Jimmy Riley

Jimmy Riley

Also known as: Buster Riley, Martin James Riley

Martin James Ziggy Norman Riley (22 May 1947 - 23 March 2016), better known as Jimmy Riley, was a Jamaican singer who in addition to recording solo was also a member of the Sensations and The Uniques and was the father of Tarrus Riley.

Biography
Martin James Ziggy Norman Riley also known as Jimmy Riley was born in Jonestown, Kingston, Jamaica on 22 May 1947 to Leanora Riley and Alfred Riley. Riley grew up in the city's Waterhouse district and attended Kingston Senior School along with Slim Smith. When Smith had success in The Techniques, Riley hung around with the group hoping to join, but was limited to carrying things for them and helping out with harmonies. He decided to form his own group, The Sensations, along with Cornell Campbell, Buster Riley (brother of The Techniques' Winston Riley), and Aaron "Dego" Davis. The Sensations had a successful audition for producer Arthur "Duke" Reid, and the group had mid-1960s success with "Everyday is Just a Holiday" and "Those Guys". On leaving the group in 1967, Riley joined Smith and Lloyd Charmers in the re-formed Uniques, having huge success with songs such as "Watch This Sound" and "My Conversation". When the Uniques split up, Riley initially recorded as a solo artist for Bunny Lee before moving away to record independently. He began producing his own recordings and others by artists such as Slim Smith and Delroy Wilson. He had several hits in the 1970s, including "Tell The Youths The Truth", "Nyah Bingi", and "Clean up the Streets", and continued to be successful in the 1980s, working with Sly & Robbie's Taxi productions. In 1983, Riley topped the UK reggae chart with his version of Marvin Gaye's "Sexual Healing". In the late 1980s, Riley moved to Miami, and put his career on hold, but returned to Jamaica in the early 1990s. Riley's son Tarrus followed him into music and the success of Tarrus gave a boost to Jimmy's career. They performed together several times, headlining a number of festivals including the Ocho Rios Seafood Festival in 2007. Jimmy Riley's album release in 2008 Sly and Robbie Presents Jimmy Riley: Pull Up Selector saw him again working with Sly & Robbie, and features Tarrus on the title track, which was also released as a single in 2008. In September 2013 he released the album Contradiction, that featured guest appearances from his son Tarrus, Sizzla, and Fantan Mojah. He died on the morning of 23 March 2016 in New York from cancer, aged 68.

Credits & Appearances (18)

Production
Producer 7
Artist Album Release Type Label Rec Rel
Concrete Jungle Dub The Riley All Stars Concrete Jungle Dub CJDPLP LP Concrete Jungle 1976 1976
Reggae In Jazz Tommy McCook Reggae In Jazz EVLP 5004 LP Eve 1976 1976
Showcase Jimmy Riley Showcase LP Yes 1978 1978
Tell The Youths The Truth Jimmy Riley Tell The Youths The Truth WITE 1 LP Trojan 1978 1978
Back To Africa Earth & Stone Featuring Phillip Frazer Back To Africa GET A 105 LP Different 1978 1978
Majority Rule Jimmy Riley Majority Rule BS 1029 LP Burning Sounds 1978 1978
Put The People First Jimmy Riley Put The People First SH 43005 LP Shanachie 1982 1982
Technicians
Mixing Engineer 1
Artist Album Release Type Label Rec Rel
Put The People First Jimmy Riley Put The People First SH 43005 LP Shanachie 1982 1982
Musicians
Backing Vocals 3
Artist Album Release Type Label Rec Rel
Time A Go Dread Lloyd Parks Time A Go Dread PSCD 93 CD Pressure Sounds 197X 2017
Familyman In Dub Aston Barrett Familyman In Dub CDHB 159 CD Heartbeat 197X 1999
Reggae Love Songs Bobby Stringer Reggae Love Songs SKYLP 33 LP Sky Note 1980 1980
Vocals 6
Artist Album Release Type Label Rec Rel
Majority Rule Jimmy Riley Majority Rule BS 1029 LP Burning Sounds 1978 1978
Makossa International Records Presents Jimmy Riley Jimmy Riley Makossa International Records Presents Jimmy Riley LP Makossa International 1978 1978
Tell The Youths The Truth Jimmy Riley Tell The Youths The Truth WITE 1 LP Trojan 1978 1978
Showcase Jimmy Riley Showcase LP Yes 1978 1978
Rydim Driven Jimmy Riley Rydim Driven RNCD 7114 CD Rhino 1981 2000
Put The People First Jimmy Riley Put The People First SH 43005 LP Shanachie 1982 1982

Also Appears On (51)

Artist Album Release Type Label Rec Rel
Trojan Creole Reggae Box Set Various Artists Trojan Creole Reggae Box Set TJETD 161 CD Trojan 1964-94 2004
Arise Rootsman Various Artists Arise Rootsman TJDDD 118 CD Trojan 1965-83 2003
I Am The Upsetter Lee Scratch Perry & Various Artists I Am The Upsetter TJNBX 225 CD Trojan 1968-78 2005
A Live Injection Various Artists A Live Injection CDTRD 455 CD Trojan 1968-79 2001
Shocks Of Mighty Various Artists Shocks Of Mighty CDAT 104 CD Attack 1969-74
Born In The Sky Various Artists Born In The Sky FASTCD 006 CD Motion 1969-75 2001
Trojan 35th Anniversary Box Set Various Artists Trojan 35th Anniversary Box Set TJETD 130 CD Trojan 196X-7X 2003
Trojan Motor City Box Set Various Artists Trojan Motor City Box Set TJETD 309 CD Trojan 196X-7X 2006
Trojan Reggae Country Box Set Various Artists Trojan Reggae Country Box Set TJETD 365 CD Trojan 196X-7X 2007
Complete UK Upsetter Singles Collection Vol 2 Various Artists Complete UK Upsetter Singles Collection Vol 2 CDTAL 903 CD Trojan 1970 1998
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
Vintage Vocals Various Artists Vintage Vocals U0007 CD Upstairs Music 1972-84 1999
The Return Of Sound System Scratch Various Artists The Return Of Sound System Scratch PSCD 70 CD Pressure Sounds 1973-79 2011
Divine Madness Various Artists Divine Madness PSCD 32 CD Pressure Sounds 1974-77 2001
Sipple Out Deh Lee Scratch Perry & Friends Sipple Out Deh SPECXX2042 CD Trojan 1974-78 2010
Too Much Iron In The Fire Blackbeard & Various Artists Too Much Iron In The Fire TJDDD 163 CD Trojan 1974-84 2004
Punky Reggae Party Various Artists Punky Reggae Party TJDDD 040 CD Trojan 1975-80 2002
Hits Of 77 Various Artists Hits Of 77 DBCDD 051 CD Doctor Bird 1977 2019
Taxi Gang In Discomix Style 1978-1987 Sly Dunbar & Robbie Shakespeare Taxi Gang In Discomix Style 1978-1987 CLP 1207 LP Cree 1978-87 2017
Taxi Gang In Discomix Style 1978-1987 Sly Dunbar & Robbie Shakespeare Taxi Gang In Discomix Style 1978-1987 CCD 1207 CD Cree 1978-87 2017
16 Reggae Rockers Various Artists 16 Reggae Rockers TRLS 168 LP Trojan 1979 1979
Babylon A Fall Down Various Artists Babylon A Fall Down CDTRL 290 CD Trojan 197X 1991
Black Art From The Black Ark Lee Perry & Friends Black Art From The Black Ark PSCD 108 CD Pressure Sounds 197X 2021
Burning Sampler Various Artists Burning Sampler BR 2001 LP Burning Rockers 197X
Clocktower Classics Various Artists Clocktower Classics none LP Clocktower 197X
Cobra Style Various Artists Cobra Style CDHB 157 CD Heartbeat 197X 1999
Just My Imagination Vol 2 Various Artists Just My Imagination Vol 2 CDTRL 298 CD Trojan 197X 1992
Play On Mr. Music Lee Perry Play On Mr. Music RSUPCD 001 CD Rock A Shacka 197X 2020
Roots Techniques Various Artists Roots Techniques PSCD 24 CD Pressure Sounds 197X 1999
Solid Gold From The Vaults Vol 3 Various Artists Solid Gold From The Vaults Vol 3 CDTRL 295 CD Trojan 197X 1991
Sounds And Pressure Vol 5 Various Artists Sounds And Pressure Vol 5 PSCD 41 CD Pressure Sounds 197X 2003
Stand And Give Praise Various Artists Stand And Give Praise SPECXX 2043 CD Trojan 197X 2010
Vintage Classics Various Artists Vintage Classics LP Rohit 197X
A Place Called Africa Various Artists A Place Called Africa TJDDD 041 CD Trojan 197X-8X 2002
Introducing Niney vol 1 Various Artists Introducing Niney vol 1 CD Esoldun 197X-8X
Strictly For Lovers Various Artists Strictly For Lovers IRG 8 LP Island 197X-8X 1985
Trojan Roots and Culture Box Set Various Artists Trojan Roots and Culture Box Set TJETD 226 CD Trojan 197X-8X 2005
Reggae Love Songs Vol 2 Various Artists Reggae Love Songs Vol 2 TLSAN 014 CD Trojan 197X-9X 2005
Roots With Quality Niney The Observer Roots With Quality VPCD 4148 CD 17 North Parade 197X-9X 2009
Vintage Vocals Volume 2 Various Artists Vintage Vocals Volume 2 CD Upstairs Music 197X-9X 2007
Sly & Robbie Present Taxi Various Artists Sly & Robbie Present Taxi ILPS 9662 LP Island 1980-81 1981
First Time Around Ruddy Thomas First Time Around DBCDD 114 CD Doctor Bird 1981 2022
Crucial Reggae Driven By Sly & Robbie Various Artists Crucial Reggae Driven By Sly & Robbie MLPS 9730 LP Island 1982 1982
It's Reggae Time Various Artists It's Reggae Time F 1000 LP Burning Rockers 1983 1983
Smashing Superstars Various Artists Smashing Superstars STLP 1015 LP Vista 1983 1983
Make Em MoveTaxi Style Various Artists With Sly & Robbie Make Em MoveTaxi Style CD Island 198X 2003
Sly & Robbie Presents The Speeding Taxi Various Artists Sly & Robbie Presents The Speeding Taxi CD Sonic Sounds 198X
Sly & Robbie's Taxi Sound Various Artists Sly & Robbie's Taxi Sound LUXXCD 010 CD Auralux 198X 2005
Sly & Robbie's Taxi Wax Various Artists Sly & Robbie's Taxi Wax LP Sonic Sounds 198X
Trojan Rastafari Box Set Various Artists Trojan Rastafari Box Set TRBCD 022 CD Trojan 198X 2000
Unmetered Taxi Sly Dunbar & Robbie Shakespeare & Various Artists Unmetered Taxi PSCD 43 CD Pressure Sounds 198X 2004
8 albums
18 credits
13 labels
1976 - 2017