Singer DHEAPBLU returns to the fold with three new songs which feature his Sam Cooke/Pat Kelly crooner’s tone, a sound he has patented in his 35-year career.   

The songs are “Love Light”, “Every Time You Smile” and “Missing Home”, all produced by Danny Breakenridge for Upstairs Music.  

DHEAPBLU addressed Cooke and Kelly’s impact on him.  

“These two artists had a big influence on my style and sound because I grew up learning that a male singer should be able to thrill a woman, so with that colorful style they had it was easy to thrill the female fans and when you get the female audience on your side most of your job is done,” he said.   

Breakenridge and DHEAPBLU began work on the songs in late 2019 and completed them early this year. They marked a difference in approach for the vocalist.  

“It was for the first time writing songs on selected popular ‘riddim’ tracks and making these songs owning the riddim track, to make it clearer you hear the familiarity of the riddim but hard to recognize the original song first recorded on it,” he explained.   

A cousin of noted singer/songwriter Jackie Edwards, DHEAPBLU was born in St. Mary parish in eastern Jamaica, but grew up in Jones Town, Kingston.  

In addition to Cooke and Kelly, his influences include Nat King Cole and Curtis Mayfield.

Written By Howard Campbell