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”.
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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Discography
Studio albums 38
Collaborative albums 14
EPs & mixtapes 1
Compilations 3
Albums on Breakbeat Archive
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