Roots Archives Forum

Hi everyone,

I would like and try to make a list of reggae "star children", performers who began to sing and had recognition since their teenage.

I think that Delroy Wilson was pretty much the first star child, having his first successes at the age or 12 or 13 with studio one, and started building his (long) career on this early recognition.

I know many more have come after him, disregarding gender or era, can you help me refresh my memory?

Set Jah Jah Children Free!

Cornell Campbell apparently started singing at 11, being brought to Dodd by the great Rico.

Wasn't Jacob Miller about 10 when he started singing?

In one of his later songs he says something about getting a bicycle and a silver shirt as payment (from Bunny Lee, or Joe Gibbs? I forget now)...


Also - Musical Youth.

Mundell was pretty young when he recorded his first album too. Early teens? 13? 14?

Freddie MacGregor, Little John, Beenie Man - all pre-teen when they first recorded.

DEB & Barrington Levy are two other obvious ones. Yami Bolo & Jr. Reid. Are musicians performers? If so you have Mittoo.

Sly recorded drums for Gladiators at 15 I believe

Don Drummond
Jackie Mittoo
Ken Boothe
Dennis Brown
Cornell Campbell
Jimmy Cliff
Freddie McGregor
Errol Dunkley
Jacob Miller
Junior Delgado
Hugh Mundell
Junior Reid
Yami Bolo
Little John
Billy Boyo
Little Harry
Garnett Silk (aka Little Bimbo)
Patrick Andy
Buju Banton
Beenie Man
Cocoa Tea
plus many more...

Wayne Wade ?

Ernest Wilson
Little Kirk
White Mice
Wayne Smith