Thriller U

Born Eustace C. Hamilton on 14 August 1969 in Kingston, Jamaica, West Indies, Thriller U cultivated a vocal approach closely aligned with that of Frankie Paul. His breakthrough arrived in 1989 when Hugh ‘Redman’ James produced the single ‘It’s Over’, a lament for an unfaithful lover laid over a classic rhythm distinguished by its irresistible riff; the track’s success prompted a UK tour. Additional singles soon followed, among them ‘Big Bamboo’, ‘Private Property’, ‘Are You Really Ready For Love’, ‘I’ll Prove It To You’, ‘Where Would I Go’ and ‘Since You Came Into My Life’. Collaborative efforts paired him with Pan Head on ‘Run Down The Man’, Flourgon on ‘Girls Just Wanna Have Fun’ and Johnny P on ‘Young And She Green’. A range of producers shaped his output, including Ossie Hibbert, Bobby Digital, King Jammy and Donovan Germain. In 1990 Redman oversaw his reading of George Michael’s ballad ‘Careless Whisper’, while Ossie Hibbert guided the 1991 version of Jennifer Rush’s epic ‘The Power Of Love’. Although frequently regarded as a Jamaican exponent of lovers rock, Thriller U ventured into dancehall territory on ‘Sweetest Sound’, a track included on the joint album Two Good To Be True with Admiral Tibet. Also in 1991 he joined Johnny Nice and Studio One legend Jennifer Lara for one of the numerous reggae adaptations of ‘I Wanna Sex You Up’. Sly and Robbie recruited him for their Punishers project on the recording ‘One Day In Your Life’, and 1995 brought further success with the hit ‘The Mind Is Willing’. Alongside his solo work he became a member of the vocal quartet L.U.S.T. (Love, Understanding, Sensitivity and Trust), completed by Singing Melody, Tony Curtis and Lukie D; the group announced its intention to restore the ‘flava back into reggae’. L.U.S.T. appeared at MIDEM 1998 and subsequently at New York’s third Culturama festival, where both engagements drew critical acclaim.