Winston Evans (born c.1964), better known as Icho Candy, is a Jamaican reggae singer.

Icho Candy
Birth nameWinston Evans
Bornc.1964
OriginJamaica
GenresReggae
Instrumentvocals
Years activelate 1970s–present
LabelsJah Shaka

Biography

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Icho Candy first came to prominence singing with sound systems such as the one run by producer Jack Ruby.[1][2] Ruby produced Candy's debut release, "Little Children No Cry", but it was not a success, and Candy moved on to work with Joe Gibbs, with whom he recorded "Bandulu".[1][2] His third single, "Captain Selassie I" gave him a breakthrough, proving to be his biggest hit, although he received little financial reward.[2] His career got a boost when a performance on Ruby's sound system was featured in the Channel 4 documentary Deep Roots Music, leading to interest from the UK.[1] He recorded more successfully for Prince Jazzbo's Ujama label, with singles such as "Mr. User" and "Bloodsucker".[1][3] He went on to record for Augustus Pablo before working with Jah Shaka in the late 1980s and 1990s, releasing two albums on Shaka's label.[1]

Candy's signature tune, "Captain Selassie I", originally released on the Jwyanza label, has become very popular since its release in 1983 and remains sought-after in its 45rpm single format.[4]

Icho Candy continues to perform live, including a set at Rebel Salute in 2009.[5]

Discography

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Albums

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  • Devils High (1990), Black Star
  • Glory to the King (1993), Jah Shaka
  • Dub Salute 2 (1994), Jah Shaka

Singles

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  • "Little Children No Cry"
  • "Bandulu", Joe Gibbs
  • "Captain Selassie I" (1982), Joe Gibbs
  • "Jah Calling All Over The World" (1986), Creation
  • "Cool Down Sufferer" (1987), Selah
  • "Babylon" (1987), Rockers
  • "Mr. User", Ujama
  • "Blood Sucker" (1988), Ujama
  • "Send Back The Gun", Captain Selassie-I
  • "Change Partner"
  • "Down the Lakes"

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Larkin, Colin (1998) "Icho Candy", in The Virgin Encyclopedia of Reggae, Virgin Books, ISBN 0-7535-0242-9, p. 50
  2. ^ a b c Buckland, Simon (1989) "The Candy Man", Echoes, 23 December 1989, p. 14
  3. ^ Barrow, Steve & Dalton, Peter (2004) The Rough Guide to Reggae, 3rd edn., Rough Guides, ISBN 1-84353-329-4, p. 306
  4. ^ Parker, Geoff. Record of 1983: Captain Selassie I, Icho Candy. Zinc Fence(reggaezine.co.uk). Retrieved 6 February 2011.
  5. ^ Cooke, Mel (2009) "Huge, long Rebel Salute 16", Jamaica Gleaner, 21 January 2009, retrieved 2010-12-19