Jimmy Riley

Jimmy Riley entered the world as Martin James Norman Riley on May 22, 1954 in Kingston, Jamaica. Early acclaim arrived through his role in the Sensations alongside Cornell Campbell, Aaron "Bobby" Davis, and brother Buster Riley; the group cut mid-'60s hits such as "Everyday Is Just a Holiday" for Duke Reid's Treasure Isle imprint. After departing the Sensations in 1967, Riley joined Slim Smith and Lloyd Charmers to form the second lineup of the Uniques, a short-lived ensemble that nonetheless produced lasting gems like "My Conversation" during its roughly year-long run. Working independently as both performer and songwriter, he collaborated with numerous Jamaican producers including Bunny Lee and Lee "Scratch" Perry before aligning with Sly & Robbie in the early '80s; their work on his take of Marvin Gaye's "Sexual Healing" propelled the track to the top of the reggae charts in 1983. Music took a backseat in the '90s as he focused on family, which included son Tarrus, who emerged as a key voice in the neo-roots revival of the 2000s. Riley reentered the scene in 2009 via the album Pull Up Selector, featuring a guest appearance by Tarrus. Contradiction appeared in 2013, after which he stepped away once more to confront cancer, the illness that claimed his life on March 23, 2016.