Freddie McKay, born 1947, St. Catherine, Jamaica, was a singer whose career spanned the rocksteady, dub and roots reggae eras. McKay first recorded for producer Prince Buster in 1967, his first hit coming the same year with "Love Is A Treasure", recorded for Duke Reid's Treasure Isle set-up. McKay then enjoyed a fruitful spell with Coxsone Dodd, recording a number of popular songs for Studio One backed by The Soul Defenders, including "High School Dance", "Sweet Can Sour You", and "Picture On The Wall", the latter the title track of his 1971 debut album. ...show more

Freddie McKay, born 1947, St. Catherine, Jamaica, was a singer whose career spanned the rocksteady, dub and roots reggae eras. McKay first recorded for producer Prince Buster in 1967, his first hit coming the same year with "Love Is A Treasure", recorded for Duke Reid's Treasure Isle set-up. McKay then enjoyed a fruitful spell with Coxsone Dodd, recording a number of popular songs for Studio One backed by The Soul Defenders, including "High School Dance", "Sweet Can Sour You", and "Picture On The Wall", the latter the title track of his 1971 debut album.

A second album, "Lonely Man" followed in 1974. McKay recorded a duet with Horace Andy in 1975, "Talking Love" which was a hit in Jamaica. McKay enjoyed another hit in 1976 with "Dance This Ya Festival", which won the Jamaican Independence Popular Song Contest that year. McKay teamed up with Alvin Ranglin for the misleadingly titled "The Best Of Freddie McKay" in 1977, McKay now adapting to the prevailing roots reggae style.

"Creation" followed in 1979, and "Tribal Inna Yard" in 1983. In 1981 he worked with Roots Radics and Scientist and recorded "Another Weekend". McKay maintained a faithful following until his death in 1987 from a heart attack.. ...show less