The Voice Of Johnny Osbourne Soars Again With His Latest Release – Hard Work
With a career spanning decades, Johnny Osbourne moved from Soulful Reggae to a massive Dancehall Catalog. His warm voice filled with conviction and yearning, he’s one of Jamaica’s best, especially on standards like “Ice Cream Love,” “Water Pumping,” and countless other singles.
Jhonny debuted in 1969 as a lead vocalist of the Wildcats, recording a session at Coxsone Dodd’s Studio One that spawned his debut single, “All I Have Is Love.” After recording 1969’s Come Back Darling (as leader of the vocal group aptly named the Sensations), he emigrated to Toronto, Canada where he became lead vocalist for a group called Ishan People, and recorded two albums with them before returning to Jamaica in1979.
Shortly after returning to Jamaica he recorded “Forgive Them” and “Jealousy, Heartache and Pain” as well as the stunning album, “Truths and Rights.” Between 1980 and 1982, a gulf of material was released, including “Fally Lover,” “Warrior,” “Innah Disco Style,” and “Never Stop Fighting.” He scored a string of hits through the 80s, including “Water Pumping,” “Good Time Rock,” and “Rude Boy Skank,” the latter pair from the Bobby Digital Production “Rougher Than Them in 1989.
The Early Years
Johnny Osbourne attended the Alpha Boys School, an orphanage in Kingston, Jamaica that also was home to Yellowman, founding members of the Skatalites, Leroy Smart and Leroy Wallace as well as jazz men Dizzy Reece and Joe Harriott.
During 1967, Osbourne became lead vocalist of The Wildcats, and recorded for producer Winston Riley, although nothing was released. The Wildcats’ manager then financed a session at Coxsone Dodd’s Studio One, from which his debut single, “All I Have Is Love”, was released. In 1969, he recorded the album, Come Back Darling, again for Riley. On the day that he completed the album, Osbourne emigrated to Toronto, Ontario, Canada, to join his family.
From Canada Back To Jamaica
After singing with various soul and reggae groups, he became lead vocalist for Ishan People, and recorded two albums with them. The group broke up in 1979, and Osbourne decided to return to Jamaica. Shortly after returning, he recorded “Forgive Them” and “Jealousy, Heartache and Pain” for the Studio One label. Through late 1979 and early 1980, he recorded extensively for Dodd, with these sessions culminating in Truths And Rights.
Album With King Jammy
In 1979, he also had a hit for King Jammy (then Prince Jammy) with “Folly Ranking”, and an album of the same name followed in 1980. The success of these recordings made him one of the most in-demand vocalists on the island, and albums followed including Fally Lover, Warrior, Innah Disco Style and Never Stop Fighting, between 1980 and 1982. In 1983, he secured hits with “Yo Yo” and “Lend Me A Chopper”, and later in the year enjoyed further success with “Water Pumping.”
Connect With Asani Ali & The Crichton Clique
The hits continued with “Get Cracking”, “Check For You”, “Rewind” (1984), “Buddy Bye”, “No Sound Like We” and “In The Area” (1985). In the late 1980s he was particularly successful when recording for Bobby Digital, and had hits with “Good Time Rock” (1988) and “Rude Boy Skank” (1988), both of which are included on his 1989 album, Rougher Than Them.
Throughout the 1980s he continued to record for Coxsone Dodd, and singles included “Keep That Light”, “Unity” and “A We Run Things”.
It was a pleasure working with Jhonny on this album, he is my long time friend way back when we were recording in Water House. Wicked Singer, Ya Man, My Singer That.
Courtney ‘Blemo’ Crichton
CEO The Crichton Clique
In 2012, his track “Mr. Marshall” was sampled in Major Lazer’s single, “Jah No Partial”. Now his voice soars again with his latest release – “Hard Work” which is produced by The Crichton Clique.
“Hard Work” Is distributed by Asani Ali Music through Believe Digital Worldwide and is available on all major Digital Platforms.
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