Freddie McGregor

Throughout his long career as one of Jamaica's preeminent vocalists, Freddie McGregor has deftly balanced Rastafarian roots reggae with ardent lovers rock. Born in Clarendon Parish in 1956, "Little Freddie" McGregor perched on a beer case to sing ska tunes with The Clarendonians at age seven. His conversion to Rastafarianism in 1975 is reflected in singles like "I Am a Rasta", which preceded his 1977 debut album, Mr. McGregor. In 1980, he released Bobby Bobylon, a Jamaican smash hit. He enjoyed similar artistic and commercial success in 1982 with Big Ship, and expanded his reputation internationally in 1984 with a crossover cover of the popular Cuban patriotic song "Guantanamera". Throughout his career, he applied his Philadelphia-style soul pipes to lovers-rock hits such as "That Girl" and a memorable cover of The Main Ingredient's "Just Don't Want to Be Lonely". After more than three dozen albums, McGregor was still keeping reggae real on 2016's True to My Roots.