Trevor Walters

Born in London in 1961, Walters launched his reggae career by lending his distinctive soprano to the Ital group. Santic enlisted him for several sides, among them the hit ‘Bloody Eyes’. He subsequently sang with Youth And Youth, releasing the single ‘Try Love Again’. Before going solo he paired with Jean Adebambo on the duet ‘Back Together Again’, an early showcase for both singers’ abilities. That recording was succeeded by the protest number ‘They’ll Never Get Away’, which registered strongly on the reggae charts. Walters wrote and cut ‘Give Love A Try’ in 1981; the track climbed to the top of the reggae listing. The following October he entered the UK pop charts at number 27 with ‘Love Me Tonight’. While this success marked him as a potential one-hit wonder in mainstream circles, it also drew criticism from reggae purists who viewed the pop crossover unfavourably. He nevertheless sustained a presence on the reggae chart with ‘Handyman’, ‘Comma Comma’ and, alongside Jah Bunny, ‘Lovers Medley’. In July 1984 he returned to the UK pop Top 10, reaching number 9 with his version of Lionel Richie’s ‘Stuck On You’. A subsequent cover of Richie’s ‘Penny Lover’, set to a gentle lovers-rock rhythm, failed to chart. The pop breakthrough prompted Polydor Records to sign him for a reading of Andrew Gold’s ‘Never Let Her Slip Away’, which stalled in the lower reaches of the pop listing; its follow-up, ‘Love’s A Lie’, made no impression at all. The label’s inadequate promotion was cited as the reason for the disappointing results. In 1986 Walters scored a hit with the Leonard Chin-produced ‘Love Will Find A Way’. Five years later he restored his standing among reggae listeners by working with Anthony Brightly, who helmed ‘Can You Feel The Love’ for Pure Silk. He maintained a steady output through the 1990s, securing further hits that included the 1998 release ‘Hold’.