A Tribute to Bob Andy
Singer J keeps uncle’s music alive with release of cover album
Down the years Bob Andy gained notoriety as one of Jamaica’s most talented and prolific songwriters and lyricists.
One of the founding members of the group The Paragons, Bob Andy’s resume reads a long list of hit songs that were recorded by him as well as other artistes.
The influential artiste passed away in March 2020.
His nephew, dancehall and recording artiste Singer J, has taken on the mission to keep the memory of his uncle’s music alive. This will come to fruition on May 3 with the release of the nine-song album titled A Tribute to Bob Andy.
The project features Singer J covering songs originally written and performed by Bob Andy (real name Keith Anderson).
“I decided to honour my uncle because he is among the greats of the greats in Jamaica. It’s like most of the time people have to pass away before the recognition comes along. And if you check the stats sheet of this man that I look up to and honour, I realise he’s the man who [greatly supported the career of] Marcia Griffiths. I realise that most of the songs she sang, he wrote them,” said Singer J.
A Tribute to Bob Andy was produced by SOL Record and JJwizzle.
The songs were mixed and mastered by Delroy “Fatta” Pottinger.
Some of the songs written by Bob Andy include Fire Burning, Truly, Melody Life, and
Feel Like Jumping, which became hits for Marcia Griffiths.
In the early 1970s he and Griffiths formed the duo Bob and Marcia and unleashed two major hits on the UK Singles charts with a cover of Young, Gifted and Black and Pied Piper.
Bob Andy was invested with the Order of Distinction in the rank of Commander Class (CD) by the Government in October 2006 for his contributions to the development of Jamaican music.
Said Singer J: “This man has done so many great things that I don’t think Jamaica has really pushed the effort to give this man the true honour for the stalwart that he was. Real work has to be recognised.”
The songs featured on the album are My Time, Too Experienced, Desperate Lover, Feeling Soul, Fire Burning, Unchained, Sunshine, Let Them Say, and I’ve Got to Go Back Home.
“I’m here to continue the legacy with great feelings about doing it. I’ve been around the world and seen what his music can do,” Singer J shared.
As an artiste, Singer J exploded onto the dancehall scene in the late 1990s with the hit song
Wave Yuh Hand, a collaboration with Elephant Man. His other hits include Gangnam Badman Style (remix), Without You Lord, and the chart-topper Can’t Stop Me Now.
