Horace Faith
Horace Faith (born Horace Smith, Jamaica) was a Jamaican reggae singer. He is best known for his cover of the Checkmates, Ltd. song, "Black Pearl", which reached number 13 in the UK Singles Chart in 1970.[1]
Horace Faith | |
---|---|
Birth name | Horace Smith[1] |
Born | Jamaica[1] |
Died | March 7, 2015 |
Genres | Reggae |
Occupation(s) | Singer |
Instruments | Vocals |
Years active | 1970s |
Labels | B&C, Trojan, A&M, DJM |
Released by Trojan Records (TR 7790),[2] "Black Pearl" spent ten weeks in the UK Singles Chart in the latter half of 1970, peaking at number 13 in October that year.[1] Coincidentally, the original version of the song by Checkmates, Ltd., peaked at number 13 in the US Billboard Hot 100 in 1969.[3] The track was written by Irwin Levine, Phil Spector and Toni Wine.[4] The b-side of Faith's single was "Help Me Help Myself", which was written by Johnny Arthey and Phil Swern.[2] The single was released in the United States by Bell Records.[5]
"Black Pearl" subsequently appeared on numerous compilation albums.[4]
Faith's later recordings included the self penned, "I Can't Understand It", arranged by Richard Anthony Hewson and produced by Swern.[6]
Faith died on March 7, 2015.[7]
Discography
Year | Title | Record label | UK Singles Chart[1] |
---|---|---|---|
1969 | "Spinning Wheel" | B&C | |
1970 | "Black Pearl" | Trojan | 13 |
1970 | "Susie is Tomorrow" | Trojan | |
1972 | "Shame and Scandal in The Family" | A&M | |
1976 | "I Can't Understand It" | DJM | |
1978 | "Rich Man Poor Man" | Ultra |
See also
References
- Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 193. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- "Horace Faith – "Black Pearl"". Discogs.com. Retrieved 11 April 2012.
- Joel Whitburn, The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits. 7th edition, 2000
- "Black Pearl". Allmusic. Retrieved 11 April 2012.
- "Horace Faith – "Black Pearl"". Toniwine.com. Retrieved 11 April 2012.
- "Horace Faith – "I Can't Understand It"". Nme.com. Retrieved 11 April 2012.
- Lily Fierro (13 April 2015). "Bovine Ska and Rocksteady 4/8/2015: Horace Faith – LILY & GENEROSO 4EVER!". Lilyandgeneroso4ever.com. Retrieved 22 May 2016.
- "Horace Faith – Discography". Discogs.com. Retrieved 11 April 2012.
- "Horace Faith – Discography". 45cat.com. Retrieved 11 April 2012.