Bobby Blue
<p>Bobby Blue was born Everett Ellis in Burnt Savannah, Westmoreland, Jamaica and grew up in the Flankers district of Montego Bay. Life was particularly hard for Bobby growing up, and he often had to skip school to sell crafts to tourists in order to help his single-parent mother. </p>
<p>Bobby learned to play the drums at a local revivalist Zion Church and worked as a singer on the north-coast cabaret circuit. His first tune was called "<em>Peace in the Middle East</em>", and the positive response he got from this song convinced Bobby to move to Kingston. </p>
<p>He began voicing for a lot of producers but most of these songs did not get released, including an album for a producer at Tuff Gong. However, a batch of singles for Ossie Thomas, including "<em>Man Of Jealousy</em>", "<em>I'm Vex</em>", "<em>Jah is my Guiding Light</em>", "<em>There's No Way</em>", "<em>Mama I Love You</em>" were well-received, leading to the release of the album "<em>Of A Faith</em>", on the <a href="http://www.bigupradio.com/labelDetail.jsp?lid=768">Black Solidarity</a> label. </p>
<p>Bobby then linked up with producer Devon D and released the songs "<em>Hard Road To Travel</em>", "<em>Only Jah Jah Know</em>" and "<em>Butter Pan</em>" on the <a href="http://www.bigupradio.com/labelDetail.jsp?lid=1288">People's Records</a> label. A tough roots tune "<em>Jah is the Solution</em>" was also released, and produced by <a href="http://www.bigupradio.com/labelDetail.jsp?lid=1111">Sky High</a>. </p>
<p>In 2000 Bobby travelled to England and began work on album for the Groove Corporation in Birmingham. A visit to the <a href="http://www.bigupradio.com/labelDetail.jsp?lid=56">Third Eye Studio</a> was arranged soon after to cut some specials and Bobby ended up voicing three crucial songs, produced by <a href="http://www.bigupradio.com/artistDetail.jsp?aid=236">Rootsman</a>. The first of these - the superb "Love" is contained on Rootsman's "<em>New Testament</em>" album. May 2003 has seen the second collaboration released - an awesome reworking of Dennis Brown's "<em>Blood, Sweat And Tears</em>". This is on a 12" on the <a href="http://www.bigupradio.com/labelDetail.jsp?lid=1737">Meteosound</a> label. </p>