Barrington Levy

Barrington Ainsworth Levy was born on April 30, 1964, in Clarendon, Jamaica. His musical journey began in 1977 when he formed the band Mighty Multitude with his cousin, Everton Dacres. The duo released “My Black Girl.” The following year, Levy embarked on a solo career, releasing “A Long Time Since We Don’t Have No Love.” Though this single did not achieve widespread success, the fourteen-year-old artist quickly became a popular performer in Jamaican dancehalls. Early collaborations with record producers Hyman Wright and Henry “Junjo” Lawes led to a series of hit singles, including “Ah Yah We Deh,” “Looking My Love,” “Englishman,” “Skylarking,” “Wedding Ring Aside,” and “Collie Weed,” solidifying his position in the reggae landscape.

Levy continued to release successful singles and albums throughout the early 1980s, gaining international recognition, particularly in the United Kingdom. His 1980 album “Robin Hood” further boosted his fame. In 1984, he achieved a significant reggae chart hit with “Under Mi Sensi,” followed by the crossover hit “Here I Come,” which reached number 41 in the UK Singles Chart in 1985. His album “Here I Come” was a British hit, and he was awarded the Best Vocalist prize at the British Reggae Awards in 1984. The 1990s saw Levy’s vocals sampled extensively in jungle music, expanding his reach. His 1998 album “Living Dangerously” featured collaborations with Bounty Killer and Snoop Dogg, contributing to his increasing success in the United States. He has continued to tour and record, with his 2015 album “Acousticalevy” earning a Grammy Award nomination for Best Reggae Album.

In recent years, Barrington Levy has maintained an active presence in music. He has collaborated with diverse artists including the Long Beach Dub All Stars, Rascalz, K-os, Shyne, Aphrodite, Slightly Stoopid, and Mr. Vegas. In 2021, he was featured on the Gorillaz track “Meanwhile” alongside Jelani Blackman. In 2023, Rolling Stone ranked him at number 119 on its list of the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time, and he performed at the Glastonbury Festival. His album “Survivor,” initially planned with the working title “It’s About Time,” is still in progress, with the single “GSOAT” released in 2017.