Robert Ffrench

Robert Ffrench is a Jamaican reggae singer, songwriter, and producer who grew up in central Kingston and attended Kingston College. He began his recording career in 1979 at the age of 17, quickly showing promise in Jamaica’s competitive music scene. His breakthrough came in 1984 after standout performances at the Festival Song Contest and the Reggae Sunsplash festival, which helped establish him as a rising star in reggae music. During the mid-1980s, Ffrench enjoyed major success with several hit recordings. He scored a popular combination hit with deejay Clement Irie on “Bun & Cheese,” and released his first two albums in 1985. In 1989, he had another notable hit with “Modern Girl,” a collaboration with Courtney Melody. In the mid-1990s, he relocated to New York City, where he expanded his sound by collaborating with rapper Heavy D on the hit “More Love,” followed by an album released on Ras Records featuring artists such as Lady G and General Degree. Ffrench later returned to Jamaica, where he shifted focus toward music production and business, running the Ffrench record label and distribution company. He also co-founded the Sing Jock label with Horace Davis. In 2001, he released Yesterday and Today, a compilation of his earlier singles, and after a period of reduced recording activity, he made a comeback in 2009 with the single “I Do.” As a producer, Robert Ffrench has worked with major reggae figures including Dennis Brown, Buju Banton—producing Buju’s first single “The Ruler”—as well as Beres Hammond, Luciano, Jah Cure, and Sizzla. He is also the cousin of rocksteady singer and sound engineer Pat Kelly of The Techniques.