Stranger Cole (Jamaica)

Hear the authentic sound of Jamaica from pioneering singer Stranger Cole, as an original rocksteady era legend travels to Mullumbimby.

Cole was born in Kingston, Jamaica in 1945 and nicknamed "Stranger" by his family, as they considered that he didn't resemble any member of his kin. Cole was initially successful as a songwriter, writing "In and out the Window", which was a hit for Eric "Monty" Morris. This success gave him the chance to make his recording debut in 1962, instantly finding success with singles such as "Rough and Tough" and "When You Call My Name" (a duet with Patsy Todd) for producer Arthur "Duke" Reid.

Further success followed with singles for Reid and other producers, including Clement "Coxsone" Dodd, Prince Buster and in the 60’s and 70’s Bunny Lee, Lee "Scratch" Perry, and Sonia Pottinger. His first album, "Forward in the Land of Sunshine", was released in 1976, with a handful of further albums released over the next ten years, most on his own label.

In 2006, Cole released his first album in twenty years, Morning Train, a collaboration with Jah Shaka. Cole is featured in the 2009 documentary Rocksteady: The Roots of Reggae, in which he and other stars of the rocksteady era reunited to record a new album of the same name, released in August 2009.

Stranger Cole will perform with Australia’s very own reggae royalty – King Tide.