Horace Andy, born Horace Hinds on February 19, 1951, in Kingston, Jamaica, is a legendary roots reggae singer known for his soulful falsetto voice and timeless tracks like “Skylarking,” “Mr. Bassie,” “You Are My Angel,” and his rendition of “Ain’t No Sunshine.”
Emerging in the late 1960s with early recordings at Coxsone Dodd’s Studio One, Andy quickly distinguished himself as one of reggae’s most captivating vocalists, drawing from the legacy of pioneers like Ken Boothe and John Holt while crafting a style uniquely his own.
Throughout the 1970s, Andy became one of the most in-demand singers in Jamaica, recording prolifically for producers such as Bunny Lee, Phil Pratt, and King Tubby.
His partnership with Bunny Lee yielded numerous classics, but it was his work with New York-based producer Everton DaSilva that led to his signature album, “In the Light” (1977), and its dub counterpart, featuring contributions from legends like Augustus Pablo and Horsemouth Wallace.
Andy’s influence extended far beyond reggae’s roots era. In the 1980s, he explored new sounds with producers like Lloyd “Bullwackie” Barnes and Tappa Zukie.
The 1990s marked a resurgence in his popularity when he became a key collaborator with Massive Attack, lending his ethereal vocals to their groundbreaking albums Blue Lines (1990), Protection (1994), and Mezzanine (1998), introducing Horace Andy to a global audience.
Never content to rest on past successes, Andy continued to innovate and release music into the 21st century. His collaborations include a 2007 album with Sly & Robbie (“Livin’ It Up”) and the experimental “Broken Beats” (2013), which ventured into dubstep.
In 2022, Andy partnered with British dub producer Adrian Sherwood on the critically acclaimed “Midnight Rocker”, a reimagining of his classic songs alongside new material. The companion album, “Midnight Scorchers”, released later that year, showcased a dub-heavy reinterpretation, featuring contributions from dancehall icons Daddy Freddy and Lone Ranger.
With a career spanning more than five decades, Horace Andy remains a vital force in music, consistently recording and touring worldwide, his evocative voice continuing to captivate audiences across generations.
Source: Biography by John Dougan on allmusic.com
Cover image by Beth Lesser