're the One I Need." Unfortunately, this was to be Eek's first and last album for Island. It wasn't until 1996 that a new full-length, Black Cowboy, appeared. ~ Jo-Ann Greene, All Music Guide
Selected Discography

Eek-A-Speeka
2004

Mouseketeer
2004

Mouse Gone Wild
2004

Very Best Of Eek-A-Mouse, Vol.2
2003

Eek-A-Nomics
1988

Mouse-A-Mania
1988

The Very Best Of Eek A Mouse
1987

The Mouse & The Man
1983

Wa-Do-Dem
1982

Eeksperience
I'VE HEARD TH' STORIES I DON'T KNO F ANY CHIK COULD TRUST HIM. HE MADE GOOD MUSIC BUT GOT CAUGHT UP IN TH BIZZBUZZ OF SUPERSTARDOM . TRY TO FIT THEM SHOES
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Big crackhead, He did his last CD in San Diego Ca. And boy was he cracked out! what up to Big Brad producing the EEK's sound's
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EEK is THE MAN. Saw him in Milwaukee of all places in the early 90's, he put on one of the best shows I have ever had the pleasure to attend. His "riddim"
section and horns section layed down some of the thickest sounds I have heard yet. It was infectious, EVERYBODY in the club, black and white moved as one and it brought us all together as ONE. Check him out. |
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Catch his show at the Tavern In San Juan Capistrano CA, tomorrow night!! 11-21 see you there!!! This show will be off the hook!
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Listten to The story EEK-A-MOUSE has to tell, only the truth and pos vibe from the heart and soul. The truth be told in the word of JAH!!!!!
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Get n the toaster n jam some ee k a mouse bitty bitty bong bitty bang bang bitty bing
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Just saw him and Barrington Levy last night at We the People! AMAZING SHOW!!! Has to be among the all-time greats of reggae... 'Nuff respect!
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saw him live july 17th w/ the wailers and pato banton...Awe s o m e show!
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reggae on the river - Northern Cali - Music in the park - San Jose,Ca - the Catalyst - Santa Cruz, Ca. He's the Sh@#$!
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Bomb Performer... b e e n a fan since early 90's Beach show in Rosarito Beach, Baja Mexico. Just saw him 2 weeks ago in Phoenix, Arizona, I'll drive all night to see him and all the party people...dud e is still killing it. Much Love.
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i have been following eek a mouse since the early 90s ,he has not lost a step ,only getting better!
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I&I saw the mouse just last night in Malibu Ca. He's still rocking crowds like no other! peace & love to the mouse. If you ever get the chance to see the mouse live don't miss it.
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first time hearing it, very different so I like it, I had heard of him many years ago, he used to play every year at the Reggaefest in Bakersfield, don't know why I've stayed away from reggae for so long, I guess that is all ending this year
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saw him on stage 6'7" tall and more truly a magic man delivering his poetic verses you either love or hate him he to me is GREAT !!!!!!!!
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erezl i saw them in seattle at the bumbershoot festival amazing they played the there longest show i was the guy in the front row going crazy love it mankeep it coming
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Eeka magic always picks me up.Thanks for the killer tunes Eeka. Big ups from BFLO N.Y,
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Great musician i love the note switches from high to low note. i once went to his concert and danced with him on stage. haha fun memories with a ragga rasta man. he sure can play a set!
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Great music, it just annoyed me when I saw him live and he kept using his bitty bong bing bing bada bing fillers the whole concert, but other than that great music...
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