Willi Williams was one of roots reggae’s key artists during its lively and fruitful ’70s heyday, though he worked as a producer and performer well before and long after, growing along with the ever-turning tide of Jamaican music. Williams came onto the scene in 1966, recording a track called “Calling” for the label and later working as a producer for artists ranging from to . He and established the Soul Sounds label in 1969, releasing their various productions. Williams would work closely with toaster , organist , songwriter , and other reggae superstars as the years burned on, splitting his time between Kingston and Toronto, Canada, and spreading his creative energy out across production work for others and his own recordings.
The year 1978 saw the arrival of Williams’ most recognizable hit, “Armagideon Time,” a burning roots jam punctuated by smooth organ riffing and subdued tenor crooning. The famously recorded the song around the time of their monolithic London Calling album, and other artists would also lay down renditions of the tune over the years. Williams’ Messenger Man album arrived in 1980, cementing his profile as not just a top-notch producer but also an essential performer. The ’80s and 90’s would see Williams touring the world, as well as working with names like , , , and many other greats, all the while issuing his own singles and albums.
