For an artist born in the ‘30s and who has been a huge influence in the development (even the invention) of reggae and dub music, an attempt at a brief overview of his works is laughable.

Biographer Dave Katz spent 10 years chronicling Perry’s life and has only just released the culmination: People Funny Boy: The Genius Of Lee “Scratch” Perry.

Most people will associate Perry with Bob Marley – a link that marks a starting point in Perry’s strange and remarkable musical history.

He produced some of Bob Marley and The Wailers’ finest work at his Black Ark studio, which was burned down by Perry in what is largely believed to have been a fit of acid-induced insanity. He claims faulty wiring was the culprit.

From his label Upsetter Records, to the Black Ark studio, to his massive repertoire of recorded and produced works, the Old Upsetter himself is a Goliath of reggae music. While the debate lingers over whether Perry or King Tubby invented dub music, no question surrounds his importance to the island beat.

Perry left Jamaica a few years ago and now resides in Switzerland. He doesn’t perform much, although he did play a few shows in the States earlier this year and often pops up in reggae music documentaries.

His performances are always unpredictable, but that only makes the shows – and his legend – more fascinating.