Orville Richard Burrell, better known as Shaggy, was born October 22, 1968. He is a Jamaican-American reggae musician, singer, D.J., and actor. He has several well-known hits, such as ‘Angel’ and ‘It Wasn’t Me.’ If you think his stage name sounds familiar, it may be because it is also the name of the main character from the popular children’s show “Scooby-Doo.” He is a philanthropist and runs an organization called “Shaggy and Friends,” which has donated more than $1 million and hospital equipment and machinery to the Bustamante Children’s Hospital in Jamaica. Let’s find out more about Mr. Bombastic himself!
Fast Facts
Full Name:
Orville Richard Burrell
Nickname:
Shaggy
Birth date:
October 22, 1968
Age:
56
Zodiac Sign:
Libra
Height:
5' 1.2"
Relationship Status:
Married
Net Worth:
$14 million
Background
Shaggy was born in Kingston, Jamaica, and a few years later, his family migrated to the U.S. He served as a U.S. Marine in the first Gulf War. Rumor has it that it was there that he spent his downtime writing music and perfecting his craft, resulting in the creation of his U.S. breakthrough single ‘Boombastic.’ After his stint in the U.S. Marine Corps, Shaggy decided to pursue his music career, and in 1993, his first single, ‘Oh Carolina,’ was released. This was a successful dancehall re-make of a ska hit by the Folkes Brothers. It was also in 1993 that he appeared on Kenny Dope’s hip hop album, “The Unreleased Project.”
In the years that followed, his only biggest release was ‘Boombastic.’ The subsequent lull in his career led his record label, Virgin, to drop him. He then signed with DreamWorks and released the album “Hot Shot.” The album produced two smashing hit singles, ‘It Wasn’t Me’ and ‘Angel.’ His career lull ended, as the two singles topped the Billboard Hot 100 and reached number one in the U.K., Ireland, Scotland, and France, among others. The album went on to debut at number one on the Billboard 200 and was certified eight times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America. His following two albums, “Lucky Day” and “Clothes Drop,” did not perform as well as “Hot Shot,” but his popularity did not wane and he began to do more live performances. Shaggy also went on to do a lot of collaborative work. In 2020, Shaggy and the world celebrated the 20th anniversary of his 2000 album “Hot Shot” by releasing an updated version of the album, called “Hot Shot 2020.” It includes a remix of ‘It Wasn’t Me,’ featuring Rayvon.
Throughout his interesting and fun-filled career, Shaggy has been nominated for seven Grammy Awards. He has won two for Best Reggae Album, with ‘Boombastic’ in 1996 and ‘44/876’ in 2019. He also won the Brit Award for International Male Solo Artist in 2002. Included in Shaggy’s long list of achievements is an honorary doctorate degree in fine arts, from Brown University, in May 2022.
Career timeline
Shaggy bursts onto the music scene with this first hit ‘Oh Carolina.’
‘Bombastic’ hits the charts and gathers a lot of airtime and popularity.
Shaggy wins Best Reggae Album with ‘Bombastic.’
Shaggy releases “Hot Shot,” which features the chart-topping singles ‘It Wasn't Me’ and ‘Angel.’
Shaggy performs the official song of the I.C.C. Cricket World Cup 2007.
Shaggy headlines the One Love Festival in Queensland, with his friend Sean Paul.
Why We Love Shaggy
He has had a long and consistent career
Shaggy has only had a couple of major hits. But he has consistently been on the music scene, either touring or collaborating with other artists.
He is open to all musical genres
Shaggy is a reggae and dancehall artist. But he has collaborated and worked alongside other artists from different genres, such as Sting and Kylie Monogue.
He gives back to his community
Shaggy has used his influence to raise funds for a hospital in his native country of Jamaica. Through his foundation, he provides funds and hospital equipment to children’s hospitals.
5 Surprising Facts
He was a Lance Corporal
As a Marine, Shaggy reached the rank of Lance Corporal but was demoted twice due to tardiness.
He made New York home
Shaggy moved to Brooklyn, New York, when he was 18 years old, to pursue his career in music.
His music is blended
His music is a mix of dancehall and reggae and Shaggy describes this blend as ‘dog-a-muffin.’
He had other career goals
Until he saw reggae star King Yellowman perform, Shaggy wanted to be a fireman.
He has ties to the Backstreet Boys
The Backstreet Boys opened for him on the European leg of his tour and he returned the favor by opening for them on their Black & Blue tour.
Shaggy FAQs
Does Shaggy have a wife?
Yes, he does. Shaggy has been with Rebecca Parker for 20 years but they only got married in 2014.
Does Shaggy have children?
Yes, he has five children. He has three daughters with Rebecca and two adult sons from a previous relationship.
How many records did “Boombastic” sell?
Boombastic has sold over one million copies in the U.S.
Shaggy’s birthday dates
Year | Date | Day |
---|---|---|
2025 | October 22 | Wednesday |
2026 | October 22 | Thursday |
2027 | October 22 | Friday |
2028 | October 22 | Sunday |
2029 | October 22 | Monday |