SHUGA RETURNS BOBBY BLOOM’S CLASSIC MONTEGO BAY TO ITS ROOTS
Jamaican singer Shuga has breathed fresh life into Bobby Bloom’s 1970 classic Montego Bay with a sun-soaked reggae reimagining. Released through VP Records, the single arrives courtesy of producer Donovan Germain and features the unmistakable saxophone work of Dean Fraser.
The track carries particular weight for Shuga. Born and raised in Montego Bay, she’s reclaiming the song for her hometown. Her early years grinding through the hotel entertainment circuit along Jamaica’s north coast shaped her as an artist, and this recording honours those formative experiences.
Montego Bay has travelled through many hands since Bloom’s original. The Bar-Kays, Sugar Cane, The Allniters and Amazulu all took their turn, with Amazulu’s 1986 version achieving international success. Now, Shuga plants the song firmly back in its namesake city.
THOSE FORMATIVE NIGHTS SHAPED SHUGA’S VOICE AND VISION
The release was delayed following Hurricane Melissa’s devastating impact on the region. A video shot last summer in partnership with the Jamaica Tourist Board, showcasing the city and featuring local musicians, will surface in late January 2026.
The single heralds Girl From Montego Bay, Shuga’s forthcoming album due for release in late spring 2026. It follows What If and Love Doctor, both Billboard-featured, capping a year that’s seen her share stages with Sean Paul, Shaggy, Beres Hammond, Beenie Man and Christopher Martin.
ABOUT SHUGA
Jamaican singer-songwriter Shuga fuses roots consciousness with soulful versatility across contemporary reggae. Signed to Penthouse Records under producer Donovan Germain, she moves fluidly between lovers rock and socially conscious anthems.
Recent releases include Ital Love, What If, and My Journey. Notably, she joined Judy Mowatt and Marcia Griffiths for Tribute to the I-Threes in 2019, connecting her directly to reggae’s matriarchal lineage and cementing her status as a torchbearer bridging generations.
