RIP - John Holt Reggae Legend

[RobbieGong]

John Holt was a veteran reggae singer and highly regarded amongst reggae fans worldwide. He started out in the 60's with a vocal group called the Paragons and penned Blondies hit 'The Tide Is high' with them. In 1970 he left the group to pursue a solo career. I can wholeheartledly recommend '1000 Volts of Holt' which is one of his early solo albums and a milestone in reggae music as it was laiden with full ochestral arrangements. It's a great album, some great covers, Killing me softly, Girl From Ipanema etc. A must if you like reggae but dont generally know what to go for. Stonking melodies and rythm. You'll definately hear where you systems at in terms of timbre and texture as a result of beautiful orchestral arrangments and trademark driving reggae basslines. 'Time is the Master is another recomendation. Bless.

[myles]

1000 Volts of Holt is a fantastic album. RIP.

[StanleyB]

It's really sad to learn of his passing. His record Police In Helicopter is still used to this day by me to test the bass on headphones and speakers. i remember the good times I have had whilst listening to his tunes. many remember Bob Marley, but the likes of Denis Brown and John Holt were the real reggae masters.

[Puffin]

I was a teenager in Battersea in the early 70's, Reggae and in particular Mr Holt was the soundtrack to the streets. I was lucky in that we had two fantastic record shops next door to each other (many years later Dub Vendor opened not far from these - but they were long gone by then) 1000 Volts is a classic.

[jollyfix]

I am a big Reggae fan, sad news indeed..

[Marco]

Sad to hear of his passing. Thanks, Rob, for providing an introduction, as not being a big reggae fan, I’d not heard of John Holt.

Often in these types of threads, it simply says ‘so-and-so’ has died, with the automatic presumption one knows who it is, when that’s not necessarily the case. Someone who’s considered as being ‘well-known’ to you, could be a completely unknown entity to someone else, therefore an introduction, such as you’ve provided, is always helpful

Marco.

[RobbieGong]

Sad to hear of his passing. Thanks, Rob, for providing an introduction, as not being a big reggae fan, I’d not heard of John Holt.

Often in these types of threads, it simply says ‘so-and-so’ has died, with the automatic presumption one knows who it is, when that’s not necessarily the case. Someone who’s considered as ‘well-known’ to you, could be an unknown entity to someone else, therefore an introduction, such as you’ve provided, is always helpful

Marco.

Thanks Marco, Really nice of you to say so

[The Barbarian]

[RobbieGong]