b. Keith Byles, 1948, Kingston, Jamaica, West Indies. Growing up in the Jonestown district of Kingston, Byles started work as a fireman in his late teens. By 1967 he had formed the Versatiles with Louis Davis and a youth named Earl Dudley. The trio recorded a series of titles for producer Joe Gibbs during 1968/9, including "Just Can't Win", "Trust The Book" and "Push It In". By 1970 Byles was recording solo for producer Lee Perry as King Chubby. In 1972 Byles had two hits, the dread anthem "Beat Down Babylon", which was also the title of his first album released the following year, and the Jamaican Song Festival competition winner, "Da Da". He continued working with Perry, recording both militant roots material and intense love songs, nearly scraping into the UK charts with "Curly Locks" (1975). That same year he had a hit in Jamaica with "Fade Away" for Joseph "Joe Joe" Hookim at Channel One, one of the best early rockers' tunes. He also recorded for the Ja-Man label, and producers Winston "Niney" Holness and Pete Weston. In 1976, he entered Bellevue Hospital, retiring from music until 1978, when he wrote two songs for Joe Gibbs. He became less active as the 80s began, recording sessions for Maurice "Blacka" Wellington (of the Morwells) in 1982 that were finally released in 1986 as Rasta No Pickpocket. He has recorded some of the most powerful reggae of the 70s, militant and deeply moving by turns, yet remains relatively unknown.

Listen to Junior Byles at Finetune.

• Heart And Soul
• A Place Called Africa
• Beat Down Babylon
• Coming Again
• Curley Locks

• Lee "Scratch" Perry
• Junior Delgado
• Black Uhuru
• Linton Kwesi Johnson
• Burning Spear
• Augustus Pablo
• Roots Radics
• Sly & Robbie
• The Abyssinians
• Dr. Ring-Ding/Senior All-Stars
• Adrian Sherwood
• African Head Charge
• Sublime
• The Mad Professor
• Junior Murvin
• Barrington Levy
• Bauhaus
• Bill Laswell
• Bob Marley & The Wailers
• Criminal Element Orchestra