New album from prolific songwriter Hopeton Lindo

In Jamaica, budding reggae artistes usually cut their teeth on local sound systems. Those mobile discotheques regularly play beyond their boundaries, giving singers and deejays a taste of what it’s like outside their comfort zone.

This has been a successful launching pad for many acts including Hopeton Lindo.

A respected singer and songwriter, Lindo has recorded five albums, the latest being Purpose which was released by his Irie Pen Record label in September. It contains songs like Don’t Know Much (with Novel-T), a cover of the ballad that won a Grammy Award for Aaron Neville and Linda Ronstadt and 15 other tracks.

Since launching his career, Lindo has recorded several hit singles including Territory, Lonely Night, Silent Consent, Gun Ting and others. He has also earned distinction as a respected songwriter, writing and co-writing songs such as ‘ Telephone Love’ by J C Lodge; Red Rose For Gregory, by Gregory Isaacs and Wanna Be Loved by Buju Banton and many others.

However, Lindo’s greatest delight is performing live.

Back in the day, he developed his stage craft working on sound systems, including Black Star, King Jammy and Black Scorpio, in Kingston. He also performed on Reggae Sunsplash and other stage shows.

“For me, the most satisfying aspect of performing live is the opportunity to interact with my fans and audience. I love performing live, even though I’m mostly known for my work behind the scenes, since I was focusing on that aspect of my career for a while,” Lindo said.

The South Florida-based entertainer has enjoyed a career revival in the past four years. He has released a flurry of number-one songs like Grown Woman (with Peter G); Y ou Don’t Have to be a Star (with Fiona); Homely Girl, Don’t Know Much and Don’t do It, which he did with Freddie McGregor and Marcia Griffiths. They are all included on Purpose.

That has prompted calls for him to return to the stage. A call that he has answered with appearances on shows like the Black & White New Year’s Eve Ball in New York, Big Ship Music Fest in Port Charlotte, Florida in 2020, and Reggae vs Reggaeton, which was held in Miami last February during Reggae Month celebrations.

Lindo has graced stages in clubs and on festivals in Jamaica, the Caribbean and North America. He is still eager to venture into new areas.

“I’m really looking forward to performing in Africa, Europe and other places that I’ve never performed before to spread the love and message,” he said.

Hopeton Lindo is from Kencot, which was a middle-class community in his youth. It is near to Maxfield Avenue, arguably the most vibrant area for reggae during the 1970s; that’s where the famed Channel One studio was located.

It was also a haven for sound systems that helped nurture the careers of future stars like Sugar Minott, Phillip Frazier and Tristan Palmer.

With Black Star sound, he found his footing as a roots singer in the ‘80s. He also made his mark in Waterhouse, another reggae hot spot, where Lindo rubbed shoulders with a slew of upcoming vocalists including Pad Anthony, Anthony Redrose and Wayne ‘Sleng Teng’ Smith.

He also voiced for legendary engineer/producers Osbourne ‘King Tubby’ Ruddock and Lloyd ‘King Jammy’ James. In 1987, Lindo hit pay dirt with Territory, a self-produced song that is considered a dancehall classic.

During the late 1980s, he showed a different part of his artistic talent by becoming a key member of producer Gussie Clarke’s team at Music Works/Anchor Recording Studio in Kingston. That’s where he wrote songs like Temptress for Maxi Priest, and co-wrote Mr. Loverman for Shabba Ranks.

As an artiste, he hit the charts for Clarke in 1988 with Lonely Night, recorded on the vaunted Rumors ‘riddim’. Lindo also recorded for Two Friends label with hits like Gun Ting and the album, The Word and co-wrote songs like Can You for Brian & Tony Gold.

In Florida he recorded for Willie Lindo’s Heavybeat label producing hits like Silent Consent, Love Chat and others.

Purpose was largely recorded in Jamaica. Lindo worked with producers Sly and Robbie, Rorey Baker, Willie Lindo, Gilmore Walters, Richard Grant, Paul Gauntlett, Dave Richards, Danny Breakenridge and Jon FX.