Bob Andy

In the late sixties,  Bob Andy was instrumental in raising social consciousness in Jamaican music to a new level, and by so doing profoundly influencing its future development. After leading the Paragons vocal group in the early sixties, Andy (real name Keith Anderson) cut a series of seminal rock steady classics for Coxson Dodd, most of which were ultimately assembled on the quintessential ‘Bob Andy Songbook’ album

In 1968, he left Dodd‘s employ to work with a variety of producers, most notably Harry Johnson for whom he recorded a version of Nina Simone’s ‘(To Be) Young, Gifted & Black’, on which he was partnered by the hugely gifted Marcia Griffiths. The recording went on to become a huge European hit, peaking at number 5 in the UK in the spring of 1970, with its success leading to an album of the same name by the pair, which was soon followed by a second, self-produced collection that included their second significant British chart success, ‘Pied Piper’.

After further international hits failed to materialise for Bob & Marcia, the pair decided to primarily concentrate on solo projects, with Andy quickly re-establishing his credentials, with his most immediate subsequent works including the magnificent Lloyd Charmers-produced ‘Fire Burning’ .

In 1976, he and Marcia re-united to record the album, ‘Kemar’ (later renamed ‘Really Together’), before cutting the sublime ‘Lots Of Love And I’ LP for Sonia Pottinger‘s High Note label. Later in the decade, he affirmed his acting abilities when he made his screen debut in the film, ‘Children Of Babylon’ and after a period away from the music business, launched his own I-Anka label in 1983.

In recent years Bob’s output has been sporadic, although occasional glimpses of his genius are apparent in such works as his 1997 LP, ‘Hanging Tough’.

In October 2006, he was accorded Jamaica’s ‘Order of Distinction’ for his outstanding contribution to the development of reggae music; few have been more deserving of such an honour.

LAURENCE CANE-HONEYSETT