Maxi Priest (born Max Alfred Elliott, on 10 June 1960) is an English reggae singer/songwriter .
Of Jamaican descent, and the second youngest of nine children, Priest was born in Lewisham, London. Maxi’s parents moved to London, England from Jamaica to provide more opportunity for their family. Maxi grew up listening to gospel, reggae, R&B, and pop music. He is known as the 'King of Lovers Rock'. His music is sometimes closer to R&B, and pop, than to reggae music itself. His uncle, Jacob Miller, a reggae icon, was the frontman in the popular reggae group Inner Circle.
His musical career began singing on the south London reggae soundsystem Saxon Studio International, after which some independent single releases followed.
His first major album was the self-titled Maxi Priest (1988) which, along with his cover of Cat Stevens' "Wild World", established him as one of the top British reggae singers.
This internationally acclaimed vocalist is one of only 2 UK reggae acts (other being UB40) to score an American Billboard Number One. That was with the song entitled "Close to You", which was released in 1990. In addition, a duet with Roberta Flack - "Set the Night to Music" - also reached the U.S. Top Ten in 1991. His duet with Shaggy in 1996, "That Girl", was another U.S. hit, peaking at number twenty.
In the latter half of his lengthy recording career, Priest has favoured working alongside other artists, both established and up-and-coming. He has worked with Sly & Robbie, Shaggy, Beres Hammond, Jazzie B, Apache Indian, Roberta Flack , Shabba Ranks and Lee Ritenour.
It was reported by some Birmingham newspapers on 13 March 2008, that Maxi Priest would be replacing Ali Campbell as the new lead singer of UB40, and had recorded a cover of Bob Marley’s "I Shot the Sheriff" with the band, based on information from an unnamed "source close to the band." Priest had joined UB40 on tour in 2007, culminating in sell out shows at the NEC in December. Another local newspaper reporting that Maxi Priest would be the new UB40 frontman, also included a statement from band spokesman Gerard Franklyn which contradicted this claim: "Maxi is collaborating with the band to record material but he won't be the new leadsinger, that will be Duncan Campbell, the brother of Ali and Robin Campbell. He will only be appearing with them for this new recording."
