Busy Signal
Artist. Dancehall
- Active
- 2003-present
- Sunrise
- St. Ann, Jamaica
- Also known as
- Reanno Gordon, Reanno Devon Gordon
Busy Signal is a deejay from St. Ann, a leading figure in dancehall since 2003, known for his energy and his range across dancehall and reggae, and above all for turning pop and soul songs into dancehall hits.
Born Reanno Gordon, he came up as part of Bounty Killer's Alliance, and "Step Out" (2005), his first hit, gave its name to his first album. Loaded (2008), his second, was led by "Tic Toc," and "Nah Go a Jail Again," "Smoke Some High Grade" and "Unknown Number" were other favorites. From 2010 he made a speciality of covers and interpolations: "Night Shift," on the Commodores' "Nightshift," and "One More Night," on Phil Collins's, then Kenny Rogers's "The Gambler," Lionel Richie's "Hello," Beres Hammond's "Tempted to Touch" and Eric Donaldson's "Cherry Oh Baby," as "O' Baby." "Jamaica Love," his unofficial take on Jay-Z's "Young Forever," he calls the country's unofficial anthem.
Reggae Music Again (2012) was his first full reggae album; Angus Taylor, who had by then "heard Busy turn Latin, go country and warble late night love," found him "earthy and frank" over its rootsy backings. Parts of the Puzzle (2019) followed on VP. He has worked with Damian Marley ("Kingston Town"), No Doubt and Major Lazer, and in 2026 he was named a Reggae Icon at the Independence Grand Gala.
Last updated November 4, 2026
Connections
- Bounty Killer (mentor)
- Damian Marley (collaborator)
- Raging Fyah (collaborator)
Notes
- Miguel Thomas, "Wayne Wonder, Busy Signal to Be Named Reggae Icons at Grand Gala," Jamaica Observer, August 6, 2026, https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/2026/08/06/wayne-wonder-busy-signal-named-reggae-icons-grand-gala/.
- Davina Hamilton, "Interview: Busy Signal," United Reggae, September 4, 2008, https://unitedreggae.com/articles/n206/090408/interview-busy-signal. Thomas, "Wayne Wonder, Busy Signal to Be Named Reggae Icons," on the other hits.
- Dani Mallick, "Busy Signal Talks Covers and Remixes, Says 'Jamaica Love' Is the Country's Unofficial Anthem," DancehallMag, July 10, 2023, https://www.dancehallmag.com/2023/07/10/features/interviews/busy-signal-talks-covers-and-remixes-says-jamaica-love-is-the-countrys-unofficial-anthem.html.
- Angus Taylor, "Busy Signal: Reggae Music Again," United Reggae, April 9, 2012, https://unitedreggae.com/articles/n960/040912/busy-signal-reggae-music-again.
- Thomas, "Wayne Wonder, Busy Signal to Be Named Reggae Icons." "Busy Signal," Wikipedia, accessed October 22, 2026, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Busy_Signal, on Parts of the Puzzle and the collaborations.
