Janet Kay

Born in Willesden, in northwest London, Janet Kay sits at the crossroads of British reggae history, where lovers rock, reggae and soul meet. Appearing in the late 1970s, she first records under the impulse of Alton Ellis, after being spotted in a rehearsal studio, and then finds a wider echo with 'Silly Games' in 1979, a track written and produced by Dennis Bovell, which has become a lasting landmark of English lovers rock. Janet Kay's voice, supple and airy, sits within a melodic, soft and highly sung aesthetic, where reggae rhythms serve sentimental songs without losing their London urban anchor. Over the years, Janet Kay has pursued a regular career between the UK and Japan, with several albums released, including Capricorn Woman (1982), So Amazing (1988), Sweet Surrender (1989), Lovin’ You (1991) and Lovin’ You ... More (2003). Her career extends beyond music with acting work on British television, notably in the series No Problem!, as well as involvement in British Black theatre through the all-women collective BiBi Crew. Still associated with the rise of lovers rock, Janet Kay has also collaborated in the orbit of artists and groups such as Aswad and Dennis Bovell, while maintaining a line focused on romantic, understated and accessible reggae.