Reggae Legend John Holt Goes Gold In The UK
Scwayne “Bamm” Holt—grandson of late Reggae icon John Holt—is overjoyed after the lover’s rock mogul’s 1000 Volts of Holt was certified Gold in the United Kingdom on Friday (February 4).
According to the British Phonographic Industry (BPI), 1000 Volts of Holt was issued the BRIT Certified Gold award after it sold more than 100,000 copies in the UK as measured by The Official Charts Company.
“This accomplishment gives a great feeling. To see that the fans around the world still keeps his music alive as well as his name,” Bamm told DancehallMag in an interview.
The father-son pair of Junior and Bamm Holt coincidentally released 1000 Voltz of Holt on the late entertainer’s birthday last July, to pay homage to the newly certified Gold set which was originally released in 1973 under Trojan Records.
The best-selling solo artist Trojan album of all time, Holt’s 1000 Volts Of Holt set the standard for a new uptown style of Reggae by successfully blending raw Jamaican rhythms with highly sophisticated arrangements, courtesy of some of the UK’s leading musical talent.
Including the Top 10 UK chart hit, Help Me Make It Through The Night (a cover of country singer Kris Kristofferson’s song of the same name), the collection is widely considered one of the most significant Reggae albums of all time, and since its original release has consistently sold in significant numbers.
The younger Holt says he’s determined to keep the flame burning to immortalize his grandfather. “ I will continue to honour him in helping the community, create more music, keeping his name alive in any possible way, and possible form,” he added.
With the evolution of music, owing to the amalgamation of genres and several styles of experimentation by different artists, it is safe to say that there is a difference between music then, and now. Bamm, however, believes that contemporary tunes have the potential to be just as appealing.
“The new music being made today can achieve good status. It’s more expression is music these days. People tend to voice their opinions and thoughts in music nowadays,” the third generation Holt, who is also a producer, added.
John Holt died in 2014 at the age of 67.
He recorded his first single in 1963 with Forever I’ll Stay/ I Cried a Tear for record producer Leslie Kong and also recorded a duet with Alton Ellis, Rum Bumper for producer Vincent “Randy” Chin.
Bamm says 2022 is gearing up to be a progressive one for himself, and his extended family. “(My plans are) new music, new features, and many more work to come with the 1000 Voltz of Holt camp.”