Startime, the long-running ‘vintage’ music show, returns on January 9 at the Mas Camp in Kingston. Today, the Jamaica Observer, an associate sponsor, continues its series of features on the event.

HORACE Andy earned his reputation as one of reggae’s most influential singers through a flurry of quality recordings in the 1970s.

With computerised beats taking over Jamaican music a decade later, his popularity waned. By the 1990s, some considered him a has-been.

But Andy had legions of fans throughout Europe who still revered his unique sound and vast repertoire.

Among them was a trip-hop group from Bristol, England called Massive Attack who was weaned on his music from the 1970s.

He first worked on their 1998 album, Mezzanine, on which they sampled his song Angel.

He struck up a fruitful partnership with them. They have sampled other Andy songs including Spying Glass and Girl I Love You.

Andy has toured the world with Massive Attack, winning new fans in countries like Israel and New Zealand.

“Massive really push mi to a next level…Everything yuh see I have is through Massive Attack,” he told the Observer in a 2013 interview.

Horace Andy is one of the headliners for Startime, along with the Mighty Diamonds, Errol Dunkley, Johnny Clarke, Dillinger, Frankie Paul and Marcia Griffiths.

— Howard Campbell