b. Winston Cole, c.1945, Kingston, Jamaica, West Indies. Cole made his recording debut in 1962, topping the local hit parade with "Rough And Tough" (with Duke Reid) and "When You Call My Name" (a duet with Patsy Todd). His understated, laconic delivery could be heard on further hits for Reid including "Stranger At The Door" (1963), "We Are Rolling" (1964), and "Run Joe" (1965). During this period he also worked with other producers, including a duet with Ken Boothe on "Worlds Fair" (for Coxsone Dodd), and he sang harmony on Eric Morris' huge hit "Penny Reel", a Prince Buster production. By the late 60s his voice had developed into a much more powerful, soulful instrument. He recorded for several producers, including another duet with Patsy Todd, "Down By The Tramline" (1967) for Sonia Pottinger, a duet with Gladstone Anderson, "Just Like A River" (1968) for Joe Gibbs, "Crying Every Night" (1970) for Byron Smith, and "Lift Your Head Up High" (1970), a self-production.

Listen to Stranger Cole at Finetune.

• When I Call Your Name
• Arte Bella
• Rough And Tough
• Help Wanted
• Rough & Tough

• Toots And The Maytals
• The Skatalites
• Bob Marley & The Wailers
• Laurel Aitken
• Jimmy Cliff
• The Heptones
• Bob Marley
• The Specials
• Roland Alphonso
• The Toasters
• The Silvertones
• Don Drummond And The Skatalites
• Delroy Wilson
• Hepcat
• Black Uhuru
• The Slackers
• Burning Spear
• Alton Ellis
• Lynn Taitt
• Buju Banton

• msml