Born the ninth of ten children, Hammond grew up listening to his father's collection of American soul and jazz music including Sam Cooke and Otis Redding.

[3] He left Zap Pow in 1979 to pursue his solo career, and recorded two more albums Let's Make A Song in 1980 and Red Light 1981.

He left his fame in Jamaica for New York City in 1987,[2] after being tied up as thieves ransacked his house during a home invasion.

His first album of the new millennium was 2001's Music Is Life, which featured an appearance by Wyclef Jean, and contributions from Earl "Chinna" Smith and Flourgon.

The album spawned several hits, including "They Gonna Talk", "Rockaway" and "Ain't It Good To Know".

[3] Hammond returned to Jamaica to perform at the Opening Ceremony for the Cricket World Cup 2007,[5] and the next year, in 2008, he released album A Moment in Time, on VP Records, which featured the single "I Feel Good".

[11] On February 28, 2021, Harmony House and VP Records presented Love From A Distance Live, a streaming event with guest appearances by Buju Banton, Marcia Griffiths, and Popcaan during the COVID-19 pandemic quarantine.