Born on November 22, 1944, in the parish of St. Ann, Jamaica, Max Romeo began his career in the early 1960s as part of the vocal harmony group The Emotions. He scored his first major hit, “Wet Dream,” with producer Bunny “Striker” Lee in 1968 — a song which, due to its sexual lyrics, was famously banned by the BBC at the time.
In the early 1970s, Max launched his own Romax imprint (later also founding the Charmaxlabel) and began moving toward more conscious songwriting, reflecting the cultural shift toward Roots Reggae and Rastafari. During this pivotal period, Max began working with the innovative producer Lee “Scratch” Perry, creating some of the most iconic works of his career. Albums such as Revelation Time, War In A Babylon, and Reconstruction form the core of Max’s international legacy and are widely regarded as essential recordings of the Roots Reggae era.
In more recent years, Max continued his mission to spread his musical message, performing prolifically across the globe. He remained a vital and commanding presence onstage and a true icon of Jamaican music until the very end.
Our thoughts are with his Family and friends at this difficult time. (VP RECORDS)
