Born Manley Augustus Buchanan on 19 April 1949 in Trenchtown, Kingston, Big Youth grew up in chaos and poverty, one of five children raised by a Christian preacher mother and a police officer father. Before music ever entered the picture, he was working as a diesel mechanic at Kingston’s Sheraton Hotel, where he developed his toasting skills on the job and got the nickname “Big Youth” from his co-workers. That detail alone tells you everything. This was not a man groomed for stardom. He built it from the ground up.

Big Youth - Cool Breeze

Big Youth -Some Like It Dread

Big Youth - Hit the Road Jack

Big Youth - House of Dreadlocks

Big Youth - Hotter Fire

Big Youth - Tribulation

Big Youth - Jim Screechy (Remastered)

Big Youth - S.90 Skank

Big Youth - Keep Your Dread (Remastered)

Big Youth - I Love the Way You Love (Remastered)

Big Youth - Water House Rock (Remastered)

Big Youth, U-Roy - Battle of the Giant (Remastered)

Big Youth - Get Up Stand Up

Big Youth - Screaming Target

Big Youth - Lightning Flash (Weak Heart Drop)

Big Youth - All Nation Bow (Remastered)

Big Youth - Wolf in Sheep Clothing Edit (Remastered)

Big Youth - London’s Burning

Big Youth; John Holt - 2011