His career began in the late 1970s, first starting as a deejay on the Roots Unlimited sound-system where he often sparred with Burro Banton, and later performing over U-Roy-owned King Sturgav sound system.[2] He gained even more popularity in the early 1980s performing over Henry "Junjo" Lawes's Volcano sound system, and recording singles such as "Bobo Dread" and "Leggo Mi Hand" for Lawes' label of the same name, as well as later hits for George Phang's Power House label, most noticeably "Undercover Lover".[3]
He was shot and robbed in a Kingston bar in 1997, an incident that he dealt with in the country and western song "Bushwacked".[3] He survived the robbery, and after his discharge from a hospital, he went to the United States and bought an ambulance to donate for the Kingston Public Hospital.
He appeared in Shaggy's "Bad Man Don't Cry" video, and by 2014 had begun recording new material.[3]
Josey is a Rastafarian and has been since 1975 but also retains a major influence of Christianity. He was baptized in May 1959. He currently resides in Kingston.
Discography
This discography is incomplete; you can help by adding missing albums/singles.[e]
Albums
1983 – Josie Wales Meets Early-B
1983 – Outlaw, also called The Outlaw Josey Wales
1983 – King Yellowman Meets The Mighty Josey Wales[f]
1994 – Charlie Chaplin and Josey Wales – Kings Of The Dancehall
1994 – Cowboy Style
2001 – Rulin (reissue)
2015 – "Loving Pauper" w/ Sista Sensi
Notes
^Josey has several birth-dates: In some news/social media posts it is October 9, others June 24. In the song Bible Never Fail Me Yet, he claims he was born in June.
^His first official release was in 1982, but his career dates back to 1975 when he joined the sound-system Roots Unlimited.
^In some ASCAP records, he is credited as Joseph Alphonso Sterling.
^His official status has never been disputed since 2017, although: In several live-performances dating back earliest to 1987 at the Bigga Ford Xmas Show, Wales often chatted that he had the Order of Distinction from the Governor-General. (then Florizel Glasspole)
^Due to many singles and LPs released by different sound-systems/labels and considering the amount of publishing in the 1980s in Jamaica, it is hard to identify the full amount of works Wales has created. His most-complete discography is available on Discogs.
^Jamaican import version of Two Giants Clash, features majority of the same songs.
