Barrington Levy's Impact On The Reggae/Dancehall Genre

Barrington Ainsworth Levy, born on April 30, 1964, in Clarendon, Jamaica, is a renowned Jamaican reggae artist. He began his musical journey by forming a band called the Mighty Multitude with his cousin, Everton Dacres. In 1977, they released their first single, "My Black Girl." However, it was in 1978 that Levy established his solo career with the release of "A Long Time Since We Don't Have No Love." Although the single did not achieve much success, Levy became a popular performer in Jamaican dancehalls.

In the mid-1970s, Barrington Levy was introduced to record producer Henry "Junjo" Lawes through Hyman Wright, the brother of Delroy Wright. Hyman Wright had recorded numerous tracks with Levy, which later appeared on the album "Bounty Hunter." This album, released on the Jah Life record label, featured hit singles such as "Ah Yah We Deh," "Looking My Love," "Englishman," "Skylarking," "Wedding Ring Aside," and "Collie Weed," establishing Levy's career.

Following his initial success, Levy continued to release successful singles such as "Shine Eye Girl," "Wicked Intention," "Jumpy Girl," "Disco Music," "Reggae Music," "Never Tear My Love Apart," "Jah," "You Made Me So Happy," and "When You're Young and in Love." He also collaborated with artists like Toyan, Jah Thomas, and Trinity, and performed at the renowned Reggae Sunsplash festival in 1980 and 1981.

Levy's popularity grew internationally, especially in the United Kingdom, where he achieved significant success with his album "Robin Hood" in 1980. He ventured into production with the release of the showcase album "Run Come Ya" in 1981. During this time, Levy released a series of hit singles, including "Mary Long Tongue," "In the Dark," "Too Poor," "I Have a Problem," "Eventide Fire a Disaster," "I'm Not in Love," "You Have It," "Love of Jah," "Under Mi Sensi," "Tomorrow Is Another Day," "Robberman," "Black Roses," "My Woman," and "Money Move."

Levy's career reached new heights in the mid-1980s when he worked with producer Paul "Jah Screw" Love and toured the UK. His hit singles "Under Mi Sensi" and "Here I Come" gained significant popularity, with the latter reaching number 41 on the UK Singles Chart in 1985. Levy received the Best Vocalist prize at the British Reggae Awards in 1984.

In the late 1980s, Levy's recorded output slowed down, but he continued to perform and record regularly, making appearances at Sunsplash every year from 1987 to 1995. He experienced a revival in the 1990s with successful cover versions of Bob Andy songs, "My Time" and "Too Experienced," produced by Jah Screw. In 1991, he signed with Island Records for the album "Divine" and achieved another UK chart success with the single "Tribal Base" by Rebel MC featuring Levy.

During the 1990s, Levy released periodic hits in Jamaica and occasionally in the UK. His vocals were sampled and used in various underground and released jungle tunes. In 1998, he released the album "Living Dangerously," featuring collaborations with deejay Bounty Killer and Snoop Dogg, which gained success in the US. Levy also made guest appearances on tracks by Long Beach Dub All Stars, Rascalz, and Aphrodite.

In 2004, Levy collaborated on the album "White People" by Handsome Boy Modeling School and worked with Slightly Stoopid on their album "Closer to the Sun" in 2005. He continued to make guest appearances on various tracks and released the single "Love the Way She Love" with Mr. Vegas in 2013. Levy's album "Acousticalevy" was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album in 2016.

In recent years, Barrington Levy 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. Levy's talent and contributions to reggae music have solidified his status as a legendary artist. He has performed at prestigious events like the Glastonbury Festival, showcasing his captivating performances on the West Holts stage.

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