HORACE ANDY

Born Horace Hinds in Kingston, Jamaica in 1951, Andy came to the fore in the second wave of great Reggae singers, a continuation of the legacy created by legends such as John Holt and Delroy Wilson. What made Andy different from his peers was his distinctive powerful vocals coupled with an original delivery.

At age Twenty, Andy started his musical apprenticeship working at the legendry Studio One for Coxsone Dodd. It was Coxsone that put together the name Horace Andy a take off from Bob Andy, of “Young, Gifted and Black” fame. Dodd apparently saw a similar writing style and not doubt hoped his young charge might have some of the same success.
Andy’s first recording would be “Something on my Mind”, which did get much recognition in the Jamaican charts.
The first classic would soon come when Horace still only twenty-one. “Skylarking”, a simple record with a very catchy riff was his first commercial success. This was followed by “Love of a Woman” and “I Found Someone”.
By the early seventies he would be one of the most popular singers in Jamaica. He moved on to work with to work with Bunny Lee a good fit personally and creatively as Andy had just converted to the Rastafarian faith. The music recorded with Bunny had an earthier; roots feel as the Dub production style began to grow in popularity. Horace would also rework some of his back catalogue including “skylarking” which morphed into a heavy dub groove and was a massive hit all over again. Other greats like “you are my Angel” and “My Guiding Star” quickly followed.

Mid 70s saw Andy work with New York producer Everton Dasilva, this would prove to be a strongly creative period for Andy and Reggae music in general. Its culmination resulting in Andy delivering “In the Light”. An album acclaimed in the Reggae world but not a commercial success as Reggae music headed into its 1980s slump.

Most recently his work with Massive Attack would bring Andy into the light again... Horace would contribute to the Trip Hop outfit’s groundbreaking “Blue Lines”, “Protection” and “Mezzanine” albums. Outstanding vocals on tracks like “One Love” and “Hymn of the Big Wheel” would see him introduced to a whole new generation of roots ravers.

Top Tracks

1 Love of a Woman
2 Skylarking
3 Sea of Love
4 You are my Angel
5 Hymn of the Big Wheel

Recommended Albums (click to preview)

Skylarking: The Best of Horace Andy
In the Light/In the Light Dub
Living in the Flood