Beres Hammond

The reggae artist Beres Hammond is one of the elder statesmen of the Jamaican music scene. He is currently enjoying an artistic renaissance after receiving a Grammy nomination in 2014 for his album 'One Love, One Life ' and being awarded the Order of Jamaica for his services to music.

Hammond was one of ten children and grew up listening to his father's extensive collection of US soul music, in particular Otis Redding and Sam Cooke. His own musical career began in the early 1970s when he began appearing in local talent shows which eventually led to the release of his first single, a cover of the Alton Ellis song 'Wanderer'. After joining the reggae band Zap Pow and having a hit with 'The System' in 1978 Hammond began to concentrate on his solo career. 40 years on he has an impressive recording legacy and has released more that 20 albums.