One of the premier lovers rock artists to emerge out of Jamaica following the genre’s late-’70s/early-’80s boom, Beres Hammond established himself in the mid-’80s and particularly in the ’90s with his soul-driven vocal style indebted to classic rocksteady and American R&B. From his early days as lead singer of Zap Pow to chart-topping solo hits like 1985’s “What One Dance Can Do” and the massive 1990 dancehall smash “Tempting to Touch,” Hammond earned a reputation as romantic frontman, songwriter, and collaborator who could cross over into more socially conscious roots reggae, hip-hop fusion, and straight-ahead R&B. Released in 1996, the Love from a Distance album cemented his status as one of lovers rock’s leading men, while later projects like 2012’s Grammy-nominated One Love, One Life devoted equal attention to social issues and romantic odes. While his output slowed down over the next several years, Hammond remained a highly respected figure and busy touring act, returning to the studio in 2018 for Never Ending, which topped Billboard’s Reggae Albums chart upon its release.
