Lewis was born in
Kingston,
Jamaica. He sang in church from an early age, and started performing as a youth, forming a singing group called the Regals. The track was recorded with
Lynn Taitt and the Jets, and is regarded as one of the first rocksteady singles. He had several more Jamaican hits in the late 1960s and early 1970s, including the first 'herb' song ever recorded there, "Cool Collie". He lived the later period of his life in
Brooklyn, New York, where he presented a show on Grace Deliverance Radio. Lewis died on 4 September 2014 at his home in Brooklyn, aged 66, after suffering
kidney failure.
The Disciples roots reggae and
dub musicians have a record label entitled Boom Shaka Laka, named in honour of, and inspired by Hopeton Lewis' song (as well as by
Jah Shaka and reggae culture and history in general). The Disciples also wrote an influential roots reggae fanzine called
Boom Shaka Laka, also named after the Hopeton Lewis record. The author, Lol Bell-Brown (who works for
Dub Vendor) named the magazine after the Hopeton Lewis song. The first issue was released in 1988 and over the four following years the magazine became one of the most important publications to cover, for the time, the current roots scene as well as classic roots records. There were 11 issues released, of which all are sought-after collector's items. ==Albums==