Pad Anthony is a Jamaican reggae and dancehall singer, born Hartley Anthony Wallace. He comes from a musical family: his brothers are part of Rags and Riches, who win the 1976 Festival Song Competition with the song “Big Heel Boot and Bellfoot Pants”, recorded with Freddie McKay.

Early career

After moving to the Waterhouse district of Kingston, Pad Anthony begins singing on local sound systems. He later auditions at Channel One recording studios, which are run by Joe Joe Hookim. His first recordings are two cover versions: Alton Ellis’s “Blackman’s World” and Ray Charles’s “Crying Time”.

Breakthrough recordings

His first two hits are “See Them A Come” and “Champion Bubbler”, both released on the Sunset label. Sunset also produces early hits by Half Pint.

King Jammys and sound system work

After those early successes, Pad Anthony is picked up by King Jammys and records a number of hits with the label and producer. He also sings over the King Jammys sound system during the mid-to-late 1980s.

Style and reputation

He is best known for his “soundboy” tunes, 45 records in which rival sound systems are challenged directly, and for recording dubplates for top sound systems in Jamaica and abroad. His work is associated with reggae, dancehall, rub-a-dub and roots reggae.