Born in October 1978 in Hanover, Jamaica, Jah Cure grew up in Kingston. He got the name Jah Cure from Capleton who he met while living in Kingston. Under the tutelage of Beres Hammond the hit song, King In This Jungle, a 1997 duet with Sizzla emerged.

Many of the songs Jah Cure released around that time became popular and won critical acclaim. Beres took him on tour to Europe and through the Caribbean with his Harmony House Records family. Cure emerged to be one of the brightest stars of 1997, which was an amazing year for reggae music and dancehall. The music of that period inspired me to start buying records and aspiring to be a selector. This mix focuses on songs from that time.

In November 1998 while driving in Montego Bay, Jah Cure got pulled over by the police and arrested. Charged with gun possession, robbery, and rape, he was found guilty and sentenced to 15 years in prison. He served in a correctional facility that had a digital recording studio that inmates could use. During his incarceration term, he recorded three albums and some singles, many of which topped charts in Jamaica.

Upon his release from jail on parole in July 2007 after serving 8 years of the sentence, Jah Cure came out with a fourth album, “Reflections… a new beginning.” Cure headlined and closed Reggae Sumfest that year in August. He signed to VP Records he launched Iyah Cure Productions.

Over the next several years he collaborated with top artists from the reggae, hip-hop, and R&B worlds. Jah Cure released the “Universal Cure” album in 2009 then came out with “The Cure,” which earned a Grammy nomination for Best Reggae Album in 2016.

The end of this mix features of lovers rock of which Jah Cure has released a great deal of recently. My main focus was the original, undiluted, grassroots material. The songs from before his incarceration are more soulful, inspirational, and rebellious. I wish Jah Cure much continued success in the future. He has a beautiful family and lots going in the music business.

That’s it for reggae lover podcast episode 87. Look out for a bonus live audio episode coming your way from BobFest ATL. Thank you for listening to this show dedicated to reggae lovers everywhere. One Love!