A Passionate Love for Music:

If there is one thing that has remained constant in the life of Owen Knibbs, it is his passionate love affair with music.

Early Influence:

One could say it was inevitable that he would fall in love with music as his mother initiated him through the many parties she hosted in her backyard. Growing up in Mount Salem, Montego Bay with his three sisters and nine brothers, there was no time for boredom, not with Mama Granty’s music to entertain!

OWEN KNIBBS Videography

First Taste of the Stage:

His love and appreciation for music was finally put to the test in 1974 when he got his first taste of the stage. He gave a powerful rendition of Tinga Stewart’s winning festival song ‘Play Di Music’ and, at that moment, he found his calling after hearing the mad applause.

Building a Foundation:

From then on, Owen Knibbs never missed an opportunity to showcase his talent, whether at church concerts, community shows, or school events. Birds of a feather flock together, and that proved true when Knibbs met Martin Reid while attending St James High. Sharing the same passion for music, they started performing as the duo Ista and Billy Dread.

Early Breakthroughs:

Owen Knibbs got a chance to showcase his talent on a bigger stage when his classmate’s brother promoted a dance featuring top artists like Sister Nancy and Early B. Knowing every performance counts, Knibbs gave his all, earning Early B’s respect. Early B was so impressed that he wanted to take Knibbs to Kingston, but his mother refused permission. Nonetheless, Knibbs continued performing around St James.

Moving to Kingston:

In 1982, a school friend named Leon heard a cassette featuring Owen Knibbs, Early B, and Bruck Back, and thought it sounded great. He took a copy back to Kingston with a promise to bring Knibbs there soon. A few months later, Knibbs finally made it to Kingston and began networking with artists like Eek-A-Mouse and Squidley Ranks and promoters who linked him with Barrington Levy.

Return to St James and Second Move to Kingston:

Things didn’t go as planned, and Owen Knibbs returned to St James, but the experience set the foundation for future opportunities. After completing school, a more mature Knibbs returned to Kingston in 1985.

The Breakthrough Single: “Juggler”:

Two years later, Knibbs hit the jackpot with his first and only single produced by his friend Virgo at Aquarius Studio in Half-Way Tree, titled “Juggler.” He penned the song while in school, inspired by the struggles of poor people around him. The song’s success led to issues with others trying to ‘Juggle’ from his and Virgo’s work, leading them to step back from the recording scene.

Migration and Rediscovery:

Knibbs migrated in the early 90s and, although he stopped recording, he stayed connected to music through show promotions and sound systems. One night, he played his own recording, “Juggler,” and Jah Mikey encouraged him to return to the studio. Although Knibbs initially resisted, he eventually recorded a song to prove a point—and it turned out great. This led him to work with several production labels like Dygon, Hi Dawg, Hazematic, Interrupt, and Lambsbread, for whom he re-recorded “Juggler.”

International Recognition and a Comeback:

After releasing new songs and videos on YouTube and SoundCloud, Knibbs caught the attention of Jamwax Records from France, a vinyl distributor specializing in rare and hard-to-find music. They wanted to re-press “Juggler,” and since its re-release in late 2015, Knibbs’ journey has regained momentum.

Recent Works and Current Projects:

Since then, he has recorded “Juggler” in dub-plate style for sounds in Japan and Europe and released a seven-track EP titled ‘Last Call,’ available on digital outlets including iTunes. In August, he released his 14-track album titled Keep The Faith, which is available on all major digital platforms.

Enjoy the album “Keep The Faith” now on Dream Sound Media! Listen Here

For more information, check out the full press kit: Owen Knibbs Press Kit

#OwenKnibbs
instagram.com/owenknibbs
x.com/owenknibbs
facebook.com/owen.knibbs.7
soundcloud.com/ista-aka-owen-knibbs
realjuggling@yahoo.com