Junior Byles (Kerrie Byles Junior, most known for his 'Fade Away' is a regg… Read Full Bio ↴Junior Byles (Kerrie Byles Junior, most known for his 'Fade Away' is a reggae artist born in the poor parts of Kingston, Jamaica 1948. 'Fade Away', with its strong spiritual warnings for materialism and egoism, was recorded in 1975 for producer Joseph Hoo Kim. It was a massive hit in Jamaica and was also a big success in the UK, and was covered five years later by among others Adrian Sherwood's New Age Steppers group and by Salmonella Dub NZ, made a special version of it. By 1975, Byles' health had begun to decline. Suffering from depression, he was deeply affected by the death of Haile Selassie, unable to reconcile this with his belief in Selassie's divinity, and attempted suicide, but survived. He then had a very though life and was living on the street in USA, scavenging for food in dumpsters, and begging from passers-by. Byles occasionally resurfaced, recording albums 1989, and 1992. He returned to live performance in 2004 in Jamaica, receiving positive reviews. His legacy of recordings from the 1970s, however, maintain his status as one of roots reggae's leading talents.
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Junior Byles (Kerrie Byles Junior, aka King Chubby) was born in Kingston, Jamaica 1948.

He first formed The Versatiles with friends Ben Davis and Dudley Earl, and they were soon recording. Their first songs were cut for Joe Gibbs, with Lynn Tait's Band under Lee Perry's direction. From these sessions came "The Time Has Come", which was entered for the 1967 festival.

Another festival entry was 1971's "Rub Up" in 1971, but Byles' debut solo single (1970) was "What The World Is Coming To" c/w "Live As One", and released in the UK with strings and vocal chorus.

In 1971 Byles also recorded "Beat Down Babylon" (co-written by friend Harold Meikle) for Lee "Scratch" Perry, backed by The Now Generation Band (including Val Douglas Bass, Mikey Chung Guitar, and Wire Lindo Organ).

Following the critical acclaim "Babylon" received, Byles then worked with Perry for the whole of 1972. These sessions produced 12 tracks, 10 of which formed the album "Beat Down Babylon".

In what must have been some incredible moments of musical genius, Perry recorded Junior Byles' monumental hit "A Place Called Africa" at the same session that produced Bunny Wailer's phenomenal hit "Dreamland". The musicians at these sessions included the Barrett brothers, Tony Chin (lead guitar), Glen Adams (organ), and the rhythm guitar of Reggie Lewis.

During the mid to late 1970's he was reduced to homelessness, hunger and mental turmoil, and spent much of his life living at the street level. Indeed, his mental condition was so frail at this time, that upon hearing of Haile Selassies' death on August 27 1975, he tried suicide. This resulted in a long stay at Kingstons Bellevue mental hospital.

Byles still managed to record during these troubled times, with releases on Thing, Micron, Lovepower, Well Charge, Clocktower, Hot Shot, Impact, Treasure Isle, Observer, Advance, Soul Beat, Upsetter, Justice League, Wizzdom and Orchid.

Aside from the tracks already mentioned, "The Long Way", "Chant Down Babylon", "Bury O Boy", "Fade Away" and the incredible "Curley Locks" all rank as some of the greatest music Jamaica has ever produced.

Apart from the retrospective looks at his career, Byles still occasionally releases new material, as well as composing for other artist's. He recently performed his first show in the U.S. at the Sierra Nevada Festival in Marysville and the Ocean Rooms in Hackney, though he appeared less than 100% mentally well at the latter.

A Matter Of Time
Junior Byles Lyrics

We have lyrics for 'A Matter Of Time' by these artists:

Alex Banks Missed by the whisker We used to be so close Black, looking…
Andy Bown She promised an honest reunion Laying her heart on the line …
Aubvrn As a mountain passes by Holds up a mirror to you When…
Barclay James Harvest It's a matter of time before we know If you follow…
Bec Cartwright Yeah Yeah mmmmmmm....... Tick tock its a love bomb On…
Berlin So quickly time will come and time will go It runs…
bim sherman & singers & players It's only a matter of time Before I make you mine 'Cause…
Breed 77 If you are crying for me, dry your tears If you…
Breed77 If you are crying for me, dry your tears If you…

Britta Nordica Another second in my mind thinking Another sight which I mig…
Celldweller (I should've seen the signs) (It was only just a matter…
Chromatics Baby You're crying yourself to sleep again Baby How could…
Chromatics - Kill For Love I don't know why I knocked at your door I don't know…
Chronixx & Protoje Never so them plan it but a we a run…
Circle II Circle You know it's just a matter of time Until we come To…
Desert Rose Band Well the farthest place you think you can run to…
Dillon Rain drops, trees rise Valleys sink and seas divide It's o…
Dozer Some men walk on water, And some run on wine, I know…
Dr Rubberfunk We're always reaching for what we think we need It's all…
DYGL I feel dizzy It put my heart out I can't stand it I…
E.B. The Younger Someday, someway you'll realize that you've been blind Oh, d…
Elvis Costello Speak softly, don't wake the baby Come and hold me once…
Foo Fighters Let's change the subject to someone else You know lately I'v…
Gare du Nord You've got your head in the clouds The stars in your…
Hellyeah Slam! Can't touch this, we rule it with a clenched fist, On…
Informatik And there you were; your beauty caught my by surprise I…
Inner Urge A nationwide mass suicide Unfolding right before our eyes A …
Innova I have made the choice to love you I have made…
J.K. Wiechert Ain't no if, and, or but's, just a matter of…
Jennings Shooter If I go crazy Or if I pull through It's only a…
Jo Raharison Early in the morning When the sun is rising Got my booboo…
Jukebox the Ghost And after rearranging the furniture you slept alone You awo…
Killer We feel uncertainty is ruling our world There ain't no plac…
limon juice I know you will meet and fall in love with…
Los Lobos Speak softly, don't wake the baby Come and hold me once…
Mark & The Wolves Don't play with sadness That's what they say It only leads t…
Mesheen All our lives are destined by cycles Not just what's in…
Mike Posner You've got your head in the clouds The stars in your…
Ollie Wride They say a passionate heart Is a curious thing A chain of…
Petra Do you ever think about the ways you're getting older? You…
Prince far I & Singers & Players It's only a matter of time Before I make you mine 'Cause…
Protoje Never so them plan it but a we a run…
SENNEK Sometimes it feels like it's meant to be broken Sometimes we…
Shooter Jennings If I go crazy Or if I pull through It's only a…
Singers & Players It's only a matter of time Before I make you mine 'Cause…
Spandau Ballet He lays alone cries on his own For horizons that he'll…
The Funeral Have we lost it all? How much longer will we…
The Killers You're looking for a way out I can feel it Come on,…
The Leisure Society Sitting on a beach declaring my intentions Trying to find a…
To The Death What kind of man would I be If I accepted defeat What…
Wolfgang It's all just a matter of time Between the days and…
Woodie Fleein' the scene again with blood on my cortez Might, be…
♫ Foo Fighters Let's change the subject to someone else You know lately I'…
♫ The Killers You're looking for a way out I can feel it Come on,…

We have lyrics for these tracks by Junior Byles:

A Place Called Africa There's a place called Africa, far, far away, whoa, woo The…
Ain't Too Proud to Beg I know you wanna leave me, But I refuse to let…
Beat Down Babylon Say me no like that kind of Babylon Say me no…
Curley Locks Curly locks, now that I'm a dreadlocks Your mama say you…
Curly Locks Curly locks, now that I'm a dreadlocks Your daddy say you…
Don't Know Why If you don't know me by now You will never never…
Fade Away He who seeks of only vanity And no love for humanity Shall…
Fever I never know how much I love you I never know…
I An I Well, I've got his feeling deep inside Don't you know, don't…
I Don't Know If you don't know me by now You will never never…
I've Got A Feeling Well, I've got his feeling deep inside Don't you know, don't…
I've Got A Feeling Well, I've got his feeling deep inside Don't you know, don't…
If You Don't Know Me By Now (If you don't know me by now) You will never, never,…
Mumbling & Grumbling Dapdaphae babo gateun neo Eojjeom geureoke nunchiga eomni Na…
Pitchy Patchy There was a time in my life When I opened my…

Poor Chubby When I lost a job just the other day I'm gon'…

The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos

TRACKS