Biggie Irie

Stockholm: Toronto: London: Jamaica No its not the itinerary for a president or Prime Minister. Its but a sample of the locations where Biggie Irie has performed and won the hearts of audiences. How fitting then that the name of the first band he performed with in Barbados was a reggae group called Exodus. At the start of his career in 1986: who would have imagined that the British born Geoffrey Cordle (coming with his mother to Barbados at age 3) would go on to fly Barbados flag and that of reggae music high at every port of call? With a voice like rich molasses and a commanding stage presence Biggie Irie is perhaps best known to Barbadians as a founding member of The Splash band: the only other group on the Island: besides Exodus: who dedicated their repertoire solely to reggae music. Within two years of the groups formation in 1990 they were repeat guests at the Stockholm Water Festival in Sweden- seasoned New York with their unique brand of reggae flavor and made their mark in the reggae capital of the world at Jamaicas Reggae Sunsplash. There Biggie and the Splashband shared the stage with the whos who of reggae music: Joseph Hill & Culture: Burning Spear: Luciano: Maxi Priest: Beres Hammond: Diana King and veterans like Byron Lee and the Dragonnaires: Singing Sandra and the Mighty Sparrow. While with THE SPLASHBAND Biggie wrote and recorded over one hundred (100) songs: some of which were chart toppers in the Caribbean: U.K and North America. His song writing ability rivals his vocal talent- sweeter still as he writes from his heart. One such example is Shine on Jamaica which he wrote while touring with Exodus. Dedicated to the people of Jamaica who suffered at the devastating hands of Hurricane Gilbert: it was an instant hit in hometown Barbados: and in neighboring islands. He was the principle song writer for THE SPLASHBAND: and his voice can be heard on albums which still today stir the souls of true reggae lovers throughout the region: The Game of Life: Riddim-A-Ton: X-Amonakamusic: Get Busy and Champion Sound. This kind of staying power is something Biggie believes in: asserting that recording artists here [Barbados] have to get back to recording songs with longevity and not the disposable music which has been coming out of late. He backs up this argument by explaining that most of us don\