Vivian Jones
@ the Indigo 02
27 October 2012

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Biography

At the age of ten, Vivian Jones left Trewlaney, Jamaica, in 1967 to settle in England. In 1977 he joined the band the Spartans and began to write his own material. A couple of bands later, Jones went solo and achieved a number 1 in the reggae charts in 1980 with “Good Morning.” A dearth of available session musicians inspired him to form a new band called ‘Vivian Jones and The Pieces,’ whose singles he also produced. In 1981, ‘Black Echoes’ magazine voted him the most talented singer/songwriter in the UK, but the then consistent problem of lack of remuneration for reggae recording artists made him contemplate his future. So, in 1984, he went back to Jamaica, but still ended up recording songs with Roots Radics. He returned to England and collaborated with Jah Shaka, and began to concentrate on his own music once more.

1988 saw another number 1 in the reggae charts, “Sugar Love,” which stayed there for four weeks. “Extra Classic Super Fantastic Love” reached number 3 in August 1989 and stayed in the charts till January 1990, when “The Hurt” was released. The album “Jamaica Love” was released in early 1990 and features Jones’ hit singles from 1988 to 1990. In August, he re-recorded “Good Morning/Feelings,” and 1991 saw another five week number 1 with “Strong Love,” and the British Reggae Industry awarded him the title of Best Male Artist.

Another trip to Jamaica in 1993 had Jones recording with of Jamaica’s top producers, Bobby Digital and Junior Reid, and he returned to England to record “Ethiopian Eyes/African Love,” which proved to be two major hits. Vivian Jones then started work on the “Love Is For Lovers” LP, the title track from which was released in 1994 and got to number 1 in the Midlands and the North of England. Sylvia Tella and Vivian Jones got together in 1995 to record a duet, “Sometimes Love,” which was released on Jones’ own record label, Imperial House. The “Love Is For Lovers” LP was then released in June.

1995 was a busy year for him, as also released on various record labels were “Lady Love” (Stingray), “Never Not Love You” (Charm), “Passion Love” (Charm), “Dedicated to H.I.M” (Fashion), “Rebel Woman” (Fashion), and “If You Want Me” (Fashion). While “Ladylove” and “Never Not Love You” were huge hits across the Midlands and the North of England, the London chart could not justify its lack of reaction.

1996’s achievements started in February for the undaunted Vivian Jones and the Imperial House crew when their first four track EP was born featuring the songs “Nu Chat To Me,” “Sometimes Love,” “Jah Bless Love” and “Feelings,” an adaptation of a Burt Bacharach song.

Jones continued to release singles throughout 1997, including the critically acclaimed duet “One Sweet Day” with Debbie Gordon. He also released the album “Reggae Max” in 1998. “Reggae Max” not only highlighted Jones’ talent as a writer and producer, but a singer too. As the new millennium dawned he began working at Jet Star’s recently opened Cave studio in NW London, where he soon became an integral part of their bid to revive the art of pristine reggae vocal productions. With a populist and possibly more mature audience in mind, Jones and his colleagues initiated a run of hit vocal tunes that proved so successful, even Jamaica had to sit up and take notice.