Bob Andy

Bob Andy
Birth name Keith Anderson
Born 1944
Origin Jamaica
Genres reggae
Instruments Vocalist, Songwriter
Associated acts The Paragons

Bob Andy CD (born Keith Anderson,[1] 1944) is a Jamaican reggae vocalist and songwriter. He is widely regarded as one of reggae's most influential songwriters.[1]

Career

Bob Andy was one of the founding members of The Paragons, along with Tyrone Evans and Howard Barrett. His first solo hit record in 1966, "I've Got to Go Back Home," was followed by "Desperate Lover," "Feeling Soul", "Unchained," and "Too Experienced", amongst others.[2] He also composed songs for other reggae artists, including "I Don't Want to See You Cry" for Ken Boothe, and "Feel Like Jumping," "Truly," and "Melody Life" for Marcia Griffiths.[2]

He had several hits in the late 1960s, including "Going Home," "Unchained," "Feeling Soul," "My Time," "The Ghetto Stays in the Mind," and "Feel the Feeling".[1] Some of these, and his 1992 hit, "Fire Burning", have come to be regarded as reggae standards and several have been covered several times by other artists.[1]

In the early 1970s, he recorded with Marcia Griffiths as Bob and Marcia, under producer Harry J's tutelage. These included the UK hits "Young, Gifted and Black" and "Pied Piper".[1][3] In 1978, Andy put his music career on hold and concentrated on his career as an actor, starring in the films, Children of Babylon in 1980,[4] and The Mighty Quinn (1989).[1][5]

He relocated to London, where he worked as a producer and recorded with Mad Professor, and later to Miami.[2]

In 1997 he released a new album, Hangin' Tough, produced by Willie Lindo.[1]

Andy toured Africa for the first time in 2005, performing at the Bob Marley 60th birthday concert in Addis Ababa, and while in Ethiopia also sang at the President's Palace and gave benefit concerts for the Twelve Tribes organization at the Rastafari movement settlement at Shashamane.[6]

The Jamaican government conferred the Order of Distinction in the rank of Commander (CD) on Keith "Bob Andy" Anderson in October 2006 for his contributions to the development of Jamaican music.[7]

In March 2015 Andy was mugged on Mona Road in St. Andrew and robbed of JA$50,000 and two cellphones, the assailant slashing his left arm with a knife in the attack.[8]

Michael Prophet cites Andy as his main influence as a singer.[9]

Discography

Albums

Songwriting credits

[10]

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Harris, Craig "Bob Andy Biography", Allmusic, retrieved 12 January 2010
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Foster, Chuck (1999) Roots Rock Reggae, Billboard Books, ISBN 0-8230-7831-0, p. 243
  3. ↑ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 67. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  4. ↑ IMDb database (1)
  5. ↑ IMDb database (2)
  6. ↑ "Bob Andy Biography", BobAndy.com, retrieved 12 January 2010
  7. ↑ Campbell, Howard (2006) "ICON BOB ANDY - A songwriter of distinction", Jamaica Gleaner, 15 August 2006, retrieved 12 January 2010
  8. ↑ "Police probing Bob Andy mugging", Jamaica Observer, 17 March 2015. Retrieved 17 March 2015
  9. ↑ Peter I (February 2005). "Interview with Michael Prophet". Rebel Base. Retrieved 5 March 2008.
  10. ↑ Allmusic.com discography

External links