IN the 1980s, deejay Clement Irie rode the charts with hits such as Bun And Cheese (with Robert Ffrench),Leave Di Drugs Alone, Koloko and DJ In My Country. Now in his late 40s, he is once again on the hit trail. His song, More Than Ever, is number 17 and 15 on the South Florida and New York Reggae charts, respectively.

Released by Youth Irie Records, More Than Ever is inspired by personal setbacks.

“I lost three family members in less than two years. It was too much for me to handle and I almost lost my mind. That’s how this song came about. When I recorded this song, my emotions were high and I couldn’t help it,” said Clement Irie.

The positive response to More Than Ever has motivated him to get back into music full-time. Prior to its release, it had been a while since he released new material.

Born Clement Barnes, Clement Irie is from the Grants Pen area of St Andrew. He recorded his first song in 1986 called Magnificent, for the Hummingbird label. He also performed on the local sound system, Roots Melody.

But it was not until 1988 that he scored big with Bun And Cheese which topped the New York and UK Reggae charts.

At the height of his popularity, Clement Irie recorded for top producers including King Jammys, Bobby Digital, Donovan Germain, Winston Riley and Red Man International.

After receiving death threats, he moved to the United States 25 years ago and settled in New York. He currently lives in Florida.