Kingston, Jamaica–Happy Birthday, Bob Andy–October 28, 2023, is the legendary Jamaican singer/songwriter Bob Andy’s 79th birthday. In honor of the late reggae singer, VP Records has released Tarrus Riley’s live performance of the late veteran reggae singer’s classic song, Desperate Lover.
The song is an excerpt from We Remember Bob Andy – Live, a Reggae Month 2023 concert to celebrate the work of the late Jamaican singer/songwriter and the Dean Fraser-produced album, We Remember Bob Andy.
The album was released on February 10, 2023. It features 15 songs from the Bob Andy catalog re-recorded by Tarrus Riley, Beres Hammond, Sanchez, Romain Virgo, Luciano, Richie Spice, Nadine Sutherland, and others.
“You can maybe find yourself in a Bob Andy song, or you know somebody whose been the subject of the song, so maybe I can relate to the Desperate Lover.” Tarrus Riley said of the project.
Tarrus Riley
Born Keith Anderson on October 28, 1944, Bob Andy was a member of The Paragons. Andy left the group and worked for Studio One before starting a solo career.
He had several hit songs, including “I’ve Got to Go Back Home,” “Desperate Lover,” “Feeling Soul,” “Unchained,” and “Too Experienced.”
He also wrote songs for other reggae artists, including I Don’t Want to See You Cry for Ken Boothe and Feel Like Jumping, Truly, and Melody Life for Marcia Griffiths.
Andy was a key figure in the development of Jamaican music and gained international recognition with his duet with Marcia Griffiths, “Young Gifted And Black.”
Jamaican Gazette 