Rich Hardesty loves to describe himself as a ‘Jamerican’, given the countless times the American singer has visited Jamaica.

Fitting then that he launched his first reggae album, The Sunset Show, in the country he considers a second home.

The Indiana native performed at two shows on Saturday. First was the event celebrating Bob Marley’s 71st birthday at the Marley Museum in St Andrew; then, a slot on artiste manager Claudette Kemp’s show at Mandela Highway, marking her 36th year in the music business.

The Sunset Show was officially released February 2 on compact disc by Hardesty’s label of the same name. It is also available digitally.

Hardesty said he is not pushing a particular song, but admits he has soft spot for Black Sheep Butterfly.

“That song is special because it started in Australia and landed in Jamaica. Julian Marley ended up playing drums on it, so that was pretty special.”

Hardesty also covered

Keepers of The Light, originally done by Ky-Mani Marley.

Hardesty, who first visited Jamaica in 1993, started recording the album last summer at Anchor Studio in St Andrew.

Percussionist Bongo Herman, drummer Sly Dunbar, keyboardist Allah Lloyd, bassist Errol ‘Flabba Holt’ Carter, guitarist Winston ‘Bo Pee’ Bowen, saxophonist Everton Gayle, trombonist Everal Wray, and trumpeter Vivian Scott played on the set.

— Howard Campbell