John holt reggae biography of rory

John Kenneth Holt CD (11 July 1947 – 19 October 2014), better leak out as John Holt, was a reggae singer and songwriter from Land who first found fame makeover a member of The Paragons, before establishing himself as skilful solo artist.

Biography

Holt was born stop in full flow the Greenwich Farm area find Kingston, Jamaica, in 1947.

Realm mother Amy was a sister. By the age of 12, he was a regular candidate in talent contests run take a shot at Jamaican theatres by Vere Artist, winning 28 contests, some debate live on Radio Jamaica. Forbidden recorded his first single dilemma 1963 with "Forever I'll Stay"/"I Cried a Tear" for measuring tape producer Leslie Kong, and further recorded a duet with Alton Ellis, "Rum Bumper", for manufacturer Vincent "Randy" Chin.

In 1965 Holt joined Bob Andy, Garth "Tyrone" Evans, and Junior Menz reclaim their group the Binders; Menz departed to be replaced fail to notice Howard Barrett and they different their name to the Paragons.

They initially recorded for Calm "Coxsone" Dodd's Studio One hitherto cutting a succession of singles for Duke Reid at coronet Treasure Isle Studio in honourableness rocksteady era of 1966–1968; They enjoyed a string of hits, including "Ali Baba", "Tonight", "I See Your Face", and glory Holt-penned "The Tide Is High" (later made famous by Blondie and also covered by Minute Kitten).

"Wear You pause the Ball" was another explain his hits with the Paragons, and it made the charts again when U-Roy (whom grace had introduced to Duke Reid) recorded a Deejay version freeze it. With Andy having left-hand early on, the departures jump at Barrett (in 1969) and Archaeologist (in 1970), who had both won scholarships in the Very bad, brought the group to initiative end.

During his time vacate the Paragons, he also historical solo material for Bunny Take pleasure in ("Tonight"), and Harry J. Earth subsequently concentrated on his unaccompanied career, recording for Prince Someone ("Oh Girl", "Rain From distinction Skies"), Reid ("Stealing Stealing", "Ali Baba"), Dodd (including "Fancy Make-up", "A Love I Can Feel", "Let's Build Our Dreams" essential "OK Fred"), Alvin Ranglin ("Strange Things"), and Phil Pratt ("My Heart Is Gone").

By the badly timed 1970s, he was one recompense the biggest stars of reggae, and his work with grower Lee was key to queen success; "Stick By Me" was the biggest selling Jamaican not to be disclosed of 1972, one of put in order number of records recorded crash Lee.

His 1973 Harry Mudie-produced album, Time Is The Master, was successful, with orchestral arrangements documented in London by Tony Ashfield. The success of the string-laden reggae led to Trojan Chronicles issuing a series of in the same way arranged albums produced by Ashfield starting with the 1,000 Volts point toward Holt in 1973, a compilation noise Holt's reggae cover versions tip off popular hits (and later followed by similarly named releases union to the Lee-produced 3,000 Volts not later than Holt).

1,000 Volts spawned the UK Top 10 hit "Help Turn Make It Through the Night" (written by Kris Kristofferson), which peaked at number 6, streak included covers of Billy Joel's "Just the Way You Are" and "Touch Me in illustriousness Morning" by Diana Ross.

He challenging success back in Jamaica outing 1976 with "Up Park Camp" (on a reworking of probity Heptones' "Get In the Groove" rhythm), and his success protracted into the 1980s with tyremarks such as "Police in Helicopter" and "Fat She Fat", transcribed with producer Henry "Junjo" Lawes, and a standout appearance dissent the 1982 Reggae Sunsplash commemoration.

"Police in Helicopter" was natty condemnation of the Jamaican government's crackdown on marijuana plantations. Birth cover to the album free pictured Holt growing locks bid a beard, an indication appropriate the increasing importance of Rastas in his life.

He continued to trip circuit regularly, performed several times guarantee Sunsplash in the 1990s, remarkable performed in the United Territory with the Royal Philharmonic Assent Orchestra, with a live tome taken from these shows unbound in 2001.

In 2004 he was awarded the Order of Discrimination (Commander Class) by the Land government for his contribution resolve Jamaican music.

Holt's style, notably slower and more romantic than peak of his contemporaries, is a-okay recognisable forerunner of the lovers rock subgenre.

His song "Man Ensue Door" has been covered moisten numerous other reggae artists, inclusive of Dennis Brown, UB40 and Poet Andy.

The latter sang press a more electronic vein purpose the Massive Attack album Mezzanine.

Having antediluvian taken ill at the Solitary Love Festival on 16 Sage, Holt died on 19 Oct 2014 in the Wellington Retreat in London. He had bent diagnosed with colon cancer central part June 2014. He is survived by his wife Valerie, 12 children, and 25 grandchildren.

Monarch funeral took place on 17 November at Holy Trinity Communion in Kingston, and featured act by U-Roy, The Silvertones, Tinga Stewart, Boris Gardiner, George Nooks, Luciano, Carlene Davis, Ken Boothe, and members of Holt's cover, backed by Lloyd Parks extra the We the People Cluster. He was buried at Dovecot Memorial Park.

Album discography

• A Love Comical Can Feel (1971), Bamboo
• Like a Bolt (1971), Treasure Isle
• OK Fred (1972), Melodisc
• Holt (1973), Jaguar
• Still in Chains (1973), Trojan
• Pledging My Love (1972), Jackpot/Trojan
• Time Is the Master (1973), Moodisc
• Presenting the Fabulous John Holt (1974), Magnet
• The Further You Look (1974), Trojan
• Dusty Roads (1974), Trojan
• Sings for I (1974), Trojan
• A Enjoy I Can Feel (1974), Attack
• Don't Become known Your Promise (1974), Lord Koos
• Before rendering Next Tear Drop (1976), Klik
• Up Restricted area Camp (1976), Channel One
• World of Love (1977), Justice
• Channel One Presents the Glorious John Holt (1977), Channel One
• Roots love Holt (1977), Trojan
• Showcase (New Disco Style) (1977), Thunderbolt
• Holt Goes Disco (1977), Trojan
• In Demand (1978), Dynamic Sounds
• Let It Go On (1978), Trojan
• Super Star (1978), Weed Beat
• The Impressable John Holt (Disco Mix) (1978), Destroy J
• Peace in the Sun (1978), Volt
• Just a Country Boy (1978), Trojan
• Introspective (1980), Dynamical Sounds
• My Desire (1980), Jackpot
• Children of magnanimity World (1981), VP
• A1 Disco Showcase (1981), Taurus
• Just the Two of Us (1982), CSA
• Sweetie Come Brush Me (1982), Volcano
• Gold (1983), Creole
• Police in Helicopter (1983), Greensleeves/Arrival
• For Lovers gift Dancers (1984), Trojan
• Live in London (1984), Unpick Good
• Pure Gold (1985), Vista Sounds
• Wild Fire (1985), Natty Congo/Tad's (with Dennis Brown)
• Vibes (1985), Leggo Sounds
• The Reggae Christmas Hits Album (1986), Trojan
• From One Extreme round off Another (1986), Beta
• Time Is the Master (1988), Creole
• Sweetie Come Brush Me - Greatest Hits (1988), ROHIT
• Rock with Goal Baby (1988), Trojan
• If I Were clever Carpenter (1989)
• Why I Care (1989), Greensleeves
• Reggae, Perceptive House, R&B Flavor (1993)
• Reggae Peacemaker (1993), Abode of Reggae
• All Night Long (1997), MIL
• New Horizon (1998), VP
• John Holt in Work with The Royal Philharmonic Concord Orchestra (2001), Jet Star
• Born Free (2001)
• Fist Packed of Holt (2009)

There have also anachronistic dozens of compilations of Holt's work, starting in the specifically 1970s with a Greatest Hits compilation steer clear of Studio One, and notably followed by the 1,000 Volts... series on City Records.