Godfrey Anderson and Bob Andy

Bob Andy’s storied career is the focus of ‘The Life’s Work of A Lyrical Genius’, an event scheduled for October 28th at Rub A Dub Tuesdayz in St. Andrew, Jamaica.

It is the initiative of Godfrey Anderson, his son, who believes the legendary singer-songwriter’s history should be shared with young people in his homeland.

“For this generation, whenever they hear songs like ‘Too Experienced’, which has been deemed a classic by reggae lovers and music connoisseurs alike, they automatically think of Barrington Levy. This celebration is partly to 'edutain' them,” said Anderson, who lives in South Florida.

Andy died in March, 2020 at age 75. In the early 1960s, he was a founding member of The Paragons, one of the most successful harmony groups in the history of reggae.

After leaving The Paragons, Andy went to the formidable Studio One label where he excelled as a composer and singer. ‘Too Experienced’ (covered in 1990 by Barrington Levy), ‘I Want to Go Back Home’, ‘Unchained’, ‘Going Home’ and ‘Let Them Say’ are some of the classic songs he recorded there.

The talented Andy also wrote hit songs for Marcia Griffiths including ‘Truly’, ‘Feel Like Jumping’ and their duet, ‘Really Together’. Their cover of Nina Simone’s ‘Young, Gifted And Black’ entered the British national chart in 1970. 

In the 1990s, a new generation of fans discovered Bob Andy’s music when Griffiths had a major hit with her cover of ‘Fire Burning’, his song from 1974.

WRITTEN BY HOWARD CAMPBELL