A short while earlier, he and Paul Robinson had produced Philip Levi’s ‘Mi God Mi King,’ which made history by becoming the first British reggae production to reach No. That was the year he was invited to appear at the UK Reggae Sunsplash, and gave a crowning performance infront of 25,000 people crammed into Crystal Palace football stadium. 1 on the Black Echoes charts before Maxi signed with Virgin Records, and follow-up hit ‘In The Springtime’ announced the arrival of his 1985 debut album You’re Safe. Whether it told of hardship or romance, reggae music formed the soundtrack to these people’s lives and by the time riots had swept through Britain’s inner cities in the early Eighties, they were ready to celebrate one of their own. Many came from hardworking immigrant families who’d faced discrimination and yet still found the resolve to build strongly knit communities. Maxi original fans yearned for songs that reflected their own aspirations, tastes and upbringing. He’s deserved it too, because despite the pressures of stardom, he’s remained true to his core audience from the beginning. Maxi’s joyous brand of reggae and lovers’ rock, infused with r&b and accompanied by real charisma, would bring him a level of success no other British reggae singer can match. This is an extraordinary achievement for a singer steeped in Jamaican music, yet raised in South London. by making hits of timeless appeal, and are stamped with authenticity.Īs verified by his long-awaited retrospective, Maximum Collection, Maxi Priest has earned his place among other greats such as Bob Marley, Jimmy Cliff, Toots & The Maytals and Dennis Brown in spreading the reggae gospel far and wide. It’s never been so accessible and yet whilst new acts are plentiful, global audiences are still drawn towards those legends who achieved worldwide recognition the hard way i.e. Reggae music has flourished in this post-Internet age.
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