Born in Kingston in 1970, Diana King was surrounded by all things reggae from a young age: raised next to Bob Marley’s house, growing up with the Melody Makers, and getting studio work with the likes of ragga artist Junior Tucker. After she contributed a version of the title track to the Marley tribute album, STIR IT UP, major labels took notice. The rest of the world followed when the dancehall-flavored hit single “Shy Guy” made it into the Billboard Top 100 in 1995. The resulting album, TOUGHER THAN LOVE, featured Alton Ellis’s classic ballad “I’m Still In Love” and was produced by legends Sugar Minott and Coxsone Dodd. Reining in the love, she toured Japan and Europe on that album’s success. Later King albums featured more hip-hop flair amongst slower songs that showed off her soulful range.