Richie Spice

Jamaican vocalist Richie Spice built a lasting presence in socially conscious roots reggae, while also exploring dancehall and lovers rock across projects like the 1996 release Out of the Blue, the 2008 set Gideon Boot, and the 2020 album Together We Stand.

Raised in Kingston, Jamaica, Spice—born Richell Bonner—came from a musical household whose members included brothers Pliers, known for production alongside Chaka Demus, Spanner Banner, and DJ Snatcher Dogg, each of whom established careers in the industry. Following early singles such as the 1994 debut “Killing a Sound,” he collaborated with Clive Hunt, whose prior credits encompass work with Jah Cure and Maxi Priest, to complete his first full-length album, Out of the Blue. The blend of roots reggae and dancehall connected with listeners, notably through the popular track “Grooving My Girl.” In subsequent years he shared stages with Chaka Demus & Pliers and Rita Marley while performing at prominent Jamaican events including Reggae Sunsplash.

The year 1999 brought his sophomore effort Living Ain't Easy, later reissued internationally under the title Universal, after which a series of singles appeared before his third album arrived in 2004 via 5th Element as Spice in Your Life. That record returned him to prominence with the radio success “Earth Run a Red” alongside dancehall favorites such as “Marijuana” and “Ghetto Girl.” Signed to VP Records in 2007, he issued In the Streets of Africa, highlighted by the Bobby Konders-produced cut “Youth Dem Cold,” and the socially focused project reached number six on the U.S. reggae charts. The following year VP delivered his second album for the label, the chart-topping Gideon Boot, followed in 2011 by Book of Job.

After the 2012 acoustic collection Soothing Sounds and another stretch of singles, Spice returned in 2020 with his ninth studio album, Together We Stand, again partnering with Clive Hunt under the VP banner. Its title track served as the theme for a Jamaican telethon supporting national relief efforts against COVID-19.