John Holt is a Jamaican reggae, rocksteady and ska singer and songwriter from Kingston, Jamaica. Born in 1947, he first becomes known as a member of the Paragons before establishing a long solo career. He dies in 2014 in London.

Early career and the Paragons

Holt begins performing in Jamaica’s talent show circuit, entering his first contest in 1958 and winning repeatedly over the next four years. His early breakthrough comes through producer Leslie Kong, who records his debut single, and he later works with producer Clive Chin on a duet with Alton Ellis. In 1964 he joins the Paragons, replacing Leroy Stamp. Around the same period Junior Menz leaves and Howard Barrett takes his place, with Bob Andy and Tyrone Evans completing the line-up. Holt takes on the roles of composer and arranger, and the group adapts to the slower rocksteady style as ska declines.

By 1968 the Paragons are one of Jamaica’s leading vocal groups, with many of their releases becoming hits. Holt writes much of their material, including songs that other singers later cover. He also starts a parallel solo career in 1968, recording for Bunny Lee and Harry J. The Paragons continue after Bob Andy leaves, but the group ends in 1970 when Evans and Barrett go to the United States after receiving scholarships.

Solo work and major songs

Holt then increases his solo recordings and works with a range of producers, including Coxsone Dodd, Duke Reid, Prince Buster, Alvin Ranglin, Phil Pratt and Bunny Lee. His recordings with Dodd include “Tonight”, “Stranger in Love” and “A Love I Can Feel”, the last of which also gives its title to a 1971 album. Another 1971 album, Like a Bolt, collects recordings made with Duke Reid and includes “Ali Baba”, which becomes one of Reid’s most versioned rhythms. Other notable songs from this period include “Rain From the Sky”, “Son of the Wise” and “My Heart Is Gone”.

His cover of “Stick By Me”, arranged to fit the John Crow dance craze, stays in the Jamaican charts for 23 weeks and becomes the year’s biggest-selling single. A number of his albums are also issued in the UK by Trojan Records. Holt and Still in Chains appear in 1973, while 1974 brings The Further You Look, Dusty Roads and Sings for I, which emphasise ballads and include many self-written songs. That same year he records Presenting the Fabulous John Holt, with Duke Reid’s roots-oriented production, A Love I Can Feel, with Coxsone Dodd, and Time Is the Master for Harry Mudie, featuring string arrangements and the title track as a hit.

UK crossover and later 1970s

Trojan brings Holt to the United Kingdom in 1974 and pairs him with pop producer Tony Ashfield for 1000 Volts of Holt. The album gives him his first UK hit with “Help Me Make It Through the Night”. Two follow-ups, 2000 Volts and 3000 Volts, are also recorded, though they do not repeat the same success. Holt then returns to Jamaica and announces his return with Up Park Camp in 1976, a set that includes new material and re-cut classics, including a version of the Heptones’ “Get in the Groove”.

He continues recording through the rest of the decade, working with JoJo Hookim and reuniting with Bunny Lee. Winter World of Love appears in 1976, and Holt Goes Disco follows in 1977. By the early 1980s, albums such as Children of the World and Just the Two of Us show a more adult-oriented pop direction.

Rastafari, dancehall and later work

Holt publicly embraces Rastafarian beliefs in 1983 and begins wearing dreadlocks. He appears at Reggae Sunsplash in the early 1980s and has chart success with songs including “If I Were a Carpenter” and covers of “This Old Heart of Mine” and “You’ll Never Find a Love of Mine”. His interest in the DJ scene dates back to hearing U-Roy over one of his own songs at a King Tubby sound system dance; he then introduces U-Roy to Duke Reid, helping launch the DJ’s recording career.

He later records with Junjo Lawes, including the hit “Fat She Fat” in 1982, and sees several of his songs versioned by U-Roy, Dennis Alcapone and Yellowman. His 1983 album Police in Helicopter is a major success, with Lawes’ roots rhythms matching Holt’s songs closely. He follows it with recordings for Prince Jammy, a reunion with Bunny Lee on Pure Gold in 1985, and Wild Fire with Dennis Brown in 1986. Other later albums include The John Holt Christmas Album, Why I Care, Reggae Hip House R&B Flavour, All Night Long, and New Horizon, the last overseen by Roy Francis and Computer Paul.

Songwriting and legacy

Holt writes and records a large body of songs that become part of the Jamaican canon, and other singers frequently cover his work. His best-known composition is “The Tide Is High”, later made famous by Blondie and also covered by Atomic Kitten. He continues to compose, record and perform, with repeated appearances at Reggae Sunsplash. A compilation of his work with the Paragons and a singles collection from his Bunny Lee recordings remain among the key anthologies of his catalogue.

He dies in 2014 in London.