Ansell Collins

Ansell Collins is a Jamaican reggae keyboardist and organist who achieved international fame as one half of the duo Dave and Ansell Collins. Born in Kingston, Jamaica, Collins developed his keyboard skills in the vibrant Kingston music scene of the late 1960s, becoming one of the most sought-after session musicians of the era.

In 1971, Collins and vocalist Dave Barker recorded "Double Barrel" for producer Winston Riley, a track that became a massive international hit, reaching number one in the UK charts and introducing Jamaican reggae to a mainstream British audience. The follow-up single "Monkey Spanner" also charted highly in the UK, cementing their status as international reggae stars. The success of these recordings helped open doors for Jamaican music in the UK market.

Beyond his work with Dave Barker, Ansell Collins has had a long and prolific career as a solo artist and session musician, recording instrumental albums and contributing his keyboard skills to countless reggae productions. His organ and piano work can be heard on recordings spanning decades of Jamaican music history, and he remains one of the most respected instrumentalists the island has produced.