Bob Andy

Bob Andy (born Keith Anderson) is one of reggae's most influential singer-songwriters. Many of his songs have become reggae standards and have been covered numerous times by Jamaican and international artists. Andy first attracted attention as a founder member of vocal group The Paragons between 1963-1966. His initial impact as a solo artist came soon after as he recorded a string of hit singles for Coxsone Dodd at Studio One, later compiled on Bob Andy’s Song Book. Other well-known Andy compositions were first covered by fellow Jamaican artists: “I Don't Want to See You Cry” by Ken Boothe, “It's Impossible” by Delroy Wilson, and many hits by Marcia Griffiths such as “Feel Like Jumping” (co-written with Jackie Mittoo). Andy and Griffiths then scored on the UK and European pop charts in 1970 as Bob & Marcia with "Young, Gifted & Black" and again with "Pied Piper (feat. Marcia Griffiths)" (1971). Bob’s 70s solo hits include “Fire Burning" (also a smash for Marcia in 1991), and from the classic album Lots of Love and I, "Ghetto Stays in the Mind" and "Feel the Feeling”. Releases on Bob's own I-Anka Records label include Retrospective, Friends, Freely and Andywork. 1997 saw the release of his Willie Lindo-produced set, Hanging Tough. Amongst many awards bestowed upon Bob was the Jamaican Government’s Order of Distinction in the Rank of Commander (2006) for his contributions to reggae music. He left us in March 2020 with an unforgettable catalogue of musical works.