Justin Hinds

by Jason AnkenyThroughout the crucial period which bore witness to the emergence of ska and its later mutations into rock steady and finally reggae, Justin Hinds was among the most successful recording artists on the Jamaican music scene, his sweet tenor spotlighted on hundreds of Duke Reid-produced singles cut between 1963 and 1972. Born May 7, 1942 in the St. Anns area, Hinds greatest music was created in the company of his backing vocalists the Dominoes, a duo comprising Dennis Sinclair and Junior Dixon; they first recorded at Reids Treasure Isle studios in late 1963, their debut session yielding the hit Carry Go Bring Come in just one take. Between 1964 and 1966, Hinds was Reids most popular artist, and during this period alone he recorded some 70 singles backed by session aces Tommy McCook and the Supersonics; among his biggest ska hits were King Samuel, Jump Out of the Frying Pan, The Ark and Rub Up Push Up. Around 1966, Hinds made the transformation to rock steady, and the hits kept coming — over the next several years, he released smash after smash, including The Higher the Monkey Climbs, No Good Rudy, On a Saturday Night, Here I Stand and Save a Bread. He and Reid parted company in 1972, with the latter dying three years later; Hinds then began working with producer Jack Ruby, a collaboration which resulted in the 1976 LP Jezebel. Two years later, he also teamed with producer Sonia Pottinger for a series of singles including Rig-Ma-Roe Game and Wipe Your Weeping Eyes. After 1984s Travel with Love, however, the reclusive Hinds essentially went into retirement, leaving Jamaica only rarely. He did return to recording, albeit sporadically, with a final studio effort in 1992, Know Jah Better, and then a decade later with a live album Lets Rock Live. In 2003 another live recording was issued, Live at the Grassroots featured Hinds backed by roots revivalists John Browns Body. After a long fight with cancer Justin Hinds passed away quietly on March 16, 2005 at his Jamaican home.