Thriller U

b. Eustace C. Hamilton, 14 August 1969, Kingston, Jamaica, West Indies. Thriller U’s style is similar to that of Frankie Paul. His 1989 recording of ‘It’s Over’, produced by Hugh ‘Redman’ James, was a hit and he toured the UK on the strength of it. The song was a lament to an unfaithful lover, over a classic rhythm with an irresistible riff. He released a number of singles, including ‘Big Bamboo’, ‘Private Property’, ‘Are You Really Ready For Love’, ‘I’ll Prove It To You’, ‘Where Would I Go’ and ‘Since You Came Into My Life’. He also recorded with Pan Head (‘Run Down The Man’), Flourgon (‘Girls Just Wanna Have Fun’) and Johnny P (‘Young And She Green’). He worked with a number of producers including Ossie Hibbert, Bobby Digital, King Jammy and Donovan Germain. The George Michael ballad ‘Careless Whisper’, and the Jennifer Rush epic ‘The Power Of Love’, were both successfully covered by Thriller U, produced by Redman in 1990 and Ossie Hibbert in 1991, respectively. Although often considered as a Jamaican purveyor of lovers rock, he occasionally drifted into the dancehall style, notably on the track ‘Sweetest Sound’, which was featured on his album with Admiral Tibet, Two Good To Be True. In 1991 he recorded one of the many reggae versions of ‘I Wanna Sex You Up’ with Johnny Nice and Studio One legend Jennifer Lara. Sly And Robbie set up a new project, Punishers, and enrolled the services of Thriller U for ‘One Day In Your Life’. In 1995, Thriller U enjoyed a hit with ‘The Mind Is Willing’. While enjoying a successful solo career, he also joined the vocal group L.U.S.T. (Love, Understanding, Sensitivity and Trust), alongside Singing Melody, Tony Curtis and Lukie D. The combined performers stated that the group was going to put the ‘flava back into reggae’. L.U.S.T. performed at MIDEM 1998 and later in New York at the third Culturama festival, to critical acclaim.