Maxi Priest: The Reggae and Lovers Rock Pioneer
Maxi Priest is a British reggae and lovers rock singer-songwriter who achieved international commercial success by blending smooth reggae with pop and R&B. Hailing from London, England, his 1990 single Close to You became a global hit, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Early Career
Born Max Alfred Elliott in 1960 in Lewisham, London, Maxi Priest grew up immersed in the sound system culture of the UK reggae scene. He began his musical career as a carpenter building speaker boxes for local sounds before stepping up to the microphone, earning his stage name for his vocal style.
Breakthrough
His self-titled debut album arrived in 1985, but it was his second album, 1988's Maxi, that propelled him to wider fame. The album's single Wild World, a cover of the Cat Stevens song, became a top-ten hit in the UK and established his signature reggae-pop fusion sound.
Key Tracks
Close to You - This 1990 chart-topper from the album Bonafide remains his signature song, defining the reggae-pop crossover genre.
Wild World - His 1988 reggae interpretation brought this classic to a new generation and secured his first major UK hit.
Housecall - His 1990 collaboration with Shabba Ranks was a landmark dancehall-reggae fusion that achieved significant chart success.
That Girl - This 1996 single with Shaggy continued his run of accessible reggae-pop hits on the international charts.
Following his peak in the early 1990s, Maxi Priest continued to release albums and collaborate widely, working with artists like Sly and Robbie, Roberta Flack, and Beres Hammond. His 1999 album CombiNation featured the hit That Girl with Shaggy, while later work has seen him return to his roots in lovers rock and roots reggae.
Fans of Maxi Priest's smooth blend of reggae and pop may also enjoy the soulful sounds of UB40, another British group that achieved massive pop success with reggae covers. The romantic style of lovers rock is exemplified by Janet Kay, a pioneer of the genre from the same UK scene. For a modern take on reggae fusion, listeners might explore the work of Shaggy, who also found major chart success by blending dancehall with pop.
