Brian & Tony Gold

“Tony and I always knew we would make it, but ten years ago we couldn’t imagine it would be anything like it is right now.” -- Brian Gold



In 1995, with a stellar record of top Jamaican hits, international crossover records and sold-out international tours, as well as having brought their golden touch to dozens of top records by Jamaica's musical elite, Brian and Tony Gold were widely recognized as the best vocal duo working in reggae music.



Playing Japansplash that year, the pair gave an impromptu back-up performance for Shaggy that was so jamming, they were invited to join Shaggy's Big Yard Family. The seven years since then have brought Brian and Tony Gold a whirlwind of world tours, their own Jamaican and international successes, and the opportunity to work with Shaggy, arguably the hottest artist in pop music today.



Currently, Brian and Tony Gold's incredible career momentum continues with the UK success of "Irresistible," a heartfelt lover's rock ballad. As of this writing, "Irresistible" has topped the English Reggae Charts and is poised for pop crossover.



Born Brian Derek Thompson in Birmingham England, Brian was sent by his parents at the age of three to live with relatives in Jamaica. "They wanted me to have the good influences of growing up in the Yard, and I thank God for what they did," Brian explains.



In 1986, Brian entered the Tastee Talent Contest, reaching the finals, as did Patrick Anthony Morrison, another aspiring singer. Patrick, who had grown up in Porus in Manchester, Jamaica, took the second prize in the contest, while Brian took first. Admiring each other's skills, the two young men decided to form a vocal team.



Brian and Patrick's initial hook-up was with Michael 'Mikey' Bennett at King Jammy's studio and their very first harmony was for Johnny Osbourne. It was around this time that Brian and Patrick took the stage name 'Brian and Tony Gold.'



In 1987, they had their first taste of Jamaican fame with the song "Ebony Eyes" on the Red Rock label. This was quickly followed by "What's Your Name" and "Bull's Eye," both for Jammy, and "Sweet Baby" on Bobby Digital's imprint. Together these songs established Brian and Tony as a presence on the Reggae Music scene, with "Bull's Eye" garnering the most play.



When Mikey Bennett formed his own label, Brian and Tony came with him to become part of Mikey's "Two Friends Crew." Out of this new union came "Poison," done in combination with Dennis Brown and Brian and Tony's own "Can You," both of which topped Jamaica's reggae charts.



The songs led to a deal with Pow Wow Records in New York City and were featured on the Pow Wow album GREENLIGHT. During this time, the duo made several appearances with Dennis Brown on 1990's Reggae Sunsplash US Tour. Brian and Tony began work on a second Pow Wow album, but the record was never released. After many disappointing years, they were finally let go by Pow Wow in 1996.



Undaunted by the setback, Brian and Tony went to the studio and recorded a string of hit records including "Number Two" with Terror Fabulous, which rocked hip-hop clubs and radio in the United States.



They scored another major success with "Compliments On Your Kiss," sung in combination with Red Dragon. Produced by Sly and Robbie for Island Records, "Compliments" was number two on the British Pop charts for four weeks. This let to several appearances on the Top of the Pops television program as well as Brian and Tony's first music video.



Brian and Tony continued to add their midas touch to a string of international hits including "Housecall" by Maxi Priest and Shabba Ranks, "Flex" by Mad Cobra, "I Know Love" by Maxi Priest and Tiger, "Twist and Shout" by Jack Raddicks and the acclaimed TILL SHILOAH album by Buju Banton.



Brian demonstrated major songwriting chops by co-authoring "Housecall," "Flex," "I Know Love," as well as several other hits.



After coming to the Big Yard Family in 1995, Brian and Tony Gold joined Shaggy for each of his world-spanning tours including "Boombastic" (1995/1996), "The Midnight Lover Tour" (1998/1999), and the "Hot Shot Tour" (2000/2001) which was fueled by the mega-platinum success of "HOT SHOT." "It was unbelievable," Tony recalls. "Every show sold out, all the streets blocked, with people in countries that spoke no English singing along with every word."



As well as covering America and Europe, each tour took the duo to more exotic places than the last, with "Hot Shot" bringing them to China, Japan, Hong Kong and Lebanon, to name a few of the stops.



Since coming to Big Yard, Brian and Tony have contributed back-up vocal magic to each of Shaggy's albums as well as performing combination style with Shaggy on the songs "Wasn't It You" (BOOMBASTIC), "Jeanie" (MIDNIGHT LOVER), "Hey Sexy Lady," ( Lucky Day) And most recently “ Offended” ( Clothes Drop)



During this time, Brian and Tony Gold continued to make hit Reggae singles on their own including the number one Reggae smash, "Love That's Real" with Bounty Killer and "Must Be A Sign," which niced-up the ladies from Miami to Kingston. They also scored with the song "Searching For The Light." The duo has worked extensively with Reggae Music's top producers including Augustus "Gussie" Clarke, Sly and Robbie, Dave Kelly, Robert Livingston, Clifton "Specialist" Dillon, Patrick Roberts, Phillip "Fattis" Burrell and "Bobby Digital" Dixon.



You can add Big Yard's Michael Fletcher and Shane Brown to this ever-growing list of successful producers who have worked with Brian and Tony Gold. Working at Tough Gong Studios up the hill in Kingston, Michael and Shane produced "Irresistible" for Brian and Tony. Wisely deciding to use Shaggy's back-up musicians to make a totally "live" record, they crafted "Irresistible" as a sweet one-drop ballad. Written by Rick Roc, Brian and Shaggy, "Irresistible" continues Brian and Tony's string of international successes by topping the UK Reggae Charts.



"Long ago,Tony and I decided that we would keep singing even if we made no money," Brian explains. "All we ever wanted to do is to sing and touch people's hearts."