Barrington Levy

Biography

Barrington Ainsworth Levy, born on April 30, 1964, in Clarendon, Jamaica (with roots in West Kingston), displayed an early passion for music, forming the band Mighty Multitude at age 14 with his cousin Everton Dacres, releasing their debut single 'My Black Girl' in 1977. Influenced by Dennis Brown and American R&B artists like Michael Jackson and the Jackson 5, Levy honed his signature vocal style—nicknamed the 'Mellow Canary'—by experimenting with sounds in the hills of Clarendon. He launched his solo career in 1978 with 'A Long Time Since We Don’t Have No Love,' but true breakthrough came in 1979 when producer Henry 'Junjo' Lawes discovered him on a sound system, leading to hits like 'A Yah We Deh,' 'Shine Eye Gal,' and 'Moonlight Lover' recorded with the Channel One All-Stars (later Roots Radics) at Channel One Studios, mixed by Scientist at King Tubby's.

Levy's career exploded in the early 1980s as a pioneer of the dancehall era, with albums like Bounty Hunter (1980) and Englishman (1981) on Greensleeves establishing him internationally, featuring tracks addressing social issues, love, and Kingston life. Key releases such as Here I Come (1985), including 'Under Mi Sensi'—whose melody inspired Wayne Smith's 'Sleng Teng'—propelled rub-a-dub style globally, earning him the Best Vocalist Award at Britain's Reggae Awards and a UK Top 50 hit. Collaborations with producers like Alvin Ranglin, Delroy Wright, George Phang, and later Sly & Robbie for MCA, alongside albums like Living Dangerously (1998) with Bounty Killer and Snoop Dogg, sustained his relevance across reggae, dancehall, dub, and even jungle remixes.

Levy's legacy endures as a foundational voice in roots reggae transitioning to dancehall, ragga, and lovers rock, with timeless hits influencing global genres; his pure, riff-filled vocals remain iconic, as seen in reissues, live performances, and samples in modern music.

Fun Facts

• Nicknamed reggae's 'Mellow Canary' for his strong, pure vocal style that pioneered dancehall.
• 'Under Mi Sensi' (1985) was remixed into a massive jungle anthem in 1994, bridging reggae and drum & bass.
• Developed his signature vocal riffs by bouncing sounds off hills in Clarendon as a youth.
• Won Best Vocalist at Britain's Reggae Awards; 'Here I Come' hit UK Top 50 and earned Guinness recognition.

Associated Acts

• Winjama

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Dennis Brown - biggest influence as a youth (general stylistic inspiration) [1970s]

Key Collaborators

• Everton Dacres - cousin and early bandmate in Mighty Multitude ('My Black Girl' (1977))
• Henry 'Junjo' Lawes - key producer who discovered him on sound system (Bounty Hunter, 'A Yah We Deh', 'Shine Eye Gal' (1979-1980)) [1979-early 1980s]
• Roots Radics (Channel One All-Stars) - backing band for early hits ('Englishman', 'Collie Weed', Robin Hood) [1979-1980s]
• Scientist - mixing engineer at King Tubby's (early singles like 'Moonlight Lover')
• Bounty Killer - frequent collaborator on major hits ('Living Dangerously' (1996), Living Dangerously album (1998)) [1996-1998]
• Sly & Robbie - producers for MCA album (1993 Sunsplash-related work)

Artists Influenced

• Wayne Smith - used Levy's 'Under Mi Sensi' melody as basis for seminal track ('Under Mi Sleng Teng' (1985))
• General dancehall imitators - inspired many due to original singer status in dancehall era (various early 1980s rub-a-dub styles) [1980s]

External Links

• Spotify
• MusicBrainz

Tags: #classic-pop-and-rock, #dancehall, #reggae