Maxi Priest is a British reggae singer of Jamaican descent renowned for pioneering the reggae fusion genre—a blend of reggae and R&B. Raised in a musically rich household as the second youngest of nine siblings, Priest was inspired by gospel and soul music, and began singing in church under the encouragement of his Pentecostal missionary mother. His early involvement with South London’s Saxon Studio International sound system laid the foundation for his career, where he gained recognition through local performances and independent releases. Priest’s breakthrough came with his 1988 album Maxi, featuring a hit cover of Cat Stevens’ “Wild World.” He achieved international fame with the 1990 Billboard No. 1 single “Close to You,” making him one of only two British reggae artists to top the U.S. charts. Over the years, he has collaborated with artists like Roberta Flack, Shaggy, Beres Hammond, and Apache Indian, and his 2014 album Easy to Love reached No. 2 on Billboard’s Top Reggae Albums chart. A father of three, including fellow musician Marvin Priest, Maxi continues to be a global ambassador of reggae music, celebrated for his smooth vocals and genre-defying style.