Too poor to follow his first love horses, young Mark Alleyne, born in
Barbados in 1969,turned his attention to music changing his name to Shakey
Ranks, Alleyne created one of his country's most popular reggae sound
systems,( Vibes International Sound systems ). For over ten years Alleyne
not only spun tunes but honed his singing skills as he worked with his
system as a disc jockey across the island.

 One day a friend urged  him to take his singing seriously and recommended
a studio that was involved in a recording.The singer being recorded (Njeri)
consented to do a song with Shakey, the socially responsible "Cease Fire"
which became the most popular song on the album.

 From those casual beginnings, the artist was launched into the music
stratosphere.Ranks worked with Rhp Productions and Jingle Jams Studio , who
produce the song" Them Never Know".Hot on the heels of success, he then
worked with Monster Piece Studio who did the big monster track "Chant &
Talk" along with a couple other Shakey tracks including a combination with
Jamaica's Chrisinti that song entitle "High Grade Only".

 By then Shakey could be seen on most major reggae shows in Barbados and
other parts of the world rocking alongside some of Jamaica"s best,
including Africa where he did a number of performances for Ghana's 2001
Panifest.

 In order to please his fans , he has now teamed up with the Elite
Systems,Dbox Studios, M2 Productions and a talented group of musicians now
his backing band (Vibes), to record his first solo album entitle " Mr.
Progressive " ,some very soulful tracks with shakey's smoothe, crystal
voice caressing a variety of songs of Roots Rock Reggae, with a hint of
jazz.