Richie Stevens

He started life as Richard Anthony Stephenson in the lovely south-coast town of Savann a-l a-mar, Westmoreland, Jamaica on December5,1966 and lived there until he finished normal schooling at 16 years. Anxious for more opportunities he moved to live with his father in Spanish Town and worked for several local bands gaining slightly wider professional experience.P>In 1986, he started working with Rockers international, the resident band at the Coconut Grove Great House and was chosen to travel with the Jamaica Tourist Board's promotionaleam, he became, in effect, the singing ambassador for Jamaica's Tourism product inuch diverse places as South America, Europe and the USA.P>In 1989 he decided to make another career move which resulted in the recording "So Amazing", a cover version of Luther Vandross' hit song, produced by Ed Robinson and Byronurray. Making a respectable impact on the local charts, more recording followed and his other skills - composing came into its own. His original "Buff Baff" on the Top Rankingabel was his first big local hit, followed by another original "By Your Side", an evenbigger-hit. Other chart-topping recordings include "Trying to get to you", "Legacy", "Joy"ecorded with Soul to Soul, a huge hit in Europe and "Fight Back", a monster combination with the late Garnett Silk.P>He was catapulted into the international spotlight and landed an invitation to perform on the "Miss Universe 1992" show in Holland where he appeared with Vanessa Williams, singer and former Miss USA. An appearance on the Arsenio Hall Show and tours of the USA and Europe followed.P>s a singer and writer he confesses to being partial to lover's rock - he feels a special affinity to the ladies - a feeling reciprocated a hundred fold.P>a href = "feat.html">P>/html>/font>body>