Source Material: Johnny Osbourne – “In Your Eyes”

Johnny Osborne is a reggae artist from Kingston, Jamaica who sang in the ’60s, ’70s, and the ’80s.  In 1967, Osborne started singing as the lead vocalist for a Jamaican group called The Wildcats.  The Wildcats mainly recorded for Winston Riley, a Jamaican record producer who was behind a slew of reggae hits in the ’60s and the ’70s.  The Wildcats didn’t make much noise, but Osborne continued recording for Riley.  Later, Osborne’s manager helped him secure a studio session at Studio One.  There, he recorded his debut single, “All I Have Is Love (1968).  One year later, Osborne recorded Come Back Darling (1970), an album which featured production by Riley, and assistance by The Sensations, Boris Gardiner, and The Love People.

Around this time, Osborne moved to Toronto, Canada and he sang with various reggae groups in the country.  The last group he recorded with was Ishan People.  They broke up in 1979, and Osborne moved back to Jamaica shortly after.  This round of recording in Jamaica laid the foundation for the remainder of his career.  In 1979, he released his debut solo album, Truths and Rights.   The following year, he released his second album, Folly Ranking.  The combined success of his debut and his second album established a strong presence for Osborne across the island.  He followed that up with six albums over the next two years.  One of those albums, Never Stop Fighting (1982), features “In Your Eyes,” which is a great example of his style and range.

Johnny Osbourne – “In Your Eyes”