It is very rare when an artiste who has scored a hit or two fades from the spotlight and is able to return to their former glory and even surpass it.

Richard Whyte popularly known as Junior X could have fallen into that category quite easily after he blazed his way on to the local music scene via his hit song Plead My Cause in 2005.

This hit song was just what he needed to avoid the iron balloon tag which is often placed on artistes in Jamaica who have been trying to make a dent in the music industry without any success.

"DJ Wayne was one of the first persons to plead my cause and he played it (the song) in a very serious way he would wheel up the tune numerous times and really hype it up and the radio. Very soon almost every disc jockey on Irie FM and all the other radio stations were doing the same thing. Next thing you know I finally had a hit song, when I went to the studios or anywhere else people a say to mi 'Junior X yuh buss, yu have a big tune now'. It was a really nice feeling and it inspired me to write and record even better songs."

high profile events

Very soon he became an artiste in demand and received requests to perform on several high-profile events locally such as Rebel Salute, Champions In Action and Bob Marley Birthday Celebrations as well as events in countries such as the USA, Japan and The Bahamas.

However, this success was short- lived as Junior X and his manager had a falling out in 2006.

Determined to keep his career alive, he recorded several other singles, he also handled his own business affairs and kept his name alive for some time.

Eventually the name Junior X faded from the lips of music lovers as the hits dried up. However, this did not deter Junior X from continuing his career and he kept on recording and did a few performances overseas.

"I just kept on recording knowing that one day Jah would make it happen. Now the time has come and I am back on the charts and you will hear Junior X music on the radio in abundance again, everywhere you go in the streets you hear ny tunes now old and new."

Junior X was introduced to Dennis Livingston CEO of the US- based record label Revolutionary Entertainment by Roy Francis at his Mixing Lab recording studio early last year; this introduction led to Junior X signing a multi-album deal with Revolutionary Entertainment last year. Since then he has been working on an album for the label.

Several months later Junior X now seems poised for greater things, he is now back on the playlist of several radio stations both locally and abroad with songs such as his recent chart topper The Pill which spent two weeks at the top of the RETV reggae chart.

His two newest releases Gangster Life and Some Never Knew are also getting much attention. Gangster Life recently entered the RETV and HYPE TV charts and its supporting music video has been placed in rotation at overseas-based television channels such as Canada's Much Music, BETJ and Tempo.