Priest revives a dance classic
NO club or radio playlist was complete in 1987 without Never Gonna Give You Up, a dance monster by British singer Rick Astley. It was one of that year’s biggest hits and Andrew Elliott remembers jamming to the song back home in St Elizabeth.
He never lost his love for Astley’s song, even when he became roots-reggae singer Anju Priest. His latest project is a cover of the Englishman’s finest moment.
“Everyone was a Rick Astley fan when that song came out. That was a big hit as a pop song but the transition could only be done by a few people in the business and Jervis Elliott is one of them,” said Priest.
Jervis Elliott, Priest’s cousin, plays most of the instruments on his version of Never Gonna Give You Up which is the second release from The Essence of Life, his second album.
The first, Happy & Free, was released in August. It features I-Octane.
The dreadlocked Priest, who lives in the Cayman Islands, said he was encouraged to cover Never Gonna Give You Up by his friend Christopher Bailey. It has also been released in the ‘Caymans’ where he has lived for 12 years.
Priest, who is from Ballards Valley, St Elizabeth, has been recording for over 20 years. He toured the world with his cousin, lovers’ rock star Maxi Priest, during the 1990s.
His debut album, Stages, was released in 2004.
