Enos McLeod

Enos McLeod

Enos McLeod is a reggae singer and record producer from Trenchtown, Kingston, Jamaica, born in 1946. Before working in music, he trains as a cabinet-maker and also boxes. His early career develops through Studio One, where his debut release, “Mackie”, is produced by Sid Bucknor, then the studio’s resident engineer. Under Bucknor’s guidance, McLeod learns the basics of record production and soon has success with late-1960s work including “Young Love” by Lloyd Clarke.

Production work

McLeod produces recordings for a number of Jamaican singers, including Gregory Isaacs, Ken Boothe and The Gaylads. He also produces the first recording by Michael Williams to be credited to Prince Far I; earlier recordings by Williams appear under the name King Cry Cry, and McLeod gives him the new stage name. Another production credit is Augustus Pablo’s 1975 album Thriller.

Singing career

Alongside production, McLeod continues as a singer and has Jamaican hits with “Tel Aviv”, “Hi-Jacking” and “If You Love Jah”. He also records the combination singles “Jestering”, with Shorty the President, and “Jericho”, with The Mighty Diamonds. In the mid-1970s, Joe Gibbs employs him as a bouncer at his recording studio on Retirement Crescent, using his boxing background, and he also works on sessions with resident engineer Errol Thompson. Vocal sides from this period include “Money Worries”, and his biggest hit is “By the Look”, a version of Dennis Brown’s “Cheater”.

Later recordings

McLeod also records under the name Preacher, with singles including “Black Moses”, “Psalms of David” and “Rhythm Bible”. He continues recording intermittently and becomes based in Europe from the 1990s.

Selected albums and compilations

His discography includes By the Look in Your Eyes (1978), Ram Jam Party (1996), President Dance Hall Style (1997) and Love of My Life (2005). Compilations listed under his name include Telaviv (1981), Orbit Goodies Best (1995), Enos in Dub (1995), The Genius of Enos (1996) and Reggae Mix-Tures (2003), the last credited to Enos McLeod & Friends.