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Owen Gray

Owen Gray (1939–2025): Kingston singer called Jamaica’s first home-grown singing star. “Please Let Me Go” (1960), “On the Beach” for Coxsone, “Patricia” (first Island Records release), “Cupid”, “Apollo 12”.

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Early career

Owen Gray was born in Kingston on 5 July 1939. He attended Alpha Boys School, won his first talent contest at nine and turned professional at nineteen. His first single, "Please Let Me Go", topped the Jamaican charts and also sold in Britain, where it was issued on Starlite in 1960 backed with "Far Love".

Sound system records

"On the Beach" (1959), a salute to the Sir Coxsone Downbeat sound system, was one of the first releases on Clement "Coxsone" Dodd's label. In 1960 Gray worked with Chris Blackwell, and his single "Patricia" was the first record released by Island Records. He also recorded for Prince Buster, Duke Reid, Leslie Kong and Clancy Eccles, and cut duets with Millie Small.

Britain

After his early success Gray moved to the United Kingdom in May 1962 and toured Europe in 1964. By 1966 he was working the British club circuit as both a ska and soul singer. His Sam Cooke cover "Cupid" was the title track of a 1969 LP on Melodisc, and "Apollo 12" (1970) was popular with skinhead audiences. "Hail the Man", a tribute to Haile Selassie, found an audience among Rastafarians.

Later years

Gray lived briefly in New Orleans and returned to Jamaica to record roots reggae with Bunny Lee before settling in Miami in the 1980s, where he concentrated on ballads and gospel. His recordings appeared on Studio One, Island, Trojan, Hawk, VP and Jet Star. He received the Order of Distinction in August 2023 and died on 20 July 2025, aged 86.

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Every record

Discography

Pulled from Discogs. Titles in yellow have a full page on Breakbeat Archive.

Studio albums 38

  1. 1961SingsIsland RecordseBayDiscogs
  2. 1969Reggae With SoulTrojan Records, Trojan RecordseBayDiscogs
  3. 1969CupidMelodisc (3)eBayDiscogs
  4. 1975Forward On The SceneTotal SoundseBayDiscogs
  5. 1977Fire And BulletsTrojan RecordseBayDiscogs
  6. 1977Turning PointVenture RecordseBayDiscogs
  7. 1983Call On MeTechniqueseBayDiscogs
  8. 1984Little GirlVista SoundseBayDiscogs
  9. 1985Watch This SoundSky NoteeBayDiscogs
  10. 1986Stand By MeHitbound Record Co.eBayDiscogs
  11. 1986Prince Buster Memory Lane Featuring Owen GrayPhill PratteBayDiscogs
  12. 1987DreamsBlue Mountain RecordseBayDiscogs
  13. 1988Ready, Willing & AblePark HeightseBayDiscogs
  14. 1989That's How Strong IsBarry U RecordseBayDiscogs
  15. 1994Room At The TopWorld Enterprize RecordseBayDiscogs
  16. 1996ExcellenceBushayseBayDiscogs
  17. 1997Gospel Truth Vol.2 BushrangereBayDiscogs
  18. 1997SurelyFirst EditioneBayDiscogs
  19. 1997Gospel Truth Vol.1BushrangereBayDiscogs
  20. 1998Do You Still Love MeFirst EditioneBayDiscogs
  21. 1998True VibrationCharmeBayDiscogs
  22. 1999On DriveBushranger "Bushay" For MusiceBayDiscogs
  23. 2001LegendWorld SoundseBayDiscogs
  24. 2002Better Days World SoundseBayDiscogs
  25. 2003Let's Start All OverWorld SoundseBayDiscogs
  26. 2005Baby It's YouWorld SoundseBayDiscogs
  27. —Loving Reggae Vol 1Pioneer InternationaleBayDiscogs
  28. —Get On BoardCaldor RecordseBayDiscogs
  29. —Loving Reggae Vol 2Pioneer InternationaleBayDiscogs
  30. —Best Of Owen Grey's Medly HitsPioneer International, Pioneer InternationaleBayDiscogs
  31. —Owen Gray Hit After Hit And MoreWorld Sound Music (2)eBayDiscogs
  32. —Golden Oldies Mix "He Is Legend Pt.1"Inperial SoundeBayDiscogs
  33. —Golden Oldies Mix "He Is Legend Pt.2"Inperial SoundeBayDiscogs
  34. —Lets Go SteadyFirst EditioneBayDiscogs
  35. —Sexy ReggaePioneer InternationaleBayDiscogs
  36. —Miss Wire WaistBody MusiceBayDiscogs
  37. —Something Good Going OnBushrangereBayDiscogs
  38. —Memory Lane Vol. 1First EditioneBayDiscogs

Collaborative albums 14

  1. 1969Belittle Me / Reggae Dance / Them A Brawl / Help WantedCarlton Alphonso / The Pioneers / Owen Gray / Stranger Cole · Not On LabeleBayDiscogs
  2. 1969Sings Hits Of '69Owen Grey* · Revolution RecordseBayDiscogs
  3. 1980Battle Of The Giants - Round OneOwen Gray & Pluggy Satchmo · EchoeBayDiscogs
  4. 1984Max Romeo Meets Owen Gray At King Tubby's StudioMax Romeo Meets Owen Gray · Culture Press, Vista SoundseBayDiscogs
  5. 1984Hit After Hit After HitOwen Grey* · Carib GemseBayDiscogs
  6. 1984Sings Bob MarleyOwen Grey* · SargeeBayDiscogs
  7. 1988Let's Make A DealOwen Grey* · Barry U RecordseBayDiscogs
  8. 1996Out In The OpenOwen Grey* · VP RecordseBayDiscogs
  9. —None Of Jah-Jah's Children Shall Ever SufferOwen Grey* · Imperial Records (10)eBayDiscogs
  10. —It's Not EasyOwen Grey* · Body MusiceBayDiscogs
  11. —Aie, Aie, AieOwen Grey* And The Rudees* · FontanaeBayDiscogs
  12. —Oldies But GoodiesDelroy Wilson And Owen Gray · EchoeBayDiscogs
  13. —Hit After Hit After Hit - Vol. 2Owen Grey* · AbrahameBayDiscogs
  14. —This Is Owen GreyOwen Grey* · Pama RecordseBayDiscogs

EPs & mixtapes 1

  1. —Shook, Shimmy And ShakePolydoreBayDiscogs

Compilations 3

  1. 2004Shook, Shimmy & Shake - The AnthologyTrojan RecordseBayDiscogs
  2. —Hit After Hit After Hit Vol. 3AbrahameBayDiscogs
  3. —Hit After Hit After Hit Vol 4Vista SoundseBayDiscogs
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