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Key Information

Martin James Ziggy Norman Riley (22 May 1947 – 23 March 2016), better known as Jimmy Riley, was a Jamaican singer who in addition to recording solo was also a member of the Sensations and The Uniques and was the father of Tarrus Riley.[1]

Biography

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Martin James Ziggy Norman Riley also known as Jimmy Riley was born in Jonestown, Kingston, Jamaica on 22 May 1947 to Leanora Riley and Alfred Riley.[2][3] Riley grew up in the city's Waterhouse district and attended Kingston Senior School along with Slim Smith.[4][5] When Smith had success in The Techniques, Riley hung around with the group hoping to join, but was limited to carrying things for them and helping out with harmonies.[4] He decided to form his own group, The Sensations, along with Cornell Campbell, Buster Riley (brother of The Techniques' Winston Riley), and Aaron "Dego" Davis.[4] The Sensations had a successful audition for producer Arthur "Duke" Reid, and the group had mid-1960s success with "Everyday is Just a Holiday" and "Those Guys".[6] On leaving the group in 1967, Riley joined Smith and Lloyd Charmers in the re-formed Uniques, having huge success with songs such as "Watch This Sound" and "My Conversation".[6] When the Uniques split up, Riley initially recorded as a solo artist for Bunny Lee before moving away to record independently. He began producing his own recordings and others by artists such as Slim Smith and Delroy Wilson.[6] He had several hits in the 1970s, including "Tell The Youths The Truth", "Nyah Bingi", and "Clean up the Streets", and continued to be successful in the 1980s, working with Sly & Robbie's Taxi productions. In 1983, Riley topped the UK reggae chart with his version of Marvin Gaye's "Sexual Healing".[6][7] In the late 1980s, Riley moved to Miami, and put his career on hold, but returned to Jamaica in the early 1990s.

Riley's son Tarrus followed him into music and the success of Tarrus gave a boost to Jimmy's career.[8] They performed together several times, headlining a number of festivals including the Ocho Rios Seafood Festival in 2007.[9] Jimmy Riley's album release in 2008 Sly and Robbie Presents Jimmy Riley: Pull Up Selector saw him again working with Sly & Robbie, and features Tarrus on the title track, which was also released as a single in 2008.[10]

In September 2013 he released the album Contradiction, that featured guest appearances from his son Tarrus, Sizzla, and Fantan Mojah.[11]

He died on the morning of 23 March 2016 in New York from cancer, aged 68.[12][13][5]

Discography

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  • Tell The Youths The Truth (1978), Trojan
  • Majority Rule (1978), Burning Sounds
  • Makossa International Records Presents Jimmy Riley (1978), Makossa International
  • The Jimmy Riley Showcase (1978), Burning Sounds/Yes/Makossa International
  • Rydim Driven (1981), Taxi aka Love & Devotion (2000), Rhino
  • Put The People First (1982), Shanachie
  • Magic (1984), Imp
  • World for Everyone (1985)
  • Love Fa Real (1995),
  • Attention (1996), Abraham
  • Rock On (1998), Charm
  • Someone Like You (1998), Nyam Up
  • Love Canticle (2000), Charm
  • Jimmy Riley Now (2001), Jet Star
  • Sly and Robbie Presents Jimmy Riley: Pull Up Selector (2009), Taxi
  • Contradiction (2013) VP
Compilations
  • 20 Classic Hits (1993), Sonic Sounds
  • Live It To Know It (2015), Self productions, Protest Songs & Dub Plates 1975 – 1985: Pressure Sounds

References

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Jimmy Riley

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Jimmy Riley was a Jamaican reggae singer known for his contributions to the genre as a member of the vocal trios The Sensations and The Uniques in the 1960s, and for his enduring solo career that spanned roots reggae and lovers rock, producing classic hits through collaborations with prominent producers. He was also the father of reggae artist Tarrus Riley and was regarded as a reggae icon in Jamaica. [1] Born in Kingston, Jamaica, Riley began his professional career providing harmonies for The Sensations at Duke Reid's Treasure Isle label, contributing to tracks including "Everyday Is Just a Holiday." He later joined The Uniques alongside Slim Smith and Lloyd Charmers, where the group recorded several notable hits such as "My Conversation," "Watch This Sound," and "Let Me Go Girl." After pursuing a solo path, he worked with various producers including Bunny Lee and Lee "Scratch" Perry before finding major success in the 1980s with Sly & Robbie on the Taxi label, where he achieved a number one record with "Love and Devotion" and topped reggae charts with his cover of Marvin Gaye's "Sexual Healing." [1] Riley largely stepped back from music in the 1990s to focus on family but returned in the 2000s and 2010s with albums including Pull Up Selector, Contradiction, and Live It to Know It. He received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Bob Marley Reggae Festival in 1996 and continued performing internationally. He died on March 23, 2016, in New York City after battling cancer. [1]

Early life

Childhood and family background

Jimmy Riley was born Martin Norman Riley on 22 May 1947 in Kingston, Jamaica.[2] He grew up in the west Kingston area.

Education

Riley attended Kingston Senior School, where he encountered vocalists and began his connections in the music scene.[3] No information is available on any interest in acting by Jimmy Riley the reggae singer. The previous content pertained to a different individual and has been removed.

Early adult pursuits

Post-graduation workshops and contest participation

After graduating from Port Moody Senior Secondary in 1995, Jimmy Riley took a couple of acting classes at night and participated in a few workshops to begin gaining experience in the field.[4] These initial steps were intended to get his feet wet in acting, though he felt strongly that it was his calling and nothing significant materialized from those early efforts during that period.[4] In 2001, Riley and a friend entered a "Two Person Scene" contest at the Fire Hall Arts Theater and won second place.[4]

Marriage, family, and initial setbacks

In 2002, following his second-place finish in a two-person scene contest the previous year, Jimmy Riley married and began raising a family that would include two children. [4] Around the same time, he acquired his first video camera and, despite having little formal training, started producing short personal videos to document his life and express creativity amid his responsibilities. [4] While holding a regular job to support his young family, Riley appeared in various student films as he attempted to pursue acting opportunities. [4] His strong work ethic and family commitments frequently required him to decline roles, as balancing the demands of acting with home life proved challenging. [4] Ultimately, these pressures led him to hang up the acting gloves for a period. [4] No documented religious phase or related performances are known for Jimmy Riley, the Jamaican reggae singer. The previously included information referred to a different individual. No information exists on the reggae singer Jimmy Riley pursuing an acting career, studying at Shoreline Studios, or related activities. The provided content and citations refer to a different individual with the same name.

Acting credits

Known roles and projects

Jimmy Riley's most notable on-screen credit is his role as Lance "Cash Deal" Davine in the 2014 short film Where's Barry?, where he was credited as Jim Prieur.[4][5] The 34-minute film centers on a former child bowling prodigy forced to return to the lanes to help friends in trouble with a local hustler.[5] Riley has also appeared in various student films, though specific titles and roles remain undocumented in available records.[4] These projects reflect his intermittent involvement in acting pursuits beyond the single named credit.[4] Earlier personal short videos he created around 2002 using a home video camera represent informal creative experiments rather than professional credits.[4]

Personal details

Physical attributes and nickname

Jimmy Riley is 6 feet 1 inch (1.85 m) tall. [4] He is also known by the nickname Jammer. [4]

Personal philosophy

Jimmy Riley has expressed a personal philosophy that stresses maintaining perspective on life's core priorities amid long-term pursuits. He has directly stated, "Do not lose sight of what is really important." [4] This outlook underscores the need to balance ambitions with fundamental values, particularly in the context of family and personal fulfillment. [4] Riley has also emphasized patience as a central lesson from his experiences, reflecting a belief in perseverance through delayed or gradual progress. He has remarked, "If it is one thing he has learned, it is patience. Good things come to those who wait." [4] In later years, this philosophy of patience has supported his ongoing pursuit of an acting career despite earlier challenges and competing responsibilities. [4]
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