Jimmy Riley

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Jimmy Riley
Riley pictured in 2010
Riley pictured in 2010
Background information
Birth nameMartin James Norman Riley
Born(1947-05-22)22 May 1947
OriginKingston, Jamaica
Died23 March 2016(2016-03-23) (aged 68)
New York City, United States
GenresSka, rocksteady, reggae
Occupation(s)Singer, record producer
Years activeMid-1960s–2016

Martin James Ziggy Norman Riley (22 May 1947 – 23 March 2016), better known as Jimmy Riley, was a

the Sensations and The Uniques and was the father of Tarrus Riley.[1]

Biography

Martin James Ziggy Norman Riley also known as Jimmy Riley was born in Jonestown,

Sly & Robbie's Taxi productions. In 1983, Riley topped the UK reggae chart with his version of Marvin Gaye's "Sexual Healing".[6][7] In the late 1980s, Riley moved to Miami
, and put his career on hold, but returned to Jamaica in the early 1990s.

Riley's son Tarrus followed him into music and the success of Tarrus gave a boost to Jimmy's career.[8] They performed together several times, headlining a number of festivals including the Ocho Rios Seafood Festival in 2007.[9] Jimmy Riley's album release in 2008 Sly and Robbie Presents Jimmy Riley: Pull Up Selector saw him again working with Sly & Robbie, and features Tarrus on the title track, which was also released as a single in 2008.[10]

In September 2013 he released the album Contradiction, that featured guest appearances from his son Tarrus, Sizzla, and Fantan Mojah.[11]

He died on the morning of 23 March 2016 in New York from cancer, aged 68.[12][13][5]

Discography

  • Tell The Youths The Truth (1978), Trojan
  • Majority Rule (1978), Burning Sounds
  • Makossa International Records Presents Jimmy Riley (1978), Makossa International
  • The Jimmy Riley Showcase (1978), Burning Sounds/Yes/Makossa International
  • Rydim Driven (1981), Taxi aka Love & Devotion (2000),
    Rhino
  • Put The People First (1982), Shanachie
  • Magic (1984), Imp
  • World for Everyone (1985)
  • Love Fa Real (1995),
  • Attention (1996), Abraham
  • Rock On (1998), Charm
  • Someone Like You (1998), Nyam Up
  • Love Canticle (2000), Charm
  • Jimmy Riley Now (2001), Jet Star
  • Sly and Robbie Presents Jimmy Riley: Pull Up Selector (2009), Taxi
  • Contradiction (2013) VP
Compilations
  • 20 Classic Hits (1993), Sonic Sounds
  • Live It To Know It (2015), Self productions, Protest Songs & Dub Plates 1975 – 1985: Pressure Sounds

References

  1. New York Times
    , 21 August 2009, retrieved 31 August 2009
  2. ^ Meschino, Patricia (2016) "Legendary Jamaican Singer Jimmy Riley, 68, Dies In New York", Billboard, 28 March 2016. Retrieved 9 April 2016
  3. ^ Note: At the time of his death some sources indicated a 1954 birth date, but later corrected it to 1947.
  4. ^ , p. 87
  5. ^ a b Morgan, Simone (2016) "Devoted to Jimmy", Jamaica Observer, 7 April 2016. Retrieved 9 April 2016
  6. ^ , p. 251
  7. ^ Leggett, Steve "Jimmy Riley Biography", AllMusic
  8. Jamaica Gleaner
    , 22 July 2007, retrieved 31 August 2009
  9. Jamaica Gleaner
    , 17 July 2007, retrieved 31 August 2009
  10. Jamaica Gleaner. Archived from the original
    on 1 February 2009. Retrieved 31 August 2009.
  11. ^ Campbell, Howard (2013) "Riley Exposes Contradiction Archived 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine", Jamaica Observer, 17 October 2013. Retrieved 18 October 2013
  12. ^ Britton, Luke Morgan (2016) "Reggae singer Jimmy Riley dies at the age of 68", NME, 29 March 2016. Retrieved 9 April 2016
  13. ^ Henry, Balford (2016) "Reggae artiste Jimmy Riley dies at 61", Jamaica Observer, 23 March 2016. Retrieved 23 March 2016

External links