John Holt

John Kenneth Holt CD (11 July 1947 – 19 October 2014 ) was a Jamaican reggae singer who first found fame as a member of The Paragons, before establishing himself as a solo artist.

Early life Holt was born in the Greenwich Farm area of Kingston in 1947. His mother Amy was a nurse. By the age of 12, he was a regular entrant in talent contests run at Jamaican theatres by Vere Johns, winning 28 contests, some broadcast live on Radio Jamaica.

Career and recognition He recorded his first single in 1963 with "Forever I'll Stay"/"I Cried a Tear" for record producer Leslie Kong, and also recorded a duet with Alton Ellis, "Rum Bumper", for producer Vincent "Randy" Chin.

In 1965 Holt joined Bob Andy, Garth "Tyrone" Evans, and Junior Menz in their group the Binders; Menz departed to be replaced by Howard Barrett and they changed their name to the Paragons. "Wear You to the Ball" was another of his hits with the Paragons, and it made the charts again when U-Roy (whom he had introduced to Duke Reid) recorded a Deejay version over it. "Stick By Me" was the biggest selling Jamaican record of 1972, one of a number of records recorded with Lee.

He had success back in Jamaica in 1976 with "Up Park Camp" (on a reworking of the Heptones' "Get in the Groove" rhythm), and his success continued into the 1980s with tracks such as "Police in Helicopter" and "Fat She Fat", recorded with producer Henry "Junjo" Lawes, and a standout appearance at the 1982 Reggae Sunsplash festival. The cover to the album single pictured Holt growing locks and a beard, an indication of the increasing importance of Rastafari in his life.

Holt's style, notably slower and more romantic than most of his contemporaries, is a recognisable forerunner of the lovers rock subgenre.

His song "Man Next Door" has been covered by numerous other reggae artists, including Dennis Brown, UB40 and Horace Andy. The latter sang in a more electronic vein for the Massive Attack album Mezzanine.

In February 2022, the 1973 compilation of Holt's recordings, 1000 Volts of Holt, received gold certification from the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) for sales in the UK.

Personal life and death Having been taken ill at the One Love Festival on 16 August, Holt died on 19 October 2014 in the Wellington Hospital in London. He had been diagnosed with colon cancer in June 2014.

He is survived by his wife Valerie, 12 children, and 25 grandchildren. His funeral took place on 17 November at Holy Trinity Cathedral in Kingston, and featured performances by U-Roy, The Silvertones, Tinga Stewart, Boris Gardiner, George Nooks, Luciano, Carlene Davis, Ken Boothe, and members of Holt's family, backed by Lloyd Parks and the We the People Band. He was buried at Dovecot Memorial Park.

Album discography A Love I Can Feel (1971), Bamboo Like a Bolt (1971), Treasure Isle OK Fred (1972), Melodisc Holt (1973), Jaguar Still in Chains (1973), Trojan Pledging My Love (1972), Jackpot/Trojan Time Is the Master (1973), Moodisc Presenting the Fabulous John Holt (1974), Magnet The Further You Look (1974), Trojan Dusty Roads (1974), Trojan Sings for I (1974), Trojan A Love I Can Feel (1974), Attack Don't Break Your Promise (1974), Lord Koos Before the Next Tear Drop (1976), Klik Up Park Camp (1976), Channel One World of Love (1977), Justice Channel One Presents the Magnificent John Holt (1977), Channel One Roots of Holt (1977), Trojan Showcase (New Disco Style) (1977), Thunderbolt Holt Goes Disco (1977), Trojan In Demand (1978), Dynamic Sounds Let It Go On (1978), Trojan Super Star (1978), Weed Beat The Impressable John Holt (Disco Mix) (1978), Harry J Peace in the Sun (1978), Volt Just a Country Boy (1978), Trojan Introspective (1980), Dynamic Sounds My Desire (1980), Jackpot Children of the World (1981), VP A1 Disco Showcase (1981), Taurus Just the Two of Us (1982), CSA Sweetie Come Brush Me (1982), Volcano Gold (1983), Creole Police in Helicopter (1983), Greensleeves/Arrival For Lovers and Dancers (1984), Trojan Live in London (1984), Very Good Pure Gold (1985), Vista Sounds Wild Fire (1985), Natty Congo/Tad's (with Dennis Brown) Vibes (1985), Leggo Sounds The Reggae Christmas Hits Album (1986), Trojan From One Extreme to Another (1986), Beta Time Is the Master (1988), Creole Sweetie Come Brush Me – Greatest Hits (1988), ROHIT Rock with Me Baby (1988), Trojan If I Were a Carpenter (1989) Why I Care (1989), Greensleeves Reggae, Hip House, R&B Flavor (1993) Reggae Peacemaker (1993), House of Reggae All Night Long (1997), MIL New Horizon (1998), VP John Holt in Symphony with The Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra (2001), Jet Star Born Free (2001) Fist Full of Holt (2009)

There have also been dozens of compilations of Holt's work, starting in the early 1970s with a Greatest Hits compilation from Studio One, and notably followed by the 1,000 Volts... series on Trojan Records.

DVDs John Holt in Symphony With the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra (2003) John Holt & Freddie McGregor – Living Legends Live in Concert (2011)