Pan Head
Pioneers & 90s Icons
known for
A rising dancehall deejay known for gun-themed lyrics such as "Gunman Tune," whose unsolved murder in 1993 shocked Jamaica's music community.
record
- Birth name
- Anthony Johnson
- Born
- October 28, 1966, Islington, Saint Mary Parish, Jamaica
- Died
- October 10, 1993, Marverly, St. Andrew, Jamaica
Full biography
Pan Head, born Anthony Johnson, emerged as a dancehall deejay in 1985. After several years working with the Love Vibration and Scorpio sound systems, he released his debut single, "Gimme Lickle Lovin'," in 1988. Early releases such as "Respect Gunman," "Punny Printer," and "Gunman Tune" quickly found popularity in Jamaica and established him as one of the notable voices in the gun-lyrics subgenre of late-1980s dancehall.
Widely regarded as a rising star, Pan Head's career was cut short when he was shot dead by three gunmen as he and two friends left a dance in Spanish Town in October 1993, at the age of 26. He left behind a widow and two children, and the crime was never solved.
His death reverberated through Kingston's music community and prompted a wave of tribute recordings: Capleton released "Cold Blooded Murderer," Buju Banton put out the single "Murderer," and Beenie Man and Luciano collaborated on "No Mama No Cry," which reached number one in Jamaica.
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