Biography
Jesse David Leroi Grey, professionally known as Jesse Royal, was born on April 29, 1989, in Kingston, Jamaica. He spent his formative years in the hills of Maroon Town and the Orange District of St. James before relocating to Kingston in the late 1990s with his mother and brother to join his father. During his school years, Royal developed a transformative friendship with Daniel 'Bambaata' Marley, son of reggae legend Ziggy Marley, with whom he shared an intense passion for music and football. This pivotal connection catalyzed his musical journey, as the two friends began composing and creating original music with the assistance of longtime collaborator Curt 'Qban' White.
Royal's professional career gained significant momentum following his collaboration with renowned reggae producer Philip 'Fatis' Burrell, who was captivated by his distinctive voice and militant character combined with profound lyricism. In 2017, he released his debut album 'Lily of da Valley' through Easy Star Records, which he co-executive produced with Lamar 'Riff Raff' Brown. The album achieved critical acclaim and topped the Billboard Reggae Album charts, featuring legendary session musicians including Sly Dunbar, Robbie Shakespeare, and Earl 'Chinna' Smith. His second album 'Royal,' released in 2021, earned him a Grammy Award nomination and established him as a leading contemporary voice in reggae music.
Yohan Marley, son of Stephen 'Ragga' Marley, represents the next generation of the Marley musical legacy. He has emerged as a significant collaborator in the reggae scene, most notably working with Jesse Royal on the poignant single 'Blessing,' a tribute to Jo Mersa Marley (his brother). Through his reggae-inspired music, Yohan continues to write another chapter in Jamaican musical history, contributing to the genre's evolution while honoring its roots.
Fun Facts
- Jesse Royal's debut single 'Modern Day Judas' from his 2017 album 'Lily of da Valley' has accumulated nearly 10 million streams on Spotify, establishing him as a significant force in contemporary reggae
- Royal's friendship with Bambaata Marley at school was described as 'fuel to the fire,' with both young musicians sharing such a deep passion for music and football that they evolved together from 'cubs' into 'lions' devoted to their musical craft
- The single 'Blessing,' created as a tribute to Jo Mersa Marley (who passed away in 2022), was co-written and performed with Yohan Marley, Jo Mersa's brother, adding profound emotional significance to the track
- Jesse Royal has performed at major international reggae festivals including Rototom Sunsplash in Spain, Lake Tahoe Reggae Fest in the USA, and Summer Jam Festival in Germany, establishing himself as a global touring artist
Musical Connections
Mentors/Influences
- Philip 'Fatis' Burrell - Renowned reggae producer who recognized Royal's talent and militant character combined with profound lyricism (Early career development and production guidance) [Mid-2000s onwards]
- Daniel 'Bambaata' Marley - School friend and co-creator who shared deep passion for music; catalyzed Royal's musical journey through collaborative composition (Early music composition and creative development) [Late 1990s-2000s]
Key Collaborators
- Protoje - Featured artist on 'LionOrder' single produced by GRAMMY-nominated producer Sean Alaric (LionOrder) [2019]
- Yohan Marley - Co-writer and featured artist on 'Blessing,' a tribute to Jo Mersa Marley (Blessing) [2025]
- Sean Paul - Collaborated on various projects throughout career (Multiple collaborations) [Career spanning]
- Vybz Kartel - Collaborated on various reggae projects (Multiple collaborations) [Career spanning]
- Chronixx - Collaborated on various reggae projects (Multiple collaborations) [Career spanning]
- Damian Marley - Collaborated on various reggae projects (Multiple collaborations) [Career spanning]
- Major Lazer - Collaborated on various projects (Multiple collaborations) [Career spanning]
- Romain Virgo - Featured artist on 'Hope' from 'No Place Like Home' album (Hope) [2025]
- Melanie Fiona - Featured guest appearance on 'No Place Like Home' album (No Place Like Home) [2025]
- Kabaka Pyramid - Featured guest appearance on 'No Place Like Home' album (No Place Like Home) [2025]
- Perfect Giddimani - Featured guest appearance on 'No Place Like Home' album (No Place Like Home) [2025]
- Curt 'Qban' White - Longtime friend and collaborator who assisted in early music composition and creation (Early career music composition) [Late 1990s-2000s]
Connection Network
Discography
Albums
| Title | Release Date | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Ancient Future | 2015-09-18 | Album |
| Lily of da Valley | 2017-10-06 | Album |
| In the 876 | 2015-05-04 | Album |
| Ancient Future | 2015-09-18 | Album |
| Royal | 2021-06-11 | Album |
Top Tracks
- Modern Day Judas (Lily of da Valley)
- The Kalling (The Kalling)
- Throwing Shade (with Jesse Royal)
- The Kalling
- Love That Don't Change
- Pressure (On the Lines Riddim)
- Real Love (Lily of da Valley)
- Marching On (Coming To Light)
- Sudden Flight (feat. Jesse Royal & Sevana) (Ancient Future)
- High Tide or Low (feat. Samory I) (Royal)
External Links
- Spotify
- [Wikipedia](Not found in search results)
Heard on WWOZ
Jesse Royal, Yohan Marley has been played 1 time on WWOZ 90.7 FM, New Orleans' jazz and heritage station.
| Date | Time | Title | Show | Spotify |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 30, 2025 | 23:50 | Blessingfrom No Place Like Home | What's Neww/ Duane Williams |