Josey Wales

Josey Wales, born Joseph Winston Sterling on 9 October 1958, is a renowned Jamaican dancehall singer and deejay, often regarded as one of the top performers of the 1980s alongside Brigadier Jerry, Yellowman, and Charlie Chaplin. Nicknamed “The Outlaw” after the Clint Eastwood film The Outlaw Josey Wales, he began his career in 1977 on the Roots Unlimited sound system and later gained prominence performing over King Sturgav and Volcano sound systems. He recorded several hits in the early 1980s, including “Bobo Dread,” “Leggo Mi Hand,” and “Undercover Lover,” working with producers such as Henry “Junjo” Lawes and George Phang. In 1997, Wales survived a shooting and robbery in a Kingston bar, an experience he later recounted in the song “Bushwacked.” After recovering, he moved to the United States and purchased an ambulance to donate to Kingston Public Hospital, demonstrating his commitment to giving back to his community. Over the years, he continued to appear in music videos, including Shaggy’s “Bad Man Don’t Cry,” and by 2014 had resumed recording new material. A devout Rastafarian since 1975, Josey Wales also retains Christian influences, having been baptized in May 1959. He continues to live in Kingston, Jamaica, and in October 2017, he was honored with the Order of Distinction by the Jamaican government for his contributions to music.