Shaggy Research Paper

If you're an 80's or 90's kid, there's a good chance you grew up immersed in the flavorful get-on-your-feet lyrics of Shaggy. A musical pioneer who reshaped the world of reggae, he is fairly well known, primarily by his songs "Angel" and "It wasn't me." But have you ever wondered where this unusual artist came from, and what his story is? Be sure and check back for part two of this article, coming soon!

Number Fifteen: His Name Comes from Scooby Doo

At birth, he was given the name Orville Richard Burrell, and a little later in life, that was changed. His friends renamed him Shaggy because of his long locks of hair, and after a favorite cartoon character.

Number Fourteen: He Did Not Grow Up In The United States

Shaggy was born in Kingston,
He really wanted to get away from the guns, drugs and filth, so he decided to join the marines. Ultimately, it was not what he expected, and before he knew what was happening, he was driving a Humvee through Iraq in the middle of the Gulf War.

Number Twelve: He Was Not Afraid of a Challenge

After the war, Shaggy was stationed in North Carolina. Every single weekend, he would drive 18 hours to New York City, just to record some of his music. The passion had struck him hard, and there was nothing stopping him from fulfilling his dream.

Number Eleven: His Big Break Happened in 1993

Shaggy released his hit single, a remake of the song "Oh Carolina" and the world went wild! Suddenly, his career in music was taking off, the demand for Shaggy's voice was high, and he was traveling the world to preform everywhere.

Number Ten: Shaggy Wasn't Only Musically
He was on a couple of commercials, The Today Show, as well as special episodes of "All My Children" and "The George Lopez Show."

Number Nine: Michael Jackson Was A Shaggy Fan

That's right, the one and only Michael Jackson asked Shaggy to play at his 30th Anniversary show at Madison Square Garden in 2001. He told Shaggy that he felt personally connected to some of his lyrics, that it could have been something he would have written.

Number Eight: He is a Giving Man

"The Shaggy Foundation" annual fundraiser has earned an estimated 85 million Jamaican dollars (1 million US dollars) for a children's hospital in Jamaica. Shaggy was also a huge part of the "Food for Poor" performance, specifically set up to raise funds for the rebuild of homes in Haiti. We hope you enjoyed these facts; be sure and keep an eye out for part two, coming