Patrick Andy

b. c.1965, Clarendon, Jamaica, West Indies. Andy began singing while still at school and also in church. In the mid-70s he recorded with Yabby You and covered a number of Horace Andy’s tunes. In 1978, accompanied by Ranking Barnabus, he found success with ‘Woman, Woman, Woman’ and also had a solo hit with ‘My Angel’. Andy’s initial output resulted in a reputation as Horace Andy’s understudy, which proved a hindrance to his career. By the early 80s Andy began recording with Joseph ‘Joe Joe’ Hookim at Channel One where he enjoyed hits with ‘Tired Fe Lick In A Bush’ and ‘Pretty Me’. The label also released a clash album with Wayne Smith. In 1984 Andy released the popular hits ‘Get Up, Stand Up’ and ‘Smiling’. His biggest success came in 1985 when he recorded ‘Sting Me A Sting’ with King Jammy, which emulated Sugar Minott riding the Sleng Teng rhythm, made popular by Andy’s old sparring partner Wayne Smith. Sleng Teng is noted for bringing about the digital revolution in reggae, although Andy’s version used real musicians as opposed to a computer for the accompaniment. The success of the song led to a number of hits including ‘Life Is So Funny’, ‘Speak Your Mind’, ‘Music Market’, ‘Cooling Out’ and ‘What A Hell’. The latter also demonstrated the similarities between his and Minott’s vocal phrasing, particularly when he sang, ‘Oh what a hell when the rice can’t swell - Can’t get me water outa the well’. Andy’s success also led to a number of clash albums with Half Pint, Frankie Jones and, paradoxically, Horace Andy.