Get Exposed

Tenor Saw - Golden Hen

Queen Ifrica - Genocide

2026-01-03-202045446_04012026.m4a

Jah Mason - Lion Look (Knocking On Heaven's Door Riddim).mp3

Pick Your Choice

Mr. Landlord

Overstanding

Smoke Marijuana

After making his mark as lead singer with popular vocal trio, the Versatiles, Keith ‘Junior’ Byles embarked on a hugely successful solo career, writing and recording a series of hugely succeesful songs, which included ‘Beat Down Babylon’, ‘Da Da’, ‘A Place Called Africa’, ‘Curly Locks’ and ‘Fade Away’. But as the 1970s progressed, health problems increasingly affected his career and by the eighties he had all but withdrawn from the music business.

Earl "Chinna" Smith was only 19 in 1974 when he wrote and produced Fade Away, which is inspired by a line from Psalms 18. The song was recorded at Channel One with Theophilus "Snapping" Beckford on piano, Carlton "Santa" Davis on drums and George "Fuilly" Fullwood playing bass.

By 1975, Byles' health had begun to decline. Suffering from depression, he was deeply affected by the death of Haile Selassie, unable to reconcile this with his belief in Selassie's divinity, and attempted suicide.  He was admitted to Bellevue Hospital, after which his health continued to decline. Although he had regular spells in the hospital, he continued to record, reworking "King of Babylon" for Winston Holness, working again with Campbell, and recording a cover of The Archies' "Sugar Sugar" with Big Youth. By the end of 1976, he had all but vanished from the music scene, with a comeback attempted in 1978, recording two singles for Joe Gibbs. It was clear that he was still not well, however, and it would be 1982 before he re-emerged, working with New York City label Wackie's. Progress on a planned new album was slow, and Byles was beset by tragedy when his mother died, and he lost his home in a fire. His wife and children also emigrated to the United States, and aside from a few singles, Byles would release nothing until 1986's Rasta No Pickpocket album. The album did not, however, see a long-lived upturn in Byles' fortunes, and by the following year, he was living on the street, scavenging for food in dumpsters, and begging from passers-by. Although rumors of his death have been circulating it appears he is still alive and living in Jamaica.

Gunman

Burro Banton

Related tracks