Freddie McKay

Freddie McKay

Also known as: Freddy Mckay

Freddie McKay (sometimes Freddy McKay) (1947 - 19 November 1986) was a Jamaican singer, whose career spanned the rocksteady and conscious spiritual roots reggae eras.

Biography
McKay, born in Saint Catherine Parish, Jamaica, is regarded as one of the most soulful singers to come out of Jamaica. McKay first recorded for producer Prince Buster in 1967, his first hit coming the same year with "Love Is A Treasure", recorded for Duke Reid's Treasure Isle set-up. McKay then enjoyed a fruitful spell with Coxsone Dodd, recording a number of popular songs for Studio One, such as Discomix vocal and dub " Love Is A Treasure", backed by The Soul Defenders, a band that included Bobby Kalphat and Joseph Hill of Culture, including "High School Dance", "Sweet You Sour You", and "Picture on the Wall", the latter the title track of his 1971 debut album. A second album, Lonely Man followed in 1974. McKay recorded a duet with Horace Andy in 1975, "Talking Love" which was also a hit in Jamaica. McKay enjoyed another hit in 1976 with "Dance This Ya Festival", which won the Jamaican Independence Popular Song Contest that year. In 1977 McKay teamed up with Alvin Ranglin to produce the misleadingly titled The Best Of Freddie McKay (it was an album of new recordings), adapting to the prevailing roots reggae conscious Rockers style, also releasing a number of highly regarded Discomix vocal and dub showcase works, produced, engineered and mixed by Leonard Chin, Joe Gibbs (producer), Augustus Pablo, King Tubby and Scientist. An Ossie Hibbert-produced showcase album Creation followed in 1979, featuring McKay's versions of Burning Spear's and Johnny Clarke's Creation, a cover of Horace Andy, Coxsone Dodd, and Wentworth Vernal's The Rainbow as well as a Discomix take on Dennis Brown's Here I Come. Another album,Tribal Inna Yard, was released in 1983, backed by Roots Radics and engineered by Scientist. McKay maintained a faithful, serious following amongst conscious roots rockers and sound system devotees until his death in 1986 from a heart attack, shortly after finishing his final album, I'm a Free Man, cut at Joseph Hoo Kim's Channel One Studios with Sly and Robbie,Eric "Bingy Bunny" Lamont, Dean Fraser and Earl "Chinna" Smith, with backing vocals provided by The Tamlins. His son, Andrew Chin, known under the pseudonym Brushy One String, is a musician known for playing a one-stringed guitar.

Credits & Appearances (9)

Musicians
Vocals 5
Artist Album Release Type Label Rec Rel
A Lonely Man Freddie McKay A Lonely Man DY 3345 LP Dynamic Sounds 1974 1974
The Best Of Freddy McKay Freddie McKay The Best Of Freddy McKay GG 009 LP GG's 1977 1977
Creation Freddie McKay Creation PLAN 10003 LP Plant 1979 1979
Harsh Words Freddie McKay Harsh Words LP Sonic Sounds 1982 1982
I'm A Free Man Freddie McKay I'm A Free Man TEMP LP 007 LP Uptempo 198X 1988
Writer 1
Artist Album Release Type Label Rec Rel
Picture On The Wall Freddie McKay Picture On The Wall SOR-011 LP Studio 1 1971 2017

Also Appears On (75)

Artist Album Release Type Label Rec Rel
Big Bamboo Sample Various Artists Big Bamboo Sample CLDLP 7024 LP Studio 1 2025
Down Beat Special Various Artists Down Beat Special SJRCD 548 CD Soul Jazz 2024
Nice Up The Dance Various Artists Nice Up The Dance CDHB 165 CD Heartbeat 2001
Respect To Studio 1 Various Artists Respect To Studio 1 CDHB 182 CD Heartbeat 1994
Soul Defenders At Studio One The Soul Defenders Soul Defenders At Studio One CDHB 66 CD Heartbeat 1991
Studio One Roots Vol 3 Various Artists Studio One Roots Vol 3 SJRCD 168 CD Soul Jazz 2007
Studio One Showcase 45 Various Artists Studio One Showcase 45 SJRCD 546 CD Soul Jazz 2025
The Legendary Studio One Records Various Artists The Legendary Studio One Records SJRCD 248 CD Soul Jazz 1963-80 2017
Step Softly Various Artists Step Softly CDTRL 267 CD Trojan 1965-72 1988
Baba Boom Time Various Artists Baba Boom Time NEMCD 473 CD Sequel 1966-68 2000
In A Rocking Mood Various Artists In A Rocking Mood DBCDD101 CD Doctor Bird 1966-68 2022
Duke Reid Rock's Steady Various Artists Duke Reid Rock's Steady TJDDD 363 CD Trojan 1967 2007
The Birth Of Trojan Various Artists The Birth Of Trojan TJACD 034 CD Trojan 1967 2002
Trojan Reggae Brothers Box Set Various Artists Trojan Reggae Brothers Box Set TJETD 072 CD Trojan 1967-77 2003
The Hottest Hits Albums Collection Various Artists The Hottest Hits Albums Collection DBCDDD 090 CD Doctor Bird 1967-81 2021
Trojan Revive Box Set Various Artists Trojan Revive Box Set TJETD 029 CD Trojan 1968-69 2002
Trojan Singles Box Set Various Artists Trojan Singles Box Set TRBCD 012 CD Trojan 1968-78 1999
Jamaica Today The Seventies Various Artists Jamaica Today The Seventies CSL 8022 LP Coxsone 1969 1969
Hottest Hits Vol 2 Various Artists Hottest Hits Vol 2 LP Treasure Isle 196X
Treasure Isle Records Various Artists Treasure Isle Records ATKCDBOX 1 CD Attack 196X 2008
Duke Reid's Treasure Chest Various Artists Duke Reid's Treasure Chest CDHB 95 CD Heartbeat 196X-7X 1992
Studio One Kings Various Artists Studio One Kings SJRCD 156 CD Soul Jazz 196X-7X 2007
The Story Of Trojan Records Various Artists The Story Of Trojan Records 2775354 CD Trojan 196X-7X 2011
The Trojan Story Vol 1&2 Various Artists The Trojan Story Vol 1&2 TALL 100-200 LP Trojan 196X-7X
Gay Jamaica Independence Time Various Artists Gay Jamaica Independence Time DBCD 028 CD Doctor Bird 1970 2019
Reggae To The U.K. With Love Various Artists Reggae To The U.K. With Love PSP 1004 LP Pama 1971 1969
Kingston All Stars Meet Downtown At King Tubbys Various Artists Kingston All Stars Meet Downtown At King Tubbys KSCD 002 CD Jamaican Recordings 1972-75 2004
Hold Me Strong Various Artists Hold Me Strong TRLS 271 LP Trojan 1972-76 1989
Dynamic Sound Of Jamaica Various Artists Dynamic Sound Of Jamaica HELP 9 LP Dragon 1973 1973
Down Santic Way Various Artists Down Santic Way PSCD 46 CD Pressure Sounds 1973-75 2005
Clancy Eccles Reggae Revue At The Carib Theatre Various Artists Clancy Eccles Reggae Revue At The Carib Theatre JMC 200.254 CD Jamaican Gold 1973-86 2001
Big Bamboo Various Artists Big Bamboo ATLP 1011 LP Attack 1974 1974
In Person Gregory Isaacs In Person DBCDD 126 CD Doctor Bird 1974 2023
20 Tighten Ups Vol 2 Various Artists 20 Tighten Ups Vol 2 TRLS 111 LP Trojan 1974-75 1975
Atlantic 1 Various Artists Atlantic 1 HRLP 705 LP Horse 1975 1975
Atlantic 1 Various Artists Atlantic 1 DBCDD 127 CD Doctor Bird 1975 2023
Star Time Various Artists Star Time SS 1003 LP Sunshot 1975 1975
Top 20 Hits Various Artists Top 20 Hits TWLP 105 LP Third World 1975 1975
United Dreadlocks Vol 1&2 Various Artists United Dreadlocks Vol 1&2 DBCDD 105 CD Doctor Bird 1976-77 2022
United Dreadlocks Vol 1 Various Artists United Dreadlocks Vol 1 LP Joe Gibbs 1977 1977
Roots Rock Reggae Vol 2 Various Artists Roots Rock Reggae Vol 2 DBCDD 058 CD Doctor Bird 1978 2020
Jamaica's Reggae Stars Various Artists Jamaica's Reggae Stars DBD 121 LP Dr. Buster Dynamite 1978-83 2001
Creation Rockers Various Artists Creation Rockers TRLS 180-185 LP Trojan 1979 1979
Street Corner Ital Food Various Artists Street Corner Ital Food GG 019 LP GG's 1979 1979
The Legend Augustus Pablo & Friends The Legend JLB 14102 LP Jah Live 1979 1979
Strong Like Samson Linval Thompson & Various Artists Strong Like Samson MILKCD 9 CD Hot Milk 1979-80 2015
U Brown Hit Sounds From Channel One U Brown & Various Artists U Brown Hit Sounds From Channel One TB1CD 13 CD Tabou 1 1979-80
Can't Stop Us Now Linval Thompson & Friends Can't Stop Us Now ES 1011 CD Easy Star 1979-82 2002
Jah Jah Dreader Than Dread Various Artists Jah Jah Dreader Than Dread MRCD 1005 CD Munich 1979-83 1997
20 Dragon Hits Various Artists 20 Dragon Hits DRLS 5003 LP Dragon 197X 1973
30 Wicked Hearts Various Artists 30 Wicked Hearts BFMCD 112 CD Bushranger 197X 1997
Holy Ground Various Artists Holy Ground CDHB 62 CD Heartbeat 197X 1990
King Tubby Meets The Reggae Masters Various Artists King Tubby Meets The Reggae Masters CD Charm 197X 2001
Rebel Music Various Artists Rebel Music CDTRD 403 CD Trojan 197X 1989
Return To Umoja Various Artists Return To Umoja CD Conqueror 197X
Roots Of Dance Hall Various Artists Roots Of Dance Hall LUXXCD 006 CD Auralux 197X 2004
Studio One Dub Vol 2 Various Artists Studio One Dub Vol 2 SJRCD 166 CD Soul Jazz 197X 2007
Style & Pattern Sid Bucknor Style & Pattern Digital Sid Bucknor Music 197X 2024
Super Bad Various Artists Super Bad DBCDD 099 CD Doctor Bird 197X 2023
The Reggae Love Collection Various Artists The Reggae Love Collection CD Pulse 197X 2003
Trojan 12" Box Set Various Artists Trojan 12" Box Set TJETD 084 CD Trojan 197X 2003
Tuff Cuts Various Artists Tuff Cuts PSCD 60 CD Pressure Sounds 197X 2008
Version Affair Vol 1 Various Artists Version Affair Vol 1 LG2-1062 CD Lagoon 197X 1992
Champion Sound Chapter 2 Various Artists Champion Sound Chapter 2 7243 811781 2 6 CD Virgin 197X-0X
Hits Of The Past Vol2 Various Artists Hits Of The Past Vol2 ANGCD 017 CD Angella 197X-8X
Simply Reggae Various Artists Simply Reggae SIMPLYCD 012 CD Union Square Music 197X-8X 2005
Ready When You Ready Various Artists Ready When You Ready GUMSCDXX007 CD Smugg 197X-9X 2002
Revue Records Presents Symphonies Of Love Various Artists Revue Records Presents Symphonies Of Love DBCDD 111 CD Doctor Bird 1980-86 2023
Dub Landing Scientist Dub Landing VPGS 7052 CD Greensleeves 1981 2018
Nightfall Johnny Osbourne Nightfall MRCD 1006 CD Munich 1981 1997
Dub Landing Vol: 2 Scientist & Prince Jammie Dub Landing Vol: 2 VPGS 7053 CD Greensleeves 1982 2018
Rockers From The Land Of Reggae I-Mo-Jah Rockers From The Land Of Reggae PSCD 100 CD Pressure Sounds 1982 2018
Alcatraz Various Artists Alcatraz none LP Mister Tipsy 1986 1986
Love Yard Style Various Artists Love Yard Style PR-MVC 016 LP Puff 198X
Revive Reggae Classics Various Artists Revive Reggae Classics OMCD 035 CD Original Music 198X
9 albums
9 credits
11 labels
1971 - 2017