Teino Evans, Staff Reporter

Jimmy Riley and Tarrus Riley

Is Tarrus Riley, singer of the very popular She’s Royal and the remake of John Legend’s Stay With You, the son of former Uniques member Jimmy Riley?

It is that very question that Jimmy Riley says has revived the interest of many reggae fans in his music, as everywhere he goes he proudly answers, “Yes”!

“He’s my son. People don’t believe and you have one and two other Rileys out there, so people are not sure, but suh di father suh di son,” Jimmy says.

According to Jimmy Riley, not only is he very proud of his son Tarrus, but his son’s popularity has helped to bring his own career back to the forefront of people’s minds.

“Every time dem sey Tarrus dem sey is Jimmy Riley son, an that helps to draw mi back out, because Tarrus is the man of the moment and so when people hear that he is my son, they play my music to reintroduce themselves with me and my music. Is a blessing man,” Jimmy said.

He added: “I feel very good, because if you are a dentist and your son comes to be very good or better, it’s a joy. It’s like it’s an inborn thing. I never in my wildest dream anticipated this he (Tarrus) was all over with me in studios and in that environment, so it became a natural step for him.”

New album

Currently, Jimmy Riley says he’s finishing up an album entitled Sly and Robbie Present Jimmy Riley and it’s about the seventh one that he is releasing.

“Look out for some of the old and some of the new. The song that is out there playing for me now, When She Was My Girl, stuff like that, presenting different grooves and moods, things about life and relationships,” he said.

Riley also says he has “about a dozen shows coming up; one next week in Negril with my son (Tarrus Riley); me and him live in concert on August 5 and I have Capleton’s show ‘A St. Mary Mi Come From’ and the Ocho Rios Seafood Festival, also in August”.

The father says he and his son have performed before, as they worked together last Christmas at G.T. Taylor’s ‘Extravaganza’ show. But the combination of father and son will not stop on stage, as Jimmy Riley says, “Me and Tarrus have a song working on. It’s in the pipeline, so people can look out for that”.

Riley says his new album should be out by next month “as most of the songs have been mixed already. Everybody waiting on this album from long time; is the biggest anticipation.

“I’m also doing some work with Beres Hammond. We’re doing an album together and he just worked on a single called I Love You For Life. Beres is on the rhythm as well as Anthony Cruz, Jah Mali and a few other artistes, so the rhythm (Merry-Go-Round) should be released some time next week,” Riley said.