Icho Candy | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Winston Evans |
| Born | c.1964 |
| Origin | Jamaica |
| Genres | Reggae |
| Instrument | vocals |
| Years active | late 1970s–present |
| Labels | Jah Shaka |
Winston Evans (born c.1964), better known as Icho Candy, is a Jamaican reggae singer.
Icho Candy first came to prominence singing with sound systems such as the one run by producer Jack Ruby.[1][2] Ruby produced Candy's debut release, "Little Children No Cry", but it was not a success, and Candy moved on to work with Joe Gibbs, with whom he recorded "Bandulu".[1][2] His third single, "Captain Selassie I" gave him a breakthrough, proving to be his biggest hit, although he received little financial reward.[2] His career got a boost when a performance on Ruby's sound system was featured in the Channel 4 documentary Deep Roots Music, leading to interest from the UK.[1] He recorded more successfully for Prince Jazzbo's Ujama label, with singles such as "Mr. User" and "Bloodsucker".[1][3] He went on to record for Augustus Pablo before working with Jah Shaka in the late 1980s and 1990s, releasing two albums on Shaka's label.[1]
Candy's signature tune, "Captain Selassie I", originally released on the Jwyanza label, has become very popular since its release in 1983 and remains sought-after in its 45rpm single format.[4]
Icho Candy continues to perform live, including a set at Rebel Salute in 2009.[5]