Reggae singer Maxi Priest is considered one of the pioneers of British reggae, and his unique style has gained him a large fan base over the years.
In this post, Fidlar will take a look at Maxi Priest net worth, his music and acting performances, his business ventures, and his career as of 2023.
What is Maxi Priest’s Net Worth and Salary 2023?
Maxi Priest is an English reggae vocalist who has been active in the music industry since the 1980s. He is one of the most successful British reggae acts, with numerous hit singles and albums to his credit. His net worth is estimated to be around $10 million.
Maxi Priest Overview: Why is Maxi Priest Famous?
Early Life
Born in Lewisham, London, as the second youngest of nine siblings, Maxi Priest’s parents had uprooted their family from Jamaica in search of a better life.
With his mother being a Pentecostal missionary, Maxi was immersed in a variety of musical influences – from gospel to reggae, R&B to pop – and it was in the church where he first discovered his talent for singing, thanks to his mother’s encouragement.
As a child, Priest was raised on the music of Jamaican icons such as Dennis Brown, John Holt, Ken Boothe and Gregory Isaacs, as well as crooners like Marvin Gaye, Al Green, the Beatles, Phil Collins and Frank Sinatra.
As a teen, he used to lug speaker boxes for the Jah Shaka and Negus Negast sound-systems. He was a pioneering member of Saxon Studio International and, with them, Maxi was able to start rocking neighbourhood youth clubs and house parties.
He has a foot in both worlds: his music dips into R&B and pop, but his cousin Jacob Miller is a true reggae luminary, having been the frontman for the widely-acclaimed Inner Circle.
Marvin Priest and Ryan Elliott, two of Priest’s sons, have followed in their father’s footsteps by pursuing music; Marvin (born Marvin Cornell Elliott) and Ryan (formerly of the 1990s boy band, Ultimate Kaos) have both taken up singing as a profession.
Career
Maxi Priest began his musical career singing on the South London reggae sound system Saxon Studio International, releasing independent singles before his debut major album, Maxi (titled Maxi Priest in the US and Canada), was unleashed in 1988. His cover of Cat Stevens’ “Wild World” propelled him to the heights of British reggae stardom.
As one of just two British reggae acts to achieve an American Billboard number one (the other being UB40 with “Close to You” in 1990), he further solidified his success with a Top Ten single alongside Roberta Flack, “Set the Night to Music” in 1991.
He kept the momentum going with his 1996 hit single alongside Shaggy, “That Girl”, which peaked at number twenty in the United States.
During the second part of his musical career, Priest embraced collaborating with a range of musicians, both renowned and up-and-coming. He has shared the stage with Sly and Robbie, Shaggy, Beres Hammond, Jazzie B, Apache Indian, Roberta Flack, Shurwayne Winchester, Shabba Ranks, Robin Trower, and Lee Ritenour.
According to information from “an unnamed source close to the band,” Priest would take Ali Campbell’s place as the lead singer of UB40 and record a cover of Bob Marley’s “I Shot the Sheriff” with the group on March 13, 2008, according to some Birmingham-area newspapers, including the Birmingham Mail.
Priest toured with UB40 in 2007, with the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) in Solihull hosting sold-out performances in December.
In response to the Express & Star’s report that Priest would replace UB40’s current frontman, the band’s spokesman, Gerard Franklyn, provided the following statement: “Maxi is working with the band to record new songs, but Duncan Campbell, Ali and Robin Campbell’s brother, will take over as lead vocalist. Only on this new recording will he perform alongside them.”
In 2012, Maxi Priest showed his appreciation for the renowned Japanese band L’arc~en~Ciel by recording a beautiful cover of their classic hit “Vivid Colors” for their special English-language tribute album.
In 2013, Priest collaborated with British Indian producer Rishi Rich to remix Arijit Singh’s popular Hindi song “Kabhi Jo Baadal Barse”. The remixed version proved to be a huge hit!
In 2014, his album Easy to Love soared to the second spot on the Billboard Top Reggae Albums Chart.
Sport
At the ripe age of 41, Priest answered the call to save Southall, his son Marvin’s football club, from an injury crisis and stepped onto the pitch in March 2003. Despite his heroic effort, Feltham emerged victorious, defeating Southall 3-0.
FAQs about Maxi Priest
How old is Maxi Priest?
Maxi Priest was born on June 10, 1961. He is now 61 years old.
Where is Maxi Priest now?
Maxi Priest is currently trekking around one nation and has two concerts coming up. Their next show is at the Crystal Palace Bowl in Bromley and afterwards they’ll be performing at the Croydon Road Recreation Ground in Beckenham. Don’t miss out on your chance to join the party!
What is Maxi Priest’s Real Name?
Maxi Priest, otherwise known as Max Alfred ‘Maxi’ Elliott, is an English reggae singer of Jamaican heritage who has mesmerized audiences around the world with his soulful voice.
Conclusion
Maxi Priest is a true pioneer of British reggae, and his impact on the genre has been felt by fans all over the world. His music is timeless and his acting performances reflect the same finesse. Maxi Priest’s business ventures are also successful and have helped him to build a strong financial foundation.
If you’re a fan of Maxi Priest’s music and want to stay up to date with his latest projects, be sure to follow him on social media!
