Rikrok
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| Rik Rok | |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Ricardo George Ducent |
| Born | 17 June 1972 |
| Origin | London, England |
| Genre(s) | Reggae |
| Occupation(s) | Singer |
| Associated acts | Shaggy, Rayvon |
| Website | RikRokSite.com |
Rik Rok (born Ricardo George Ducent, 17 June 1972, London, England) is an English based singer.
[edit] Life and career
Rikrok's parents migrated from Jamaica to England in the mid 1960s in search of greater economic opportunities but never lost touch with their roots. Jamaican music played a great role in Rikrok’s childhood. “When I was growing up it was pretty much Jamaican people who came over” he recalls. "My father was a big reggae fan, especially of Gregory Isaacs, John Holt and Dennis Brown. He had a big record collection and on Sundays he would play music all day at home".
Rikrok was eleven years old when he returned to Jamaica with his family. While attending Manchester High School in Mandeville, Jamaica, he discovered his singing talent and soon realized he had a flair for songwriting. "One day I was listening to Babyface’s Tender Lover album and I remember thinking, I could probably be a songwriter", Rikrok says. "So I wrote a song, put it down, came back to it and tried it again. Then I started writing more and more songs. I wasn’t really good at it first; some of them were really corny, really stupid. But it was just a hobby and I never thought anything would come from it because it seemed like a completely unreachable dream being in the music business".
After completing high school, Rikrok enrolled in Jamaica’s University of the West Indies, (UWI) but never abandoned his musical aspirations, entering several school talent shows and receiving very enthusiastic responses. In 1995 he embarked on his first tour as a backing singer for dancehall diva Patra, where he gained invaluable stage experience. When that tour ended, he returned to UWI to complete his education. After a brief stint performing with the Jamaican R&B/reggae vocal quartet, Lust, Rikrok was offered a songwriting deal by Shaggy’s manager, Robert Livingston. He would write songs, create rhythms on his home computer and send the demos to Livingston in New York.
Rikrok rocketed to stardom, neglecting the instructions of denial dispensed by Shaggy, on their number one hit, "It Wasn't Me".
When Shaggy commenced work on his Hot Shot album, Rikrok played a pivotal role in the songwriting process. Ignoring Shaggy’s advice and admitting his romantic indiscretions earned the hitherto unknown singer-songwriter a presence on music charts around the world, creating a demand for his own debut solo album. However, singing lead on "It Wasn’t Me", one of the biggest hits of 2000, starring in the song’s equally popular video, as well as performing to stadium sized crowds throughout the summer of 2001 were never a part of Rikrok’s plan.
Sting International, who produces for Shaggy, said "Let’s use Ricky on 'It Wasn’t Me'". Rikrok sang and co-wrote both "It Wasn’t Me" and "Chica Bonita" with Shaggy, and shared co-writing credits on an additional six of Hot Shot’s fourteen songs.
Hot Shot has sold more than 12 million copies worldwide, providing Rikrok with a huge international fan base that eagerly await the release of his debut album. However, he has currently not released any solo albums. RikRok at Big Yard Music - RikRok-Music.Com
[edit] Discography
[edit] Singles
- 2000 "It Wasn't Me" (Shaggy featuring Ricardo "RikRok" Ducent) #1 U.S., #1 UK
- 2004 "Her Eyes" (RikRok featuring Shaggy) #57 UK
- 2005 "Should I Tell Her" (RikRok)
- 2006 "Tell Me Why" (RikRok)
- 2006 "Forever" (RikRok)
- 2007 "My Love" (RikRok)
- 2007 "Bonafide Girl" (Shaggy featuring Ricardo "RikRok" Ducent)
