Joe Higgs is a Ska, Rocksteady and Reggae vocalist and guitarist. He was born Joseph Benjamin Higgs on June 3, 1940 in Kingston Jamaica. He died on December 18, 1999.
In 1958 he released his first song “Oh Manny Oh” which was a duet with Roy Wilson. One of the greatest hits of Higgs and Wilson was “There’s A Reward”. The duet with Wilson lasted until 1964 when Wilson migrated to the Untied States. He continued as a solo artiste until 1965 when he became the lead vocalist for The Soul Brothers.
One of the most popular songs ever written by Joe Higgs was “Steppin Razor” in 1967 which was recorded by the Wailers in 1968. “Steppin Razor” is among the songs that signaled the transition in Jamaica from Rocksteady to Reggae. It was again recorded in 1977 by Peter Tosh.
In 1972 Higgs recorded his debut album “Life of Contradiction” for Chris Blackwell’s Island Records but it was not released until 1975. The sounds created on the Life of Contradiction album has had tremendous influence on Reggae music and on the sounds coming from The Wailers band in the 1970’s. It is most notable on the Wailers “Catch A Fire” album of 1973.
Higgs acted as mentor for young singers which included Bob Marley and Bunny Wailer. It was Higgs who first introduced members of the Wailers to record producer Coxsone Dodd in 1962.
Joe Higgs
Joe Higgs and Roy Wilson
Joe Higgs and Bob Marley
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