Freddie McGregor

One of reggae's smoothest and most soulful stars of the 1980s, Freddie McGregor represented the more romantic side of the genre known as "rocksteady" and "Lovers Rock", with 50 years' experience in the industry. Born in Clarendon, Jamaica, McGregor started recording for local ska groups at just seven-years-old under the guidance of legendary producer Coxsone Dodd, and released singles for his Studio One label as Freddie & Fitzroy with Ernest Fitzroy Wilson. He became a big part of the studio throughout the 1970s, before becoming influenced by American soul and Motown, converting to Rastafarianism and writing his own songs, including national hits Mark Of The Beast, Africa Here I Come and Big Ship. Early album Bobby Bobylon (1980) proved a classic of the era and garnered him attention in Britain, where he hit the Top 10 with 1987 single Just Don't Want To Be Lonely and established himself as part of the post-Bob Marley reggae scene. Setting up his own label and studio and collaborating frequently with Dennis Brown during the 1990s, he returned with the acclaimed roots reggae record Signature in 2000, before earning a Grammy Award nomination for Anything For You (2003) and releasing his 40th album Di Captain in 2013.

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