Horace Andy [a.k.a.Sleepy] must process one of the sweetest and most distinctive
voices in reggae music . 1951 in Kingston Jamaica. He cut his first track in 1966 for
producer George ‘Phil’ Pratt, a tune called ‘Black Man’s Country’. But it was four years
later his star really began to shine when he joined the stable of Clement ‘Coxsone’ Dodd’s
Studio One. It was Coxsone Dodd who renamed him Andy after another of his leading artists
Bob Andy, such was his belief in Horace’s writing talent and singing abilities. Still only twenty
years of age Horace used his falsetto talent to the fore and cut some impressive tracks at
13 Brentford Road, Studio One’s headquarters. Such reggae standards as ’Skylarking’,
‘Just Say Who’, ‘Love of a Women’ and ‘Something on my Mind’ to name but a few.
The early 1970’s saw Horace due to political reasons move on to work with producer
Bunny Lee, a move that suited his talents and beliefs, Horace being an early advocate
to the Rastafarian faith.The tracks which he cut with Bunny, which we concentrate on here
gave his songs a rootsy feel. The rhythms often cut at Channel ONE and Randy’s Studio17
and finalised at King Tubby’s, provided a fine backbone for Horace to recut some of his
earlier classics, along side his newer songs also to become reggae standards. Like
‘Money Money’, ‘Zion Gate’ the great ‘You are my Angel’ and a version of The Heptones
‘My Guiding Star’. The power of these recordings were such that the earlier tracks like
‘Skylarking’ became hits a second time around.Proving that the ‘you can’t keep a good
tune down’ mantra was alive and kicking… …A golden time for Horace and Reggae ....... more
Horace Andy [a.k.a.Sleepy] must process one of the sweetest and most distinctive
voices in reggae music . 1951 in Kingston Jamaica. He cut his first track in 1966 for
producer George ‘Phil’ Pratt, a tune called ‘Black Man’s Country’. But it was four years
later his star really began to shine when he joined the stable of Clement ‘Coxsone’ Dodd’s
Studio One. It was Coxsone Dodd who renamed him Andy after another of his leading artists
Bob Andy, such was his belief in Horace’s writing talent and singing abilities. Still only twenty
years of age Horace used his falsetto talent to the fore and cut some impressive tracks at
13 Brentford Road, Studio One’s headquarters. Such reggae standards as ’Skylarking’,
‘Just Say Who’, ‘Love of a Women’ and ‘Something on my Mind’ to name but a few.
The early 1970’s saw Horace due to political reasons move on to work with producer
Bunny Lee, a move that suited his talents and beliefs, Horace being an early advocate
to the Rastafarian faith.The tracks which he cut with Bunny, which we concentrate on here
gave his songs a rootsy feel. The rhythms often cut at Channel ONE and Randy’s Studio17
and finalised at King Tubby’s, provided a fine backbone for Horace to recut some of his
earlier classics, along side his newer songs also to become reggae standards. Like
‘Money Money’, ‘Zion Gate’ the great ‘You are my Angel’ and a version of The Heptones
‘My Guiding Star’. The power of these recordings were such that the earlier tracks like
‘Skylarking’ became hits a second time around.Proving that the ‘you can’t keep a good
tune down’ mantra was alive and kicking… …A golden time for Horace and Reggae ....... more