Junior Byles

Kenneth Byles (2 February 1948 – 15 May 2025), also known as "Junior Byles", "Chubby", or "King Chubby", was a foundation conscious roots reggae singer from Jamaica.

Life and career The Versatiles Named after his father Kenneth Snr, Kenneth Byles Jr. was born at Jubilee Hospital in Kingston, and grew up in the city's Jonestown, where his father worked as a mechanic, and his mother as a schoolteacher. His family were devoutly religious, and his early musical education came from singing in church. He formed the vocal trio The Versatiles in 1967, along with Dudley Earl and Ben 'Louis' Davis, while also working as a firefighter. Manley was elected, but improvements for Jamaica's poor were not immediately apparent, and Byles was one of several artists who had supported Manley who voiced dissent, releasing the scathing "When Will Better Come?". At the end of 1972, Byles had his biggest hit to date, with a cover version of Peggy Lee's "Fever", with a dubby rhythm produced by Perry. November 1972 saw the release of Byles debut album, Beat Down Babylon, which along with a series of singles that followed, established Byles as a major force in Jamaica as well as establishing him with audiences in the United Kingdom, "Curley Locks" being particularly successful there. Byles occasionally resurfaced, recording "Young Girl" for Holness in 1989, and "Little Fleego" three years later, and played a few live shows with Earl "Chinna" Smith in 1997 and 1998. He contributed to the Medicine I compilation album in 2000, and returned to live performance in 2004 in Jamaica, receiving positive reviews. This led to a short tour of the United Kingdom. His legacy of recordings from the 1970s, however, maintain his status as one of roots reggae's leading talents.

Byles died on 15 May 2025, at the age of 77.

Discography Singles "Demonstration" aka "What's The World Coming To" (as King Chubby) (1970) "Da Da" (1971) "Beat Down Babylon" (1971) Upsetter "King of Babylon" (1972) Randy's "Fever" "Hail to the Power" "Our Mistakes" (1972) Love Power "Black Crisis" (1972) Love Power "A Long Way" (1973) Love Power "Curley Locks" (1974) Dip "Dreader Locks" (& Lee Perry) (1974) Dip "Curley Locks" (1974) Magnet "Gwane Joshua Gwane" (1974) Soul Beat/Jaguar "Bury O Boy" (1975) Ethnic Fight "Chant Down Babylon" (& Rupert Reid) (1976) Black Wax/Ja-Man "Pitchy Patchy" (1976) Black Wax "Fade Away" (1976) Eagle "Oh Carolina" (1976) Grounation "Run Run" (1976) Observer "Heart And Soul" (1976) Errol T "Can You Feel It?" (1976) Thing "Jordan" (1976) Thing "Better Be Careful" (1982) Carib Gems "Let Us Reason Now" (1989) One in Three "Weeping" (1977) The Thing

Albums Beat Down Babylon (1972) Dynamic/Trojan Jordan (1976) Micron Rasta No Pickpocket (1986) Nighthawk

Compilations Beat Down Babylon: The Upsetter Years (1987) Trojan When Will Better Come 1972–76 (1988) Trojan Curly Locks: Best of Junior Byles and The Upsetters 1970–76 (1997) Heartbeat 129 Beat Street Ja-Man Special 1975–1978 (1999) Blood & Fire