Maxi Priest

Maxi Priest brought a distinctive lovers rock style to reggae music, starting his career in London during the early 1980s. Born Max Elliott in Lewisham to Jamaican parents, he achieved crossover success by blending reggae with R&B and pop influences. His 1990 cover of "Close to You" became his biggest international hit, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and introducing mainstream audiences to his smooth vocal approach.