Horace Andy, also known as Horace Hinds, is a Jamaican roots reggae singer and songwriter from Kingston, Jamaica. Born in 1951, he begins recording in the late 1960s and becomes one of the most respected voices in Jamaican music. He is a Rastafarian, and his work often deals with religion and social justice.

Early recordings and solo albums

His first single, “This is a Black Man’s Country,” appears in 1967. His early studio albums include Skylarking (1972), You Are My Angel (1973) and Earth Must Be Hell (1974). Among his best-known songs are “Skylarking,” “Government Land,” “Angel,” “Five Man Army,” and “You Are My Angel.” He is also known for covers such as “Ain’t No Sunshine” and “Papa Was a Rolling Stone.”

Style and collaborations

Andy is recognised for his distinctive falsetto singing style. He works with a number of major reggae producers, including Phil Pratt, King Tubby and Prince Jammy, and his recordings place him within both roots reggae and dub traditions.

Work with Massive Attack

He reaches a wider audience in the 1990s through his work with English group Massive Attack. This association links him with trip hop as well as reggae, and he continues recording during this period. His album Living in the Flood is released in 1999 on Massive Attack’s Melankolic label. Another later album, Broken Beats, is released in 2013.