Earl 16

Earl 16

Earl 16 is a reggae vocalist from Kingston, Jamaica, who begins singing after growing up in Waltham Park Road and being influenced by American soul and Jamaican singers including Dennis Brown. He first appears in local talent shows and becomes lead singer of The Flaming Phonics, performing live around Jamaica.

Early career

He leaves school to focus on music, which leads to his mother throwing him out of the family home. To earn money, The Flaming Phonics audition for producer Duke Reid, but leave before completing the session because of Reid’s habit of firing live gunshots in the studio. The group later works with Herman Chin Loy, and Earl 16 records his first solo track, Hey Baby.

After The Flaming Phonics split, he concentrates on solo work. In 1975 he records Malcolm X for Joe Gibbs, with the song written by his school friend Winston McAnuff. The track is later covered successfully by Dennis Brown.

1970s and early 1980s recording work

In 1977 he joins Boris Gardiner’s group, The Boris Gardiner Happening, which brings him into contact with Lee “Scratch” Perry. In the late 1970s he spends time with Derrick Harriott and records four tracks at Perry’s Black Ark studio, including the original version of White Belly Rat and Freedom. During this period he also meets Earl Morgan of The Heptones, who later produces his album Shining Star.

In the early 1980s he records singles for a number of producers, including Linval Thompson, Augustus Pablo, Clement Dodd, Sugar Minott, Yabby You and Derrick Harriott. He also records his debut album with Mikey Dread, Reggae Sound. He works with Roy Cousins on two albums, Julie and Special Request. Earlier Studio One material is later issued on the 1985 album Showcase.

England, later collaborations and albums

After time in the United States, he relocates to England in 1985 and works with producers including Mad Professor. From this period, he records a cover of Holding Back the Years, originally a hit for Simply Red. He later returns to Jamaica and works briefly with King Jammy.

In the 1990s he appears as a guest on recordings by Dreadzone and Leftfield. He also revisits his earlier song Trials And Crosses, originally recorded for Linval Thompson, as Release The Pressure. He signs to WEA for his major label debut, Steppin’ Out, in 1997.

Later activity

He continues to release albums and singles on a range of labels and performs live across Europe and the United States.