Lee "Scratch" Perry

Everyone knows musicians are eccentric folk, but with some musical geniuses the line between brilliant and unhinged is so thin their stories become legend. Lee "Scratch" Perry is just an artist. With 54 studio albums under his belt, the Grammy-winning Perry got his start in Jamaica's mythical Studio One factory, later forming his own Upsetter label in 1968. In between a slew of hits with his band The Upsetters, he produced many of Mt. Zion's permanent residents: Bob Marley, Max Romeo, the Congos and more. Of course, he is also known for burning down his recording studio, on purpose, in a fit of rage. His commanding stage presence is accented with wild beads, colorful rags, toys, jewelry and burning (yes, burning) candles that adorn his body. So, in a way, his shows are like his career: the hits keep coming while the rest of humanity can only helplessly look on, dance and enjoy. - Mat Weir sanjose.com