STATIC/MAJOR TRIBUTE
Add to My Profile | More Videos
Static Major passed away Monday, February 25th, 2008 in his hometown of Louisville Kentucky.
Stephen "Static Major" Garrett, born in 1974, is an African-American producer and singer/song-writer from Louisville, Kentucky. He has worked with artists such as Aaliyah, Ginuwine, Destiny's Child, Brandy, and JoJo.
Static Major grew up singing solos in his church choir, of which his mother was the director and his mother was the director and his sister played piano. He continued to sing throughout high school, eventually teaming with local talent "Smokey" aka Smoke E. Digglera and "Black" aka Digital Black to form Playa. The trio caught the ear of DeVante Swing, a member of New Jack Swing phenomenon Jodeci, who helped Static hone his skills as a songwriter.
Playa was subsequently signed to Def Jam, which released their first and only disc, Cheers 2 U, in 1997. Playa disbanded due to creative differences with the label.
A number of his songs have appeared in films as well as in videogames. He has also collaborated with fellow producers Scott Storch, Timbaland, Dr. Dre, and Jazze Pha. More recently, he has worked with Pretty Ricky as well as David Banner's single "Crank It Up" as well as with Tank.
He was signed to the Blackground record label where he found his first breakthrough working with R&B singer Ginuwine. The single "Pony" became a major hit and a milestone in the careers of both Static and Timbaland. He then went on to produce Aaliyah's "Are You That Somebody?" featured on the Dr. Dolittle soundtrack. The exotic sounds of clicks, pops and a baby cooing stuck in the public's head and gave Aaliyah a big boost towards mainstream popularity.
He leaves behind a wife and three children and will be missed.
