Romain Virgo

Romain Virgo entered history in 2007 as the youngest winner, at 17, of the TV talent show Digicel Rising Stars (the equivalent of Pop Idol or The X Factor), and has not stopped confirming his strong potential since. A shy singer with a pure, soulful voice and lovers or realistic lyrics, he has earned his place in the top flight of Jamaican music with the hits Can't sleep and Who feels it knows it.

Romain Virgo, his real name, was born in Stepney, in the parish of St Ann, in 1990. His family, modest and deeply religious, was in the habit of recording hymns on a cassette player to listen to on Sundays. These were Romain's first steps in music. A neighbour spotted him, then at the age of 10 the parishioners realised his talent. He was soon recruited into the church choir, then into that of Aabuthnott High School, where he studied. He even became the choir's soloist.

In 2006, the choir entered a choir competition broadcast on Jamaican television called "All together sing" and, still led by Romain Virgo, reached 2nd place. The young singer's friends and first fans convinced him to enter the Digicel Rising Stars competition the following year, while he was still at school. He caused a sensation there, notably with his cover of Stevie Wonder's Sir Duke, which earned him the unanimous backing of the jury and an ovation from the audience. He finally took first place, with a prize of one million Jamaican dollars (a little over 8,000 euros) and a contract for two titles and a video with the label Greensleeves. He recorded the first title, a rather R&B cross-over called This love, and its video, with Richard "Shams" Brownie, and the second, Always on my mind, with Donovan Germain of the Penthouse label, at Tony Rebel's urging. Germain would not let him go and encouraged him to write his own lyrics. He gave him his first hit with the song Can't sleep on the Feel good riddim.

Romain, who obtained the equivalent of the baccalauréat soon afterwards, decided to spend his money on higher education and enrolled at a school specialising in the arts, The Edna Manley College of Visual and Performing Arts. He juggled studies and a musical career, with regular singles on Penthouse riddims (Love doctor on the Automatic riddim, a medley in tribute to Alton Ellis and above all Who feels it knows it on the Serve and protect riddim, one of his finest successes by general agreement), for Dawin and Omar Brown of Vikings Productions, who manage him (Wanna go home, Be careful, Murderer), or for Shane Brown and his label Juke Boxx (Live mi life on the Boops riddim, Ghetto or Memories on the Stagalag).

The Jamaican public particularly appreciates his taste for old-school lover and soul styles, in which he is paradoxically at ease despite his young age. He is readily compared to Sanchez, with youthful freshness added, and himself cites Alton Ellis and Beres Hammond among his influences.

Romain Virgo also learned his trade on stage, at the Rebel Salute and Reggae Sumfest 2009 festivals or at street parties (Passa Passa, Weddy Weddy). Signed to VP Records, he released his first album "Introducing... Romain Virgo" in summer 2010 and treated himself to a mini promotional tour of the United States and a first visit to Europe. Things got serious in the autumn when he accompanied Capleton on his American tour.

Since then, he has been through France, and may well return to present his new tracks such as Taking you home (Penthouse), I am rich in love (produced by Niko Browne) or Double troubles, a cover of Beres Hammond. The circle is complete.