John Peel Wiki

Changes to the look of John Peel Wiki will take place in the near future due to a new skin being rolled out over Oct/Nov across Wikia. Please see the Wikia Staff Blog for further details. On this site, the changes will affect the navigation from the left menu, as well as introduce a fixed page width with narrower content space. Please be patient while adjustments are made for the switch to the new system.

UPDATE: As the change is now in force for some users, I have switched the navigation to the simplified one for the new system. Please check Navigation in the Help section if you can't find things. I also initially made small adjustments to the front page layout, but have now reverted to the old look until all users are on the new system.

COUNTDOWN: Just a reminder for people still using Monaco that the final switch to the new skin is due on Nov. 3. After that, it will no longer be offered as an option. Sorry. Nothing to do with me.

Steve W

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Junior Byles

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Kenneth Byles (2 February 1948 - 15 May 2025), also known as "Junior Byles", was a reggae singer. He formed the vocal trio The Versatiles in 1967, along with Dudley Earl and Ben 'Louis' Davis, while also working as a firefighter. The group split up in 1970, with Byles still working as a firefighter but continuing to record solo for Lee Perry (sometimes with the other former-Versatiles providing harmonies).

At the end of 1972, Byles had his biggest hit to date, with a cover version of Peggy Lee's "Fever", with a dubby rhythm produced by Perry. November 1972 saw the release of Byles debut album, ‘Beat Down Babylon’, which along with a series of singles that followed, established Byles as a major force in Jamaica as well as establishing him with audiences in the United Kingdom, "Curly Locks" being particularly successful there.

Regarded by some as his greatest work, "Fade Away" was recorded in 1975 for producer Joseph Hoo Kim; It was a massive hit in Jamaica and was also a big success in the UK, and was covered five years later by Adrian Sherwood's New Age Steppers group.

(Read more at Wikipedia.)

Links to Peel[]

As well as playing early tracks by Junior Byles with the Versatiles, Peel regularly gave airtime down the decades to the singer's solo works, including vintage Lee Perry productions, despite a lack of new material after the mid-1970s due to the performer's poor health.

Byles classic 'Fade Away' was first played by the DJ as a single in 1975, with the final airing in 2003. The cover version by the New Age Steppers, with vocal by Ari Up of Peel session band the Slits, initially appeared on his show in 1980.

Festive Fifty Entries[]

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Sessions[]

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Other Shows Played[]

Junior_Byles_-_Fade_Away_-Kaya_Records_1975-

Junior Byles - Fade Away -Kaya Records 1975-

1970s
1980s
1990s
2000s
Other

See Also[]

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