Jesse David Leroi Grey, aka JESSE ROYAL, was born on April 29, 1989. He spent his early years in the hills of Maroon Town and the Orange District of St. James before moving to Kingston in the late 1990s. Royal, friends with Daniel "Bambaata" Marley (son of Ziggy Marley) at school, shared a deep passion for music and football. As these cubs grew into lions, their devotion to music grew.
After studying abroad, JESSE ROYAL began creating and composing music. Blessed with a voice that captures the pain and hunger of an "oppressed" people, Royal's militant character and profound lyricism won the heart of renowned reggae producer Philip "Fatis" Burrell.
Jesse released his first album “Lily of da Valley” in 2017 on Easy Star Records, which was very well received, including “Modern Day Judas” which has nearly 10M streams on Spotify. This album is an ode to roots reggae and honors the genre. In 2021, he released his second album “Royal”. This album earned him a Grammy Award nomination and tours in America and Europe at the biggest festivals (Rototom Sunsplash - Spain, Lake Tahoe Reggae Fest - USA, Summer Jam Festival - Germany, etc.).
In just two albums, JESSE ROYAL has carved out an indisputable place for himself on the reggae scene, both in Jamaica and internationally. Four years later, he returns with a new project entitled No Place Like Home. Already driven by notable singles like Blessing (a tribute to Jo Mersa Marley in collaboration with Yohan Marley), Light of Mine, Hope in collaboration with Romain Virgo, and Your Soul, the album's 12 tracks feature other prestigious guest appearances: Kabaka Pyramid, Perfect Giddimani, and Canadian singer Melanie Fiona.
Between conscious reggae and modern sounds, No Place Like Home confirms JESSE ROYAL as one of the leading voices of his island. An album to discover on stage in 2026!
