Peak UK Chart Position: #2 in March 1993.

The highest climber on the charts on this day in 1993 belonged to Toronto-born Darrin O’Brien – better known by the moniker Snow. It was his only UK success (subsequent singles “Girl I’ve Been Hurt” and “Uhh In You” missed the top forty), but spent three weeks in total at number two as part of the reggae invasion that saw – just one week later – “Informer” sandwiched between “Mr Loverman” by Shabba Ranks at three, and “Oh Carolina” by Shaggy at the top. It was the UK’s 17th best-seller of 1993, beating several Take That number ones in the process.

Quick facts:

• “Informer” topped the US Billboard Hot 100, spending a staggering seven weeks at the top.
• The track has been recorded twice in the Guinness Book of World Records as the best selling reggae single in US history, as well as the highest charting reggae single in history.
• It gained popularity and airplay whilst Snow was serving an eight-month sentence in Toronto for assault. The song is based on a separate 1989 incident when Snow was charged with two counts of attempted murder. At the time, he was detained for a year in Toronto before the charges were reduced to aggravated assault, and he was eventually acquitted and freed
• In October 2014, Snow’s new single “Shame” was released, featuring Mykal Rose (Black Uhuru), with all proceeds from “Shame” donated to the fight against cancer.

Here is his live vocal performance from that week’s Top of the Pops in 1993, courtesy of one of my well-used VHS cassettes, on which he rubbed shoulders with the likes of Hue and Cry, Big Country, Monie Love, and Shaggy.