General Echo was a Jamaican roots reggae deejay born Earl Anthony Robinson on December 8, 1955, in Kingston. He debuted on the recording “Ordinary Version” in 1972 with Bingy Bunny and Errol Thompson. Robinson founded the Echo Tone Hi Fi sound system in 1975. He released the solo recording “Track Shoes” in 1977 and his first studio album, Rocking and Swing, in 1979. His recording “Arleen” reached Number 1 in Jamaica in 1980. Robinson released music through labels such as Greensleeves and Island Records, including the track “Drunken Master”. His second studio recording, 12" of Pleasure, appeared in 1980. Robinson was shot and killed on November 22, 1980, in Kingston. Posthumously, the recording “Afrikan National Heroes” appeared in 1982, and the album Tribute to General Echo was released in 2000.
