Half Pint

Half Pint, born Lindon Andrew Roberts, is one of Jamaica’s most distinctive reggae and dancehall voices, known for a clear, high tenor and a style that bridged roots reggae’s message music with the sharper, sound-system-driven energy of the 1980s. Raised in Kingston’s Rose Lane area, he came through the school choir before moving into the city’s vibrant dancehall circuit, where he built his name performing with leading sound systems and working with influential producers. That live foundation gave his music a direct, unforced feel that helped his songs travel well beyond Jamaica.

He first broke through in the early 1980s with records such as “Sally” and “Winsome,” the latter becoming his signature tune and later finding a new audience when the Rolling Stones adapted it as “Too Rude.” Half Pint’s songs often balanced melody with social observation, and tracks like “Mr. Landlord,” “Level the Vibes,” and “Substitute Love” helped establish him as a singer who could move easily between lovers rock sweetness and tougher streetwise themes. He also became part of a generation of artists who shaped the sound of dancehall as it emerged from roots reggae, recording with major names including Sly & Robbie and working in the orbit of classic Jamaican label culture.

Sources: rollingstonesdata.com, allmusic.com, allmusic.com, scribd.com, en.wikipedia.org, britannica.com · Profile updated 8 Apr 2026