The Cool Operator gathers together 28 crucial tracks from Delroy Wilson, Jamaica’s first child star, who set the stage and served as a prototype for a generation of Reggae artists including Dennis Brown, whom the singer later credited as the primary influence shaping his singing style. Wilson (a peer of Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, and Bunny Wailer at Studio One) was one of a handful of recording artists who had major hits in the Ska, Rocksteady, and Reggae eras. Certainly, Wilson has recorded some of Jamaica’s most iconic tracks, such as “Cool Operator,” “Better Must Come,” and “Dancing Mood,” all of which are included on this anthology.
This new collection includes the very best of his hit run of 45s for Bunny ‘Striker’ Lee, alongside a handful of crucial cuts produced by Channel One and Federal Records.