John Holt
A voice so clean it could carry rocksteady harmony, orchestral crossover and hard dancehall warning. John Holt led The Paragons, wrote “The Tide Is High” and later stared down helicopters over the fields.
GO DEEPER
John Holt rose through Kingston talent contests and joined The Paragons in the mid-1960s. With the group he helped define rocksteady balladry through “On the Beach,” “Wear You to the Ball” and his composition “The Tide Is High.” His solo career then moved across Studio One, Bunny Lee productions, orchestral reggae and later dancehall-era records. “Stick by Me” became a major Jamaican seller in 1972, while “Police in Helicopter” in the early 1980s showed that the smooth singer could still write directly about state pressure and ganja cultivation. Holt’s clarity influenced Dennis Brown, Gregory Isaacs, Freddie McGregor and generations of Jamaican vocalists.
Where the history is argued
- Accounts differ on the exact year “Police in Helicopter” first circulated, commonly listed as 1982 or 1983; 1983 is used for the album-era release.
How they stand with the others
Grew intoHolt’s career crosses rocksteady, reggae, orchestral crossover and dancehall-era production rather than belonging to one fixed lane.
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Last checked 1 September 2026