Biography
Born (June 4 1966) June Evans, also known as Junie Ranks , is a female dj hailing from Kingston, Jamaica. Her journey in the reggae music industry began on the rural plains of Old Harbour, St. Catherine. Junie Ranks developed a deep love for the djing fraternity of reggae music from a young age and was influenced by artists such as General Echo, Lady Ann, Sister Nancy, Jackie Statement, Sister Verna, and Mama Liza.
Despite the challenges, Junie pursued her passion for music, creating her unique style in the male-dominated industry. She gained local recognition by performing at the community center youth club “Afrique” and became a sensation while djing on ET Sound System and Technique Disco. Her first big break came through her road manager, Everton March (Fatta March), who helped her enter the annual Taste’s Talent Concert in 1984, where she left a lasting impression on the audience. Ranks aimed for both local and international recognition, leading her to seek a suitable producer. She connected with Winston Riley, a prominent figure in the reggae/dancehall arena, who was impressed by her lyrical capabilities. This led to the recording of her first single, “Counteraction,” on the stalag rhythm, which gained popularity overseas.
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Junie Ranks continued her successful career, recording tracks like “Gi-Mi-Di Buddy” in response to Admiral Bailey’s “Gimmie-Punaany” and “Cry Fi Mi Boops” in response to Super Cat’s “See Boops Deh.” She recorded numerous other tracks, including “Big and Ready,” “Dibby Dibby Man,” “Naw Stop Ge Bun,” “Sweetest Girl” in collaboration with Wayne Wonder, and “Sea of Love” featuring John Mouse, which reached number one in Canada in 1990.
Throughout her career, Junie worked with top producers such as King Jammys, Steely & Clevie, Bunny Lee, Patrick Roberts, Donovan Germane, Black Scorpio, and the late King Tubby’s. In 1989, she received the Father Bins award for Female DJ of the Year. The “Big & Ready” dj distinguished herself by performing on various sound systems and sharing the stage with renowned artists like Maxi Priest, Bunny Wailer, Chaka Demus, Ninja Man, Freddie McGregor, Super Cat, Beenie Man, Shabba Ranks, and many more.
Biography text from Last.fm, available under CC BY-SA.