Song:I Want To Wake Up With You
Album:I Want To Wake Up With You: The Best Of Boris Gardiner
I Want To Wake Up With You is the biggest hit and signature song for Jamaican singer Boris Gardiner. It topped the British charts in 1986. But Gardiner was known as one of Jamaica's top session musicians long before he scored with this song. He was born Jan. 13, 1943 in Kingston, Jamaica. He started performing in the early 60s and learned to play bass while a member of Carlos Malcolm Afro Jamaican Rhythm. In Jamaica, they were known as a "hotel band". They performed covers of big US hits on the hotel circuit. When that band split up in 1967, Gardiner became the bass player for The Upsetters and they were the top session band in Jamaica. He had a hit single Elizabethan Reggae in 1970 but it was credited to Byron Lee & The Dragonaires in error. He continued to play sessions and led his own band on the hotel circuit. In 1986, producer Willie Lindo saw Gardiner perform at a hotel and suggested they record together. It was Lindo's idea to cover the Mac Davis song I Want To Wake Up With You. They just did a reggae version instead of a country version. It did OK but British record distributor Phil Mathias heard the song in a club and approached Lindo about a British release. Lindo didn't think it would sell but much to his surprise, it caught on and topped the British singles chart. Boris Gardiner has never had a significant hit since then and he's unknown in North America but he still performs today. This comp from Sanctuary is a good intro to his music. Here's the video for I Want To Wake Up With You by Boris Gardiner.
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