Caribbean Celebrities: Maxi Priest

Dubbed “The King of Lovers Rock” by his fans, British singer Maxi Priest is one of the world’s most popular reggae musicians. His music, a fusion of reggae and R&B, has been very successful on the international charts. While you probably know his name and music, what else do you know? Here are a few fun facts about Maxi Priest.

Birth name: Max Alfred Elliott

Born: June 10, 1961

Birth sign: Gemini

Profession: Reggae singer. Before he found fame Maxi Priest worked as a carpenter.

Caribbean connection: He was born to Jamaican parents, Alfred and Hyacinth Elliott, who moved to the UK in the late 1950’s. He is the eighth of nine children.

Family ties: His cousin, Jacob Miller, was the front-man in the popular reggae group Inner Circle. Maxi Priest is also related to singer Fred Locks and the late rapper Heavy D. In an interview, the singer said that he’s related to former US Secretary State, Colin Powell. According to the artist, his mother’s sister married into the Powell family and his father’s side is also connected to Powell family.

Hometown: London (Lewisham area), England

Claim to fame: Maxi Priest is one of only two British reggae musicians to have a number one song on the US Billboard Charts with his song “Close to You” in 1990. His duet with fellow Jamaican artiste Shaggy in 1996, “That Girl”, was also a hit on the American charts, reaching number twenty. In 2014, his album Easy to Love debuted on the Billboard Top Reggae Albums chart at number two.

Sources: unitedreggae.com, jamaicaoberver.com, wikipedia.com, famousbirthdays.com, billboard.com.

Photo courtesy of 21st Century Artists, Inc.