Leroy May, better known as Red Dragon and initially as Redman, is a Jamaican deejay born on March 18, 1966, in Kingston. He began his career in the early 1980s, performing with various sound systems including Barrington Hi Fi, Stone Love, People's Choice, and his own Rambo Mango. His breakthrough came with the popular "Laughing Dragon" dubplate, which led to a change of stage name to Red Dragon. Early recordings included "Computer" for producer Charlie Chaplin, "Nah Get Nutten" for Harry J, and his first big hit "Hol' a Fresh" for Winston Riley. Red Dragon went on to record for notable producers such as King Tubby and King Jammy. In 1989, he released his debut album, a split LP with his brother Flourgon titled Red Dragon vs. Flourgon. He also founded the Dragon label and ventured into production, nurturing the early careers of artists like Buju Banton and Terry Ganzie. Throughout the 1990s, Red Dragon enjoyed hits with producers including Winston Riley, Bobby Digital, and Sly & Robbie. His major hit single "Compliments on Your Kiss" featuring Brian & Tony Gold reached number 2 in the UK Singles Chart in 1994. Notable albums include Pum Pum Short (1992), Bun Them (1994), and Reggae Anthology: Winston Riley - Quintessential Techniques (2009). Red Dragon passed away on July 31, 2015, at the University Hospital of the West Indies after a period of illness.
