We have all heard the old adage, ‘age is just a number’. Well, Leroy Sibbles is living proof of that. His cover of Try Me, originally done by James Brown and The Famous Flames, is number one on the Foundation Radio Network Top 30 Music Chart. The self-produced song was released in November. It makes Sibbles, who turns 72 on January 29, the oldest artist to top the popular table. Sibbles said he was encouraged by fellow singer Young Garvey to do a reggae version of Try Me, which was a breakout song for Brown in 1958.
He immediately went to work on it. Try Me was a song I always loved. I grew up on this and songs like this. As a matter of fact, James Brown is and always was my idol,” said Sibbles. A former lead singer of The Heptones, Sibbles began his recording career with that group in the early 1960’s. He had a number of hit songs with them including Party Time, Sea of Love, I Shall be Released and Book of Rules. He also played bass on many hit songs at Studio One such as Baby Why by The Cables and Queen of The Minstrel by Cornel Campbell.
Sibbles moved to Canada in 1973 and lived there for over 20 years, becoming one of the country’s most influential reggae artists. Based in Kingston, he maintains a busy live show and recording schedule. Sibbles refuses to be labeled as an oldies artist. “It is always good to have a new release whether it’s a hit or not because it keeps the artist current. As for me, I love what i do so I’ll always be playing and singing until I can’t do no more,” he said.
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