Legendary music producer Clive Hunt releases new album

At 74, music producer, arranger, multi-instrumentalist and artiste Clive Hunt is showing no signs of slowing down. After more than five decades helping to shape Jamaican music and working with some of the biggest names locally and internationally, the visually impaired music veteran is stepping from behind the console and into the spotlight with his new album, Undeniably Clive Hunt aka Lizzard.

Released on Friday and now available across major streaming platforms, the 11-track project presents another side of the acclaimed producer – the singer and recording artiste.

While Hunt is internationally recognised for his work as a producer, arranger and musician, singing is not entirely new territory for him. He recalls recording several songs earlier in his career, with some performing well in the United Kingdom and the United States’ New York Tri-State area. Despite being encouraged over the years to record more of his own music, Hunt largely remained behind the scenes, producing and creating for others.

Now, the timing finally feels right.

“I have a lot of music unreleased and unfinished, but I did these songs in recent years,” Hunt said. “I make a lot of music in my spare time, and these were the latest collection of music I did, and I decided to put them out.”

Hunt describes Undeniably Clive Hunt aka Lizzard as “a roots reggae album with a twist”. The veteran musician wrote or co-wrote the material on the project, except for Waves of War, his interpretation of the work of influential Jamaican singer and songwriter Joe Higgs, whom Hunt says he emulated. Higgs also taught legends like Bob Marley, Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer.

For Hunt, however, the album is about considerably more than the rhythms.

“I think these are the type of content that people need to hear and be aware of. Reggae is more than a beat; it’s the message.”

That message runs throughout a track list that includes Earth Run Dry, Jamaican Party, Di Valley, Good To Be There, No Peace, Victory, Satta I and Mango Walk. The album closes with an Earth Run Dry (Remix) featuring French reggae artist Yaniss Odua.

The project is already attracting international attention. Hunt says renowned British reggae disc jockey David Rodigan has been playing Waves of War and Earth Run Dry on the BBC in the UK.

The album comes during another productive period in Hunt’s extraordinary career. Among his recent works is Fields of Gold: A Reggae Tribute to Sting, which received Grammy consideration for the 2026 Grammy Awards.

Born in Linstead, Jamaica, in 1952, Hunt began recording professionally in 1972 and has built a career spanning more than five decades. His credits stretch across generations and genres, with work involving names such as Jimmy Cliff, Dennis Brown, Peter Tosh, Beres Hammond, Grace Jones, Chaka Khan, Alpha Blondy, The Skatalites, The Abyssinians, Maxi Priest, Etana, Jah9, Chronixx, Popcaan, Samory I and many others. He also worked with The Rolling Stones during his international career.

His influence can be heard on landmark Jamaican recordings, including work associated with The Abyssinians’ Satta Massagana, Jimmy Cliff’s I Can See Clearly Now, Beres Hammond’s Putting Up Resistance and Dawn Penn’s You Don’t Love Me (No, No, No). The late reggae icon Dennis Brown even dubbed Hunt ‘The Jamaican Quincy Jones’, a reflection of the breadth of his musicianship, arranging and production work.

Despite being visually impaired, Hunt continues to create, record, produce and perform internationally. He recently performed some of the new songs from the album in Cologne, Germany, and says another trip to Germany is already planned for a music tour.

“I am a creator,” Hunt said simply.

Undeniably Clive Hunt aka Lizzard is produced by Clive Hunt, with Rowen Johnson as co-producer, and released through Iconic Azul/Love Injection Production.

entertainment@gleanerjm.com