Martin James Ziggy Norman Riley also known as Jimmy Riley was born in Jonestown, Kingston, Jamaica on 22 May 1947. Riley grew up in the city's Waterhouse district and attended Kingston Senior School along with Slim Smith. When Smith had success in The Techniques, Riley hung around with the group hoping to join, but was limited to carrying things for them and helping out with harmonies. He decided to form his own group, The Sensations, along with Cornell Campbell, Buster Riley (brother of The Techniques' Winston Riley), and Aaron "Dego" Davis. The Sensations had a successful audition for producer Arthur "Duke" Reid, and the group had mid-1960s success with "Everyday is Just a Holiday" and "Those Guys". On leaving the group in 1967, Riley joined Smith and Lloyd Charmers in the re-formed Uniques, having huge success with songs such as "Watch This Sound" and "My Conversation". When the Uniques split up, Riley initially recorded as a solo artist for Bunny Lee before moving away to record independently. He began producing his own recordings and others by artists such as Slim Smith and Delroy Wilson. He had several hits in the 1970s, including "Tell The Youths The Truth", "Nyah Bingi", and "Clean up the Streets", and continued to be successful in the 1980s, working with Sly & Robbie's Taxi productions. In 1983, Riley topped the UK reggae chart with his version of Marvin Gaye's "Sexual Healing". In the late 1980s, Riley moved to Miami, and put his career on hold, but returned to Jamaica in the early 1990s.
Links to Peel[]
Peel first started playing the singer in the late 70's on his radio programmes and would play further material from Riley well into the 80's and 90's. He also played Riley's old bands, the Uniques and the Techniques on his shows.
Shows Played[]
- 1979
- 06 February 1979: Complain (Single) Yes Label
- 1980
- 01 May 1980: Give Me Your Love (7”) Power House
- 08 February 1981 (BFBS): My Woman's Love (7") Taxi
- Peel Late August Early September 1981: Ram Goat Liver
- 1982
- 30 March 1982: Hey Love (10") Taxi
- 1983
- 06 July 1983: Big Bout Ya (7") Orange
- 30 November 1983: Bang Bang (split 7" with Al Campbell - Back Off With The Cocaine) Taxi
- 08 December 1983: Bang Bang (split 7" with Al Campbell - Back Off With The Cocaine) Taxi
- 14 December 1983: Bang Bang (split 7" with Al Campbell - Back Off With The Cocaine) Taxi
- 1984
- 04 January 1984 (BFBS): Bang Bang (split 12" with Al Campbell - Bang Bang / Back Off With The Cocaine) Taxi
- 1990
- 09 July 1990 (& Glen Adams): Nine Finger Jerry Lewis (v/a LP - Lee Perry & Friends - Public Jestering) Attack
- 1999
- 02 June 1999: Prophecy (LP - Roots Techniques) Pressure Sounds