Sanchez
b. Kevin Anthony Jackson
November 30, 1964
Kingston, Jamaica
In the autumn of 1987, the first record releases by a singer called Sanchez D arrived in the reggae shops. His voice was distinctive but untutored, and its roughness matched the equally gritty dancehall rhythms of the time. His first hit was "The Lady In Red" for Red Man, and by November 1987 he was drawing attention with "Zim Bam Zim", riding a scorching, bizarre Sly And Robbie rhythm. The more traditional "Tears" followed and almost immediately gave him his debut UK chart appearance, becoming the lead track on Sanchez a few months later.
By the spring of 1988, Sanchez was the number one singer of love songs in reggae. He became highly popular, with a strong female following, and 60s-style screaming was de rigeur at his concerts. His skinny frame, boyish demeanour and exciting stage act appealed to the predominantly female audiences. Hit followed hit, including "Old Friend", "Green Green Grass Of Home", "Let It Be Me", "Impossible", "Joy", "Hello Josephine", "Let Me Love You Now", "Lonely Won't Leave", "My Girl" and "Tell Him I'm Not Home" - in typical reggae style, every producer and label in Jamaica was demanding a share of the singer.
His first UK gigs in the summer of 1988 revealed a massive following there too: Sanchez-mania brought screaming to every show. A second album, Loneliness, orchestrated by veteran producer Winston Riley, dominated the reggae charts for months and the title cut, "Loneliness Leave Me Alone", was a massive seller. Sweetest Girl, named after yet another hit, was his second 1988 album. Critically dismissed as a cover-singing fad whose own lyrics were slight, Sanchez was capable of writing his own, serious songs, such as "South Africa", which became yet another hit. Further doubts about his vocal abilities were shattered when he recorded a superb version of "End Of The World" in the spring of 1989, followed by Wild Sanchez.
Hit singles continued to arrive: "Me Love Me Girl Bad" with ragga DJ Flourgon, a cover version of Bobby Brown's (with whom Sanchez has often been compared) "My Prerogative", "Come To Rule" and Tracy Chapman's "Baby Can I Hold You Tonight" for his original producer Philip "Fatis" Burrell. Number One was released in the UK on Island Records, and in 1990 he released a "clash' album with Pinchers (Meets Pinchers), followed by two sets with Wayne Wonder. He reunited with Burrell for 1993"s Boom Boom Bye Bye. |
Radio Shows 
