Bob Andy

Bio

Bob Andy (born Keith Anderson, 28 October 1944 – 29 December 2020) was a Jamaican singer-songwriter and producer whose career spanned the rocksteady and roots reggae eras. He first rose to prominence in the 1960s as a member of The Paragons, penning hits such as “I’ve Got to Go Back Home” and “Only a Smile,” before launching a successful solo career with Studio One and later his own productions. His songwriting credits include the enduring classic “Young, Gifted and Black,” later covered by artists worldwide, and his own recordings such as “My Time” and “Fire Fire.” Andy’s smooth tenor and socially conscious lyrics helped shape the lovers-rock and roots-reggae sound that emerged from Kingston in the 1970s and 1980s.