Reggae music has flourished in this post-Internet age. It’s never been so accessible and yet whilst new acts are plentiful, global audiences are still drawn towards those legends who achieved worldwide recognition the hard way; i.e. by making hits of timeless appeal, and are stamped with authenticity.
As verified by his long-awaited retrospective, ‘Maximum Collection,’ Maxi Priest has earned his place among other greats such as Bob Marley, Jimmy Cliff, Toots & The Maytals and Dennis Brown in spreading the reggae gospel far and wide. This is an extraordinary achievement for a singer steeped in Jamaican music, yet raised in South London. Maxi’s joyous brand of reggae and lovers’ rock, infused with r&b and accompanied by real charisma, would bring him a level of success no other British reggae singer can match. He’s deserved it too, because despite the pressures of stardom, he’s remained true to his core audience from the beginning.
