Best-known as the singer/toaster and co-frontman of the English Beat and General Public, Ranking Roger was born Roger Charlery in Birmingham, England, on February 21, 1961, and became a punk rock fan as a teenager. He joined ska revival pioneers the English Beat in 1978, where he teamed with singer Dave Wakeling to give the group a unique one-two punch out front. After three albums (including the brilliant I Just Can't Stop It), Wakeling and Roger departed in 1983 to form the more pop- and soul-tinged General Public, which also included members of the Specials and Dexy's Midnight Runners. General Public recorded two albums (1984's All the Rage and 1986's Hand to Mouth) before going their separate ways. Roger soon returned to his reggae roots, working with Pato Banton (who had made his debut on the English Beat's last album) and releasing his reggae-oriented solo debut, Radical Departure, on IRS.
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