Biography
Born Colin Levy in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Iley Dread initially gained recognition as a performer before focusing chiefly on songwriting. His first release, ‘Flower In My Garden’, appeared on Bullseye Records, the imprint run by his mentor and producer Belvin Jackson. He stayed with Jackson until the producer’s death in 1995, during which time the two issued four singles that enjoyed strong local success. That same year Iley Dread launched his own Kings Of Kings imprint and began crafting hits for other artists, among them the Jamaican performers Mykal Rose, Spanner Banner, Norris Man and Dennis Brown. The label’s 14-track various-artists collection Every Little Thing showcased both his compositional abilities and his own vocal work. He sustained a strong presence on the Canadian scene until 2000, when the single ‘A Friend For Life’ brought him broader attention. In reaction to what he viewed as demeaning slack DJ material, he next recorded ‘Mama’. By 2001 he had completed a European tour alongside Christini, Bushman, Fred Locks and Judy Mowatt. Even as his performing profile grew, Iley Dread created the ‘Front Row’ rhythm, which topped the reggae charts throughout spring 2001 and carried contributions from Cecile on ‘Changez’, Sizzla on ‘Give It To Them’, Elephant Man on ‘New Application’ and Beenie Man on ‘Counteract’.