SINGER MICHAEL DAWKINS HEADLINES “REGGAE IN THE MOUNTAINS” IN THE POCONO, PENNSYLVANIA, JUNE 15-16!

Jamaicans have a long love affair with blue-eyed soul music, whether it came from Australia and The Bee Gees, Wales and Tom Jones or Bread from the United States. Last year, Michael Dawkins decided he would put a reggae spin on Bread’s Baby I’m A Want You, and it paid dividends for the journeyman singer.

His version did well in the New York area, and caught on in smaller digital markets like Belgium. It gave the Kingston-born Dawkins his biggest success since he started recording 30 years ago.

Baby I’m A Want You has lifted Dawkins’ profile in New York.

“I did a show at Club Amazura in Queens, I did another show at The Roma View in Queens and now I will be headlining Reggae In The Mountains,” said Dawkins.

Reggae In The Mountains is scheduled for June 15-16 in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania.

Dawkins’ version of Baby I’m A Want You is produced by Big Scope Records, an independent label based in Queens, New York. He recorded the song with seasoned New York session musicians including drummer Kendoyle Simpson of Belize, and Jamaican guitarist Albert Smith.

Dawkins started his career as Micky D and had a minor hit 30 years ago with Don’t Give Me No Crack. In recent years, he has covered several classic songs including Delroy Wilson’s version of Rain From The Sky, and He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother by The Hollies.

Written by the prolific David Gates, Baby I’m A Want You was a massive seller for Bread in 1972. It set the pace for a golden run by the duo, something Michael Dawkins is hoping to replicate.

“I already have a follow-up single but not I’m in a hurry to drop it because Baby I’m A Want You still has momentum,” he said.