Half Pint's diminutive stature belies not only his vocal capabilities but also camouflages his huge on-stage presence, often described as no less than explosive and dynamic. Born Lindon Roberts, but affectionately called Pint, he is a product of the West Kingston enclave of Rose Lane, a community which has produced the likes of Bob Marley, Dennis Brown, Peter Tosh, Lee "Scratch" Perry, Toots Hibbert and a host of other international Reggae superstars.
Half Pint began singing in the school choir at All Saints' Primary School. Upon completion of his secondary education in 1976, he made a head-on thrust into Jamaica's music industry. Pint toured the island with various sound systems including Black Scorpio, Jammys, Gemini, Lee's Unlimited and Killimanjaro, earning respect along the way as a talented vocalist and performer. Lindon Roberts was sought by and subsequently worked with top producers such as Errol (John) Marshall; Errol (Myrie) Lewis; Prince (King) Jammy; the rhythm twins, Sly and Robbie; George Phang; Jack Scorpio, Bobby "Digital" Dixon and Mass Hugh to name a few. He also lent his vocal talent to local peers like Garnett Silk, Tony Rebel and The Tamlins among others.
In 1983, Pint's first single, "Sally," was released followed by "Winsome," the virtual anthem of the day. He continued to bombard the local and international Reggae scenes with a slew of hits, including "Mr. Landlord," "Level the Vibes," "Substitute Lover" and the massive chart topper, "Victory." Besides hit singles, Roberts has also managed to deliver an impressive cache of albums, most of which are still in demand worldwide. His colossal fan base is universal and remains consistently dedicated, especially in Europe, Japan, Brazil, and the West Coast of the United States.
Pint's prolific song writing ability was officially recognized with the cover of "Winsome" by world renowned rock group, The Rolling Stones in 1987 and which they renamed "Too Rude"; and by the pop group Sublime's adaptation of "Loving" in 1996. An extremely hard-working artist, this singer has continued to maintain a presence through various tours and guest appearances. He has played to non-traditional audiences at world music festivals including rock concerts and has consistently found new fans with each gig. Roberts' exposure to the big screen has come with the movies The Mighty Quinn (1989), Substitute 2 (1998), and Mookie (1999), all Original Motion Picture Soundtracks. Appearances on major music television channels like MTV, has farther helped to encrypt the respect he enjoys from industry personnel and fans alike, solidifying his reputation as one of reggae's few living legends. In 1998, Half Pint was endowed with one of the greatest honors of his career when he signed with the prestigious BMG Music Publishing Company. To date, he is the only reggae singer to accomplish this feat and has in the process, joined fellow BMG artists including Whitney Houston and other world music giants as a member of the BMG family.
Despite being noticeably absent from the recording studios for most of this decade, Half Pint enjoyed relative success on Legal We Legal (his first studio album within a ten-year period). This was followed by a 15 city US tour with Anthony B. With BMG Music Publishing and Half Pint Music Inc. he is armed and ready to rule the new millennium with a bang!
As a man recognized the world over for his positive contribution to the upliftment of mankind through reggae music, Pint was presented with "The Keys to The City of Lauderdale Lakes" by the Mayor of that Florida suburb in 2000. The future looks particularly bright for this artist who has demonstrated that trends are indeed transient. As he sings on his album Closer to You, he will be around for a long time to "Pass it On" with "justice, peace, and unity" through quality lyrics and songs.
The original version of this article is from "Half Pint but Giant Leaps" by Francine Chin (Publicist, KuttingEdge Communications) on Flayva Online. Reprinted with permission.
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