Reggae has just lost one of its keepers of the flame: John Holt died on Sunday in hospital in London. He was 69. His health had worsened this summer, and he had notably been taken ill on stage at the One Love Festival in England. This giant of Jamaican music, with the velvet voice, lived through the eras, from rocksteady to reggae to dancehall.
At only 12, John Holt entered and won Vere Johns's Opportunity Hour talent contest, climbing every rung up to the final. Producer Leslie Kong (Beverley's), always on the lookout for a new signing, had him record his first title: Forever I Will Stay.
Heavily influenced by the crooners (he cites Mario Lanza, Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra), John Holt joined the group The Paragons, where Bob Andy was already at the microphone. After Andy left in 1965, John Holt took over the lead. It was the great era of rocksteady, and the master of ceremonies Duke Reid (Treasure Isle) propelled the group to the top of the charts: together, they scored no fewer than 14 number one hits. When the group split (they won a scholarship for the USA), John Holt pursued his solo career, already studded with several hits (Tonight, Ali Baba, Stealing, Stick by me).
He recorded for Coxsone Dodd, Prince Buster, Bunny Lee and Tony Ashfield, whose taste for string arrangements opened the doors of Trojan and the English market to him. In 1974, Help me make it throught the night was a smash across the Channel.
The turn of the 80s was hazardous for many roots artists, but John Holt found fresh success with dancehall producer Junjo Lawes on the album "Police in Helicopter" and its title track, whose menacing lyrics got it banned from the airwaves, which almost mechanically propelled it to the top of the charts and rehabilitated the crooner with the new generation.
We will also remember that splendid concert in London with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, which was then discovering reggae (and has never played it since). And we can take comfort in the thought of having been lucky enough to see him on stage in France recently, during his two appearances at the Garance Reggae Festival. RIP, Mr Holt.
Strange Things
Riding For A Fall
My Heart is Gone
My Best Friend (The Paragons)
Police in Helicopter
