Junior Kelly
{{Short description|Jamaican reggae singer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2022}}
{{Use Jamaican English|date=March 2019}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Junior Kelly
| image = 2013-08-23 Chiemsee Reggae Summer - Junior Kelly 3664.JPG
| caption = Junior Kelly at Chiemsee Reggae Summer 2013
| landscape = yes
| birth_name = Keith Morgan
| alias =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1969|9|23|df=y}}
| birth_place = Kingston, Jamaica
| death_date =
| origin =
| genre = Reggae
| occupation =
| years_active = 1985–present
| label =
- Jet Star
- VP
- Penitentiary
- Irie Vibrations
- Wontstop Record
| website =
}}
Keith Morgan (born 23 September 1969), better known by his stage name Junior Kelly, is a Jamaican reggae singer.
Career
Born in Kingston, Morgan was educated at St. Catherine High School."[http://www.allmusic.com/artist/junior-kelly-mn0000302955/biography Junior Kelly Biography]", Allmusic. Retrieved 18 May 2016 The younger brother of DJ Jim Kelly, he made his first recording in 1985, and after his brother's death worked under the name Junior Kelly.
A string of singles in the 1990s had limited success (his 1995 single "Go to Hell", an attack on the Jamaican political system, was banned from the airwaves in his home country), but his 1999 hit "If Love So Nice" led to an album, Rise, recorded in the UK with Mafia & Fluxy.Kenner, Rob (2000) "[https://books.google.com/books?id=-CcEAAAAMBAJ&dq=%22Junior+Kelly%22&pg=PA166 Junior Kelly Rise]", Vibe, November 2000, p. 166. Retrieved 18 May 2016 "If Love So Nice" went on to further success both in Jamaica and internationally.Morgan, Simone (2012) "[http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/entertainment/Roots-singer-Junior-Kelly-gears-up-for-tour_12144683 Roots singer Junior Kelly gears up for tour] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160809184023/http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/entertainment/Roots-singer-Junior-Kelly-gears-up-for-tour_12144683 |date=9 August 2016 }}", Jamaica Observer, 3 August 2012, retrieved 6 August 2012 His success prompted interest from VP Records, for whom he recorded the 2001 album Love So Nice, which included the hit "Boom Draw", and featured musicians such as Leroy Wallace, Dean Fraser, and Winston Bowen.Oumano, Elena (2001) "[https://books.google.com/books?id=uBMEAAAAMBAJ&dq=%22Junior+Kelly%22&pg=PA11 Junior Kelly's 'Love' Marks North American Debut on VP]", Billboard, 7 April 2001, p. 11. Retrieved 18 May 2016Kenner, Rob (2001) "[https://books.google.com/books?id=gSYEAAAAMBAJ&dq=%22Junior+Kelly%22&pg=PA162 Boom Shots]", Vibe, August 2001, p. 162. Retrieved 18 May 2016
In 2001 he featured on singer-songwriter and producer Emmanuel Anebsa's track "Life is So Confusing".{{Citation|last=Emmanuel Anebsa – Topic|title=Life Is so Confusing (feat. Junior Kelly)|date=14 January 2017|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-Klf3W_jlc |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/r-Klf3W_jlc |archive-date=21 December 2021 |url-status=live|accessdate=26 March 2017}}{{cbignore}}
Kelly's second album for VP, the largely self-produced Smile, was released in 2003.Anderson, Rick "[http://www.allmusic.com/album/smile-mw0000692842 Smile Review]", Allmusic. Retrieved 18 May 2016 The 2005 album Tough Life featured a duet with June Lodge on "Love You Like That" (an update of her "Someone Loves You" hit).Anderson, Rick "[http://www.allmusic.com/album/tough-life-mw0000416054 Tough Life Review]", Allmusic. Retrieved 18 May 2016 The Tough Life album also included Rasta Should Be Deeper, a hit song previously also released on Hi-Score Music that was recorded and mixed by Soundism's Vladi Vargas.{{cite web|url=https://www.soundism.com/en/sound-engineers/vladi-vargas/|title=Vladi Vargas Sound Engineer and Music Producer|date= |publisher=Soundism|first= |last= |location=|accessdate=23 December 2018}}
In 2010 he released Red Pond, the album's title a reference to the Spanish Town ghetto community, featuring contributions from Ras Shiloh, Lukie D, and Queen Ifrica.Taylor, Angus (2010) "[https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/r2vh Junior Kelly Red Pond Review]", BBC. 2010. Retrieved 18 May 2016
In late 2015 he released the album Urban Poet, followed by promotional tours of Europe and the Caribbean. In 2019 he did a very successful European tour with Thomas Evers of Rockers Artist Agency to celebrate the 25th anniversary of his hit album "Love so Nice".Jackson, Kevin (2016) "[http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/entertainment/Junior-Kelly-the-Urban-Poet_61087 Junior Kelly the Urban Poet]", Jamaica Observer, 18 May 2016. Retrieved 18 May 2016
Discography
= Albums =
- Rise (2000), Charm
- Juvenile (2000), Jet Star
- Juvenile in Dub (2000), Jet Star
- Love So Nice (2001), VP
- Conscious Voice (2002), Penitentiary
- Bless (2003), Penitentiary
- Smile (2003), VP
- Creation (2004), Penitentiary
- Tough Life (2005), VP
- Red Pond (2010), VP
- Piece Of The Pie (2013), VP
- Urban Poet (2015), Irie Vibrations
;Live:
- Live in San Francisco (2007), 2B1
;Split releases:
- 3 Wise Men Volume II (2001) – with Sizzla, Luciano, and Qshandia
- The Five Disciples (2002) – with Sizzla, Anthony B, Luciano, and Capleton
- Five Disciples Part II (2003) – with Sizzla, Capleton, Luciano, and Anthony B
- Kings Of Zion (2003) – with Sizzla, Anthony B, and Capleton
- Toe 2 Toe 5 (2003) – with Sizzla
{{Commons category}}
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kelly, Junior}}
Category:Jamaican Rastafarians
Category:Jamaican male singers
Category:Jamaican reggae singers