Jimmy Riley: Devoted To The Craft

Jimmy Riley was born on May 22, 1954. His recording career began in the mid 1960s as a founding member of The Sensations, so for all intents and purposes, he was barely in his teens then. He is also the father of Tarrus Riley, which could make any claim of genetically superior vocals all the more self evident. Alongside group members Cornell Campbell, Buster Riley and Aaron ''Dego'' Davis'', The Sensations found glory atop the charts with songs like ''Those Guys'' and ''Everyday Is Just A Holiday'' on Duke Reid's Treasure Isle label.

From inception Slim Smith provided inspiration for Riley's early recording career. After his departure from The Sensations, he finally got a chance to work alongside Smith as part of a newly formed Uniques. Short lived as this was, The Uniques managed to create hits like ''My Conversation'' and ''Love and Affection'' which amounted to some of the most memorable tracks to emerge from that begone Rocksteady era.

In 1978, Jimmy Riley cut his debut album ''Tell The Youths The Truth'' and it was at this time that he really began to come into form as a vocalist. The title track of this album became a 1978 classic and in so doing made paved the way for a Jimmy Riley momentum that would soon gather. He held the interest of all the right producers of the time like Scratch Perry and Bunny Lee, still it was not until he hit the Taxi label to team up with the famous ''Riddim Twins'' Sly and Robbie that the soulful veteran really caught his stride. With a style that was all his own, Jimmy Riley's vocal delivery still had a tat of Motown, a fact which has always set him apart from his peers. Perfect mix of talent and timing brought forward a phenomenal cover of Marvin Gaye's ''Sexual Healing'' which held enough Taxi magic to carry Jimmy Riley to the top of the UK reggae charts in 1983. Within this same time had already recorded Riddim Driven (also know as Love And Devotion) for Taxi in 1981. The album included many takes from The Uniques catalogue that were masterfully brought up to speed for a more digital era. On it are familiar number like ''"Love and Devotion", "I'm Gonna Make You Love Me", and "I Wish It Would Rain'' one of two Temptations covers that Riley literally bred new life into. Works here have been regarded as Riley's best ever. The album's comparable companion is another Sly and Robbie joint released in 2008. Sly and Robbie Presents Jimmy Riley: Pull Up Selector gives way for more Taxi magic over Jimmy Riley's as yet untarnished vocals. The title track features Tarrus holding a firm dj stance on a track that immediatley showed all the makings of a classic. Included also are know and unknown Riley originals and covers.