Real name Kerry Byles (Kenneth Thaddeus William Byles, Jr.), Jamaican reggae singer Junior Byles was born in Kingston on February 2, 1948. A member of The Versatiles in the 1960s, he embarked on a solo career in the early 1970s, becoming a central figure in conscious, spiritual reggae. In 1972, he collaborated with renowned producer Lee "Scartch" Perry on the track "Beat Down Babylon " and the album of the same name, followed in 1974 by the ballad "Curly Locks", which established his reputation in the UK. Other singles followed, including the international hit "Fade Away". Mentally ill, Junior Byles attempted suicide after learning of the death of Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie on August 27, 1975. Between frequent hospital stays, he returned to the studio to record his second album, Jordan (1976), and made several attempts to return to the stage. The death of his mother in a house fire again hampered his career for several years. Settling in the United States with his family, he released a number of singles and then set to work on the album Rasta No Pickpocket (1986). Lacking success, the singer had to beg on the streets before resurfacing with a few singles and concerts between the end of the 1990s and the beginning of the following decade. Diagnosed with prostate cancer, Junior Byles received support from artists such as Bounty Killer to cope with the costs of the disease. He died on May 15, 2025 at the age of 77.
