Keith Poppin is one of the most popular reggae veterans of all time, in Jamaica. Whilst he has released albums across the world, in the U.S. and U.K., his true success has been in his home country. He started out in the seventies, when he released his first album.

Keith Poppin was born in Kingston, Jamaica. He has been making enjoyable music since the seventies, and is waiting on the release of his newest album this year! There really is no stopping him.

Keith spent most of his career touring and recording around his home town and the rest of Jamaica, these were usually sell-out shows. He has changed slightly, since very roughly cutting his 1972 LP’s. He melds certain styles of rhythm and blues with more traditional reggae sounds, to bring a unique and electrifying performance, wherever he goes.

Keith Poppin had all of his older tracks re-mastered by the audio recording legend Jerry Andrews, the man responsible for mixing most of the best reggae in the world. His albums have sold many copies in his home land, but have not usually gone on general sale in other countries. It is, however, not unusual to find ’die hard’ United States and United Kingdom collectors on eBay purchasing his work from $75 and even up to $400, or more.

The best place to buy any music by Keith Poppin is in Jamaica. If you take a vacation over there, or even live there, it is a very good idea to go and check out the world famous record shop, The Derrick Harriott Record Store, located at the Twin Gates Plaza in Kingston. They stock a huge range of Keith Poppin’s music, even lots of his older and much rarer productions.

At present, Keith Poppin has released a re-mastered compilation C.D. of his songs from 1970-1979, entitled ’Get Together’. He is releasing a new album, called ’Tough’ later on this year. Keith is even still recording new tracks every day, so look out for more records as the years progress.

Popularity: 92% [?]

Omeil, or ‘The Lava Lady’, is seen as the best female reggae artist ever to release an album. She began her career early in the year 2001, when she recorded her first commercial single known as ‘Fret’. The single was not an instant success, although she managed to sell just over five thousand copies herself. Omeil’s first album entitled ’Reggae Sweetheart’ was downloaded over 150,000 times, and is still being sold today. She is also the most successful female reggae artist to date.

It was mainly in the year 2003 that Omeil’s career really took off. She released a single entitled ‘Hot Girls’ which was an overnight success. People could not get enough of her unique, yet traditional dancehall reggae sound. After her single had sold so well, she recorded and released her debut album, which held the number 20 position in Italy for a number of weeks, and stayed in their top 100 list for even longer.

It was in the year 2003 that ‘The Lava Girl’ was awarded the prestigious ‘Hip-Hop Palace’- Best New Female Reggae Artist, and the Most Promising Artist awards. Omeil has gone from strength to strength, recording further singles, followed by more albums.

Omeil’s influences do not follow the ‘norms’ of reggae music. Her musical influences include artists like Aaliyah, Whitney Houston, Lady Saw, and some genuine reggae legends such as Beenie Man. Omeil’s grandfather played a massive role in her musical life as he mentored and encouraged her throughout her life.

Omeil has featured in many publications across Jamaica, the U.K., U.S., Canada, but most of all Italy. Most of Omeil’s success has been in Italy and some of the surrounding European nations.

Currently Omeil is due to release her newest album, simply titled ’Lava Lady’. She is also working as the head of a division of Terrelonge Recordings.

Popularity: 96% [?]

One of the biggest names in reggae, Carlton Livingston was born in St. Mary, Jamaica, which is a trait shared by hundreds of popular reggae artists. Carlton Livingston was number four, in a family of six children. He started singing at a very early age as a choir singer in the local church of England. His sister were also choir singers and his mother was an organist.

Music was a huge part of Carlton Livingston’s life ever since he was a very young boy. His family supported him all the way to the top. His first semi-hit was recorded in 1978, called ’Tale of Two Cities’. The song was released in England and did hold a low place in the charts, for a short time. Carlton Livingston was soon approached by a man called Leon Symoie, from ’Trillseekers’ record label.

After being signed onto ’Trillseekers’, Livingston recorded enough songs to release his first LP, ’Soweto’. The album was a good success, but still not brilliant. He then looked to bigger things. Carlton moved and started a radio broadcast. He was picked up by Tony Walcott, who took them to reggae and D.J. training sessions, which led to huge ’underground’ success. In this time, in 1979, Carlton Livingston created and recorded over forty songs.

After his underground success, Carlton Livingston looked to the big time, recording tracks like ’Tricks’ and ’Hot Summer’. These were moderate hits in the U.K. and U.S. until 1982 when he went on a tour around North America, performing at some of the biggest and most popular venues across the nation. He then became hugely successful, performing at venues across London, the U.S. and Canada.

It is widely believed that Carlton Livingston is one of the best singers and songwriters of the eighties and early nineties. This has been demonstrated by the large number of other reggae artists that have performed and recorded cover versions of his songs. Carlton Livingston is now recording new material to be released in Jamaica later this year, but he is not as young as he used to be, so he is taking it easy at the moment.

Popularity: 91% [?]

Obviously, Bob Marley needs absolutely no introduction. Everybody in the world has more than likely heard one of his songs, whether it be something from his life, such as ‘African Herb man’, or something that was remixed and re-released after he died, like ’Sun is Shining’. Whatever the song, all of Bob Marley’s songs remain classics across the world.

Robert Nesta Marley was born in 1945, on February the 6th, in St. Ann (Jamaica). Amazingly, Bob Marley recorded his first single, ’Judge Not’, at the age of sixteen. He recorded under the different name of Robert Marley. He recorded his second single shortly after under the name of Bobby Martell. Neither of these songs were particularly successful. He decided to enlist the support of a man named Joe Higgs, who had already trained the collective of singers that became known as ’the Wailers’, who eventually joined Bob Marley. He settled on the recording name Bob Marley only a short few years later, recording his first song with ’The Wailers’, ’Simmer Down’, which became a number one hit instantly.

Over the next few years, ‘The Wailers’ recorded over one hundred songs. They were the first ever Jamaican band to hold five slots in the top ten, at one time. After a good number of years going through different record labels, before eventually splitting up. The band now became known as ’Bob Marley and the Wailers’, with the addition of ’The I-Threes’, a trio of female backing vocalists.

Bob Marley shot to fame quickly, releasing hundreds of songs. He was a firm believer in the traditions of the Rastafarians, he was definitely not just a pot smoking rebel. It was, however, his religious practices, including heavy smoking, that eventually killed him at the very young age of 36, when he was diagnosed with Melanoma cancer.

Bob Marley’s legacy still lives on today. Members of his family still go on tour around the world paying tribute to his memory and success. Compilation albums are always being released, and virtually every reggae artist thanks Bob Marley for his influence in their album credits. Bob Marley really has influenced an entire genre.

Popularity: 100% [?]

Anthony Red Rose was born in St. Mary’s, named Anthony C. Cameron. He was brought up in St. Catherine in Jamaica where he practiced his music as an alter server at the local Catholic Church in this Spanish village.

Whilst Anthony Red Rose is a fairly new name on the reggae scene, he recorded his first single in 1980, although it was not picked up by any record company until a little later. The one single to ‘make his career’, which still sells copies to this day, was called ‘Tempo’. The song joins the ranks of some of Bob Marley’s less commercial songs, and is sold on a compilation C.D. containing songs from some of the giants of popular reggae.

‘How Yu Fi Sey Dat?’ and ‘Raggedy Joe’ are the names of the two record labels that Anthony Red Rose started up. He has recorded songs with some of the latest and greatest reggae artists of all time, including Sly Dunbar and Beenie Man. He has also spent a lot of time writing and producing rhythms and tracks to back some of the most famous ‘underground’ reggae artists, including The Fire House Crew and Danny Brownie.

Anthony Red Rose has now released his own unique brand of reggae music all over the world. His sales are shooting through the roof, and his recording and production companies are worth hundreds of thousands, if not millions of dollars. His is a true ‘rags to riches’ story, coming from a small Spanish village, to owning several recording and production companies.

At present, Anthony Red Rose is focusing more on his recording and producing career. The reggae scene, as it is today, is not what it used to be, meaning there is less space for reggae veterans like Anthony Red Rose.

Popularity: 91% [?]

Part of the Reggae Road Block tour, Prophet Benjamin has established himself on his reggae journey with his most popular tune, ‘Field of Weed. Defining his excalibur authority chanting tunes on the ever-touchy subject of marijuana smoking.

Hailing from rural south Trinidad, Prophet Benjamin belts out heart felt melodies on a wide array of subjects, from women attracted to ‘pretty boys’, love and the HIV virus…in the hit, Delilah.

Delilah, a quite controversial song; but a reality in today’s world that is rampant with the AIDS virus. Each lyrical sentence warns people about not getting carried away with the physical, when we must also consider the diseases that exist.

Dubbed as a ‘real congo bongo’, Prophet Benjamin has injected the reggae vibe into the Caribbean, sharing stages with Marlon Asher, Gyptian and the Reggae Road Block team. Capturing crowds with his sensational voice, he is living his musical dream by entertaining crowds and captivating stageshows.

His musical style is, however, not the typical laid-back reggae, but more of an upbeat vibe…that exudes hyped-up vibe. A part of the reggae all-stars, he continued to captivate audiences worldwide.

Written by Jamie Jaggernauth.

Popularity: 27% [?]

Hearing King in this Jungle for the first time, I knew that this culturally minded youth would emerge as a reggae landmark for Jamaica. Growing up in Montego Bay, Jamaica, this talented youth was dubbed ‘Jah Cure’ by the infamous Capleton.

Ascending into the world of reggae at 18 years old, Jah Cure was cut off the music scene for some time serving in prison. However, his entry into the reggae scene was monumental, as his first hit was melodically coupled with Sizzla and produced by Beres Hammond.

This is where Jah Cure gained his inspiration as an artist; musically from Hammond and spiritually from Sizzla- who introduced him into the lifestyle of the Rastafarian. Mostly produced by Hammond, Jah Cure then began to spit out tune after tune in a steady stream, but the climb to fame was curbed in 1998 when Jamaican police stopped Jah Cure and was imprisoned on rape and armed robbery charges the following year.

Serving a 15-year sentence, Jah Cure has always stood his ground that he had been innocent. But solace is an elevating time for an individual; and in his seemingly darkest moments, Cure wrote and released his most infamous music. This was encouraged by a groundswell of support amongst reggae fans throughout the Caribbean- embellishing Cure as a reggae hero.

From this sentence, stemmed compilations like ‘Free Jah’s Cure’ and ‘Ghetto Life’; which kept the musician on the charts, and his fame spread through the Caribbean and Europe. At the Tower Street Adult Correctional Centre, Cure had access to a digital recording studio, and made use of his time exploring his musical talent. It was there Cure recorded some new tracks, which would appear next to his old hits on ‘Freedom Blues’, released by the VP label in 2005.

Jah Cure was released from prison in July 2007 and executed an astounding performance in Trinidad upon his release.

…don’t forget to check out our growing list of Reggae Artists!

Written by Jamie Jaggernauth.

Popularity: 41% [?]