Singer Hopeton James, who had a handful of hit songs in the 1980s, died in Kingston on December 12 at age 65.

His widow, Patsy Lafayette-James, confirmed his death.

She said her husband of 27 years had suffered four strokes in the past three years. It effectively ended James’ recording career which started in the early 1980s.

James recorded several songs for producer Winston Riley during that decade.

Riley’s Techniques Records was one of the era’s hottest camps, producing hit songs by Sanchez, Flourgon, Tenor Saw, Super Cat, and Yami Bolo.

Known for a Pat Kelly-like falsetto, James’ biggest hit for Riley was In The Mood, a cover of The Techniques’ rocksteady song from the 1960s.

James had an even bigger hit with that song in 1991 as Samfie Lover, a collaboration with Lady G.

The St Mary-born artiste also had a minor hit with a cover of Michael Jackson’s Got To Be There for Pickout Records, based in the United Kingdom.

He also worked with producers Lloyd “King Jammy” James and Mikey Bennett, and was a regular on the Kilamanjaro sound system.

Hopeton James is survived by his Lafayette-James, seven children, grandchildren, brothers, sisters, and other relatives and friends.