Ken Boothe is a legendary Jamaican vocalist and songwriter who has been creating and performing music for more than five decades. He was born in 1948 in Denham Town, Jamaica and has been a major influence on the development of reggae music.
Boothe began singing in church at a young age but first gained recognition when he won the Vere Johns Opportunity Hour talent competition in 1964. His first single, “Artibella” was released in 1965 and was an instant hit. His first album, released in 1967, established him as a major artist in Jamaica and he quickly became a major influence on the development of reggae music.
The artist continued to release singles and albums throughout the 60s and 70s and achieved international success in the mid-1970s with his cover version of “Everything I Own,” which reached number one in the UK Singles Chart. He was also one of the first Jamaican artists to be signed by a major label, Island Records, and he released two albums on the label.
In the 80s and 90s, Boothe continued to record and perform, and he has collaborated with a variety of artists, including Dennis Brown, Gregory Isaacs, Sly & Robbie, and more. He has also performed at major festivals around the world, including Reggae Sunsplash and Reggae on the River. Boothe has been honored with numerous awards throughout his career, including a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Jamaica Music Industry Association in 2004.
He has also been inducted into the Jamaica Music Hall of Fame and the International Reggae and World Music Awards Hall of Fame. Boothe continues to tour and record to this day, and his classic songs remain popular around the world. He has been credited as one of the most influential artists in the history of reggae music, and he is still regarded as one of the most iconic Jamaican singers of all time.
Discography
Albums
Mr Rock Steady (1967)
More of Ken Boothe (1968)
Freedom Street (1970)
Boothe Unlimited (1972)
Black Gold and Green (1973)
Let’s Get It On (1974), Trojan
Everything I Own (1974)
Blood Brothers (1976)
Disco Reggae (1978)
Showcase (1978)
Who Gets Your Love (1979)
I’m Just a Man (1979)
Reggae For Lovers (1979)
Got To Get Away Showcase (197?)
Imagine (1986)
Don’t You Know (1987)
Talk to Me (1990)
Power of Love (1993)
Natural Feeling (1995)
Acclaimed (1996)
Gospel Door 2 Door (2001)
Love is the Ultimate (2003)
Journey (2012)
