Richie Spice
Artist. Roots
- Active
- 1995-present
- Sunrise
- St. Andrew, Jamaica
- Also known as
- Richell Bonner
Richie Spice is a roots singer whose records for 5th Element in the mid-2000s, led by "Earth a Run Red," made him one of the best-known voices of the decade's conscious reggae.
Born Richell Bonner in St. Andrew, he is the third of four Bonner brothers in music, after Pliers of Chaka Demus and Pliers and Spanner Banner, and before Snatcha Lion. He reached the Jamaican charts as an unknown in 1995 with "Living Ain't Easy," a number one with Snatcha, and had hits with "Grooving My Girl," which Clive Hunt produced and Spanner Banner helped arrange, and the first version of "Earth a Run Red." His album Universal (2000), on Heartbeat, promised much but did little.
The deejay Chuck Fenda introduced him to Devon Wheatley of 5th Element Records, whose promotion revived his career. A new "Earth a Run Red," with a video by Ras Kassa, climbed the Jamaican charts and opened Spice in Your Life, his 5th Element debut, recorded with live roots instrumentation; other hits of the period included "The World Is a Cycle," "Street Life," "Brown Skin" and "Di Plane Land."
The Miami New Times called his tone "deceptively melodic" against the seriousness of the songs, and a Jah Works reviewer described a voice with a "nasal foundation embellished with breathy, pushed-straight-from-the-chest high notes." His later albums include Together We Stand (2020) and Black Man Time (2023), his tenth.
Last updated November 5, 2026
Connections
- Chaka Demus and Pliers (brother)
- Clive Hunt (producer)
- Etana (session work)
- I Wayne (collaborator)
Notes
- "Back to Life," Miami New Times, accessed October 21, 2026, https://www.miaminewtimes.com/music/back-to-life-6343637/. "Bonner Brothers and Friends Set to Rock Mo Bay," Jamaica Observer, December 15, 2009, https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/2009/12/15/bonner-brothers-and-friends-set-to-rock-mo-bay.
- "Bonner Brothers and Friends." "Back to Life."
- "Back to Life." "Bonner Brothers and Friends," on "Living Ain't Easy."
- "Back to Life." "Bonner Brothers and Friends."
- "Back to Life." "Show Review and Slideshow: Richie Spice at the Independent, SF," Jah Works, accessed November 5, 2026, https://jahworks.org/jessica_dore/show-review-and-slideshow-richie-spice-at-the-independent-sf.
- Dani Mallick, "Interview: Richie Spice Talks 10th Studio Album 'Black Man Time,'" DancehallMag, September 8, 2023, https://dancehallmag.com/?p=73408.
