Rod Taylor

Rod Taylor, also known as Rocky T, was born on 2 March 1957 in Kingston, Jamaica, and is a renowned reggae singer and producer. He began his musical career in the 1970s, forming a short-lived group called The Aliens with Barry Brown and Johnny Lee. Taylor recorded his first single, "Bad Man Comes and Goes," in 1975 for Ossie Hibbert and gained further exposure as part of Bertram Brown’s Freedom Sounds collective alongside artists like Prince Alla and Earl Zero. The hit single "Ethiopian Kings" from this period brought him work with Mikey Dread, and he collaborated with producers including Prince Far I, Prince Hammer, Ossie Hibbert, and Nigger Kojak through the late 1970s and early 1980s. Taylor released his debut album, If Jah Should Come Now, in 1979, followed by Where Is Your Love Mankind in 1980. After a brief period of lower visibility, he returned in the late 1980s with the album One In a Million, and continued releasing albums throughout the 1990s and 2000s. Some notable works include Lonely Girl (1990), Liberate (1993), Ethiopian Kings (1999), Shining Bright (2002), and Garden of Eden (2007). Taylor’s music often combined conscious lyrics with roots reggae rhythms, earning him a respected place among Jamaican reggae artists. Rod Taylor remains active in the reggae scene, frequently performing live with sound systems and bands, including collaborations with the French band Positive Roots Band. His extensive discography demonstrates both consistency and evolution over decades, with albums such as Hold On Strong (2009) and Stop & Look (2009) highlighting his ongoing contribution to reggae music. Taylor’s career reflects his dedication to both performing and producing, maintaining relevance in the genre while continuing to reach audiences worldwide.