An unapologetic fan of classic soul music and rhythm and blues, Anthony Cruz never tires of hearing the songs his parents and their peers listened to as youth.

He pays tribute to their era, as well as his own, on Under The Covers, his new album by Tad’s International Record.

Under The Covers contains 20 songs and hears the veteran singer putting a reggae flavour to standards like The Miracles’ I Second That Emotion, Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway’s Closer I Get to You, Alexander O’Neal’s If You Were Here Tonight, and R Kelly’s Step in The Name of Love.

“I know it’s going to create history, because it’s never been done before — a full cover version album. Jamaicans love it, people love it across the world, they love when you sing over their songs in reggae, ’cause reggae have the power,” said Cruz.

Some of the musicians who helped him create history are Donald “Danny Bassie” Dennis, drummer Kirk Bennett, and keyboardist Paul “Wrong Move” Crosdale. And Bobby Digital, King Jammy, Donovan Germain of Penthouse Records and Chris Knight, Tad Dawkins Junior, and Mark HoSang are among the producers he collaborated with.

“They [the songs] are personal favourites, definitely. It gives you a chance to show your versatility and how good your vocals are matching up to the original singers,” Cruz said.

The 18-track Under The Covers is produced by Rowan “Anthony Cruz” Smith, exclusively for Tad’s Record, features Leave the Door Open, Heartbreak Anniversary, Sexy Love, If You Were Here Tonight, Closer I Get to You, Lost Without U, U Remind Me, Step in The Name of Love, Foolish, amog others.