World of Jamaican Music

Discover artists and hear songs from everyone on the site! Log in to Spotify in this browser to hear full songs. SourcesYour Voice

An illustrated map of the creators of Jamaican music and how they are connected.

Remembering Derrick Harriott (1939-2026), rocksteady singer and producer. Read his story →

Jesse Royal

Artist. Revival

Active
2012-present
Sunrise
April 29, 1989, St. James, Jamaica

Jesse Royal (born Jesse David Leroi Grey) is a singer associated with the roots revival of the 2010s, with what Erik Magni calls a "sparkling and versatile vocal delivery and sense for infectious melodies and hooks."

He was born in Maroon Town, St. James, into a family of Maroon descent and Rastafari faith, and moved to Kingston in 1997 when his father took a job with a telecommunications firm. At school he became friends with Daniel "Bambaata" Marley, son of Ziggy Marley. The producer Philip "Fatis" Burrell, the father of a classmate, took him on and issued his first releases in 2010; after Burrell departed in December 2011 he continued with Burrell's son Kareem.

Two mixtapes followed, Misheni (2012) and In Comes the Small Axe (2013), along with the single "Modern Day Judas," which established him. His debut album, Lily of Da Valley, came out on Easy Star Records in October 2017 and reached number one on the American reggae chart. Royal (2021) did the same and was nominated for the Grammy for best reggae album, as was No Place Like Home (2025).

Last updated November 5, 2026

Connections

Notes

  1. Wikipedia notes that Vogue placed him in the "Reggae Revival" with Chronixx, Jah9, and Protoje in 2015. "Jesse Royal (musician)," Wikipedia, accessed October 2, 2026, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesse_Royal_(musician).
  2. Erik Magni, "Jesse Royal: Lily of Da Valley," United Reggae, October 11, 2017, https://unitedreggae.com/articles/n2294/101117/jesse-royal-lily-of-da-valley.
  3. Reggaeville says he grew up "in the hills of Maroon Town and the District of Orange in St. James" and moved "in the late 90's" to join his father in Kingston. "Biography: Jesse Royal," Reggaeville, accessed October 2, 2026, https://www.reggaeville.com/artist-details/jesse-royal/about/. Wikipedia, citing AllMusic, gives 1997 and the telecommunications job, and, citing Reggaeville, his Maroon and Rastafari background. "Jesse Royal (musician)."
  4. "Biography: Jesse Royal."
  5. Wikipedia, citing the Jamaica Observer, says Burrell produced his first two releases, "Singing the Blues" and "Long Days and Short Nights," in 2010. "Jesse Royal (musician)." Burrell died on December 3, 2011. "Philip 'Fatis' Burrell," Wikipedia, accessed October 2, 2026, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_%22Fatis%22_Burrell. Reggaeville names Kareem "Remus" Burrell as the producer of his debut album. "Biography: Jesse Royal."
  6. Wikipedia lists both mixtapes (with DJ Tall Up) and calls "Modern Day Judas" "a runaway success." "Jesse Royal (musician)."
  7. Wikipedia, citing the Jamaica Observer, gives the release date of October 6, 2017, and says the album topped the Billboard Reggae Albums chart. "Jesse Royal (musician)."
  8. The Gleaner lists No Place Like Home among the nominees for the 68th Grammy Awards and notes his earlier nomination for Royal. "Three First-Time Nominees for Best Reggae Album Grammy Category," Jamaica Gleaner, November 7, 2025, https://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/entertainment/20251108/three-first-time-nominees-best-reggae-album-grammy-category.

World of Jamaican Music: the whole map