Barrington Levy

Born in 1964 in Clarendon parish, Jamaica, Barrington Levy made an early impression on the local scene before forming the duo The Mighty Multitude with his cousin Everton Dacres in the mid-1970s. He soon pursued a solo career, recording in Kingston for producer Henry “Junjo” Lawes, and positioned himself at the turning point from roots reggae to the emerging dancehall, releasing singles and albums such as “Bounty Hunter” (1979), “Englishman” (1979) and “Robin Hood” (1980). Fueled by Jamaica’s sound systems, his melodic singing—marked by distinctive vocal variations—rests on stripped-down rhythms that blend reggae, rub-a-dub and early digital sounds. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s Levy logged numerous studio sessions and collaborations with Jamaican and British producers, while tracks like “Here I Come” and “Under Mi Sensi” circulated widely in reggae and sound‑system circles. Firmly established on the border between reggae, dancehall and urban music, his voice has been covered, sampled or featured in hip‑hop and dancehall — notably alongside Bounty Killer and the rapper Shyne — anchoring his repertoire in an ongoing dialogue between Jamaica, the UK and North America.