Hugh Beresford Hammond OJ (born 28 August 1955, in Annotto Bay, Saint Mary, JamaicaMoskowitz, David V. (2006) Caribbean Popular Music: an Encyclopedia of Reggae, Mento, Ska, Rock Steady, and Dancehall, Greenwood Press, , pp. 128–9Huey, Steve "[ Beres Hammond Biography]", Allmusic, retrieved 2 February 2010) is a Jamaican reggae singer, known in particular for his lovers rock music. While his career began in the 1970s, he reached his greatest success in the 1990s.
Biography Born the ninth of ten children, Hammond grew up listening to his father's collection of American soul and jazz music including Sam Cooke and Otis Redding. He was further influenced by the native music of ska and rocksteady, in particular Alton Ellis.
Hammond began participating in local talent contests from 1972 to 1973, which led to his first recording, of Ellis' "Wanderer". In 1975 he joined the band, Zap Pow, as lead singer,Larkin, Colin (1998) The Virgin Encyclopedia of Reggae, Virgin Books, , pp. 118–9 leading to the hit 1978 single, "The System" under the Aquarius Records label. However, he simultaneously sought a solo career, releasing his debut album, Soul Reggae, in 1976. His solo ballads "One Step Ahead" (1976) and Joe Gibbs produced "I'm in Love" (1978), were both hits in Jamaica. He left Zap Pow in 1979 to pursue his solo career, and recorded two more albums Let's Make A Song in 1980 and Red Light 1981. He formed Tuesday's Children, a harmony group that toured but never recorded.
Hammond formed his own record label, Harmony House Records, in 1985 for the release of his Make a Song album, which had two Jamaican chart-toppers that were influenced by the emerging dancehall style: "Groovy Little Thing" and "What One Dance Can Do". The latter, produced by Willie Lindo, began to break Hammond into the international market. He scored another hit in 1986 with "Settling Down" on his eponymous release. He left his fame in Jamaica for New York City in 1987, after being tied up as thieves ransacked his house during a home invasion. There he recorded the Have a Nice Weekend album and the duet single "How Can We Ease the Pain" with Maxi Priest.
Hammond returned briefly to Jamaica to record Putting Up Resistance, which was significantly harder than his typical ballads, produced by Tappa Zukie, which spawned the hits "Putting Up Resistance" and "Strange". He signed with Penthouse Records in 1990 and returned to Jamaica permanently to record the dancehall smash "Tempted to Touch", with producer Donovan Germain. This is perhaps his best known song in the United States and United Kingdom, and set the foundation for the hits "Is This a Sign" and "Respect to You Baby" on the 1992 A Love Affair album. Also in 1992, Beres released the single "Fire". The song received critical acclaim within the reggae music industry and it was an extremely sought after 7" single. Now garnering interest from major studios such as Elektra Records, Hammond recorded five more albums in the 1990s as well as several compilations, establishing himself as one of the top lovers rock artists. His first album of the new millennium was 2001's Music Is Life, which featured an appearance by Wyclef Jean, and contributions from Earl "Chinna" Smith and Flourgon. The album spawned several hits, including "They Gonna Talk", "Rockaway" and "Ain't It Good To Know". The 2004 release Love Has No Boundaries, had guest spots by Buju Banton and Big Youth.
Hammond returned to Jamaica to perform at the Opening Ceremony for the Cricket World Cup 2007,Becca, Tony (2007) "Welcome to Cricket world cup 2007 – HOWZAT! Get ready to be bowled over ", Jamaica Gleaner, 11 March 2007, retrieved 2 February 2010 and the next year, in 2008, he released the album A Moment in Time, on VP Records, which featured the single "I Feel Good". After 4 years, in 2012, Hammond released the album One Love, One Life which topped the Billboard Reggae Albums chart."Beres soars to top of Billboard charts", Jamaica Observer, 21 December 2012. Retrieved 22 December 2012 In 2013, Hammond was awarded the Order of Jamaica by the Jamaican government in recognition of his "exceptional and dedicated contribution to the Jamaican music industry" right before his album One Love, One Life was nominated for a Grammy Award in January 2014.Campbell, Howard (2013) "Honours in Order", Jamaica Observer, 7 August 2013. Retrieved 10 August 2013"VP Records Enjoys Grammy Notice", Jamaica Gleaner, 12 January 2014. Retrieved 12 January 2014 Almost six years after the album One Love, One Life was released, Hammond released the album, Never Ending in October 2018, which features contributions from musicians including Errol Holt, Mafia & Fluxy, Dean Fraser, and Robbie Lyn.Jackson, Kevin (2018) "Beres's Never Ending hunt for glory", Jamaica Observer, 4 October 2018. Retrieved 13 October 2018 After its first week of release, it topped the Billboard Reggae Albums Chart.Jackson, Kevin (2018) "Beres hits the top", Jamaica Observer, 23 October 2018. Retrieved 25 October 2018
In 2019 Beres Hammond toured the United States and Canada. The Never Ending tour started in late July in Danbury, Connecticut. It also made stops in Baltimore, Cincinnati, Chicago, Boston, Toronto, Brooklyn, Philadelphia, Newark, Huntington (New York), Richmond (Virginia), Washington D.C., Norfolk (Virginia), Charlotte (North Carolina), Atlanta, Orlando and Fort Lauderdale.
On 28 February 2021, Harmony House and VP Records presented Love From A Distance Live, a streaming event with guest appearances by Buju Banton, Marcia Griffiths, and Popcaan during the COVID-19 pandemic quarantine. The show was streamed on Hammond's Facebook page and VP Records' YouTube page, and up to 1 March, VP Records' stream was trending at number five.
On 20 August 2023, Beres Hammond was awarded with an award in recognition of his exemplary dedication and soulful musical artistry by the Jamaican Museum and Cultural Center in Atlanta, GA.
Discography
Solo albums Year Album title Label Soul Reggae Water Lily Just a Man VP Let's Make a Song Brotherhood Music Inc. Red Light Heavybeat – recorded 1983 Beres Hammond VP Have A Nice Weekend VP A Love Affair Jet Star Full Attention VP Sweetness VP In Control Elektra Putting Up Resistance VP Lifetime Guarantee Greensleeves Love from a Distance VP A Day in the Life VP Music Is Life VP Love Has No Boundaries VP A Moment in Time – with DVD VP One Love, One Life VP Never Ending VP
Collaborative albums Year Album title Label Expression - Beres Hammond & Derrick Lara Heartbeat Penthouse Flashback Series: Beres and Buju - Beres Hammond and Buju Banton Penthouse Reggae Penthouse Triplets: Beres Hammond, Sanchez and Wayne Wonder - Beres Hammond, Sanchez & Wayne Wonder Penthouse Reggae Generals: Beres Hammond & Sanchez - Beres Hammond & Sanchez Reggae Library
Compilations Year Album title Label Soul Reggae and More Heavybeat Jet Star Reggae Max Jet Star Beres Hammond: Collectors Series Penthouse Beres Hammond and Friends Ejaness Can't Stop a Man: The Best of Beres Hammond VP Something Old Something New Penthouse
Cover versions of Beres Hammond songs Year Album title Label Our Favorite Beres Hammond Songs - Various Artists VP
DVD Year DVD title Label Beres Hammond: Music is Life – Live From New York VP
References
External links Smokeyroom's Harmony House Silekshan Yahoo! Music biography