Born in London in 1956, Hylton was sent to live with her grandparents in Kingston at the age of 5.[2][3][4]
Hylton's earliest exposure to music was through the record collection of her grandfather who was a jazz fan.[citation needed] As a young woman she listened to and absorbed the works of the greatest female jazz singers.[citation needed] Her earliest experience in the music industry was as a secretary at Total Sounds in Kingston, but started recording for Harry J while working as an air hostess for Air Jamaica, her first single, "Don't Ask My Neighbour", was a local hit,[3] and she also released a cover of Ebony's "Life in the Country".[4]
Island Records signed her to their Mango label. Hylton had her first major international success with a Harry J-produced cover of "Breakfast in Bed", which peaked at no. 57 on the UK Singles Chart in 1979.[3][5] Hylton then recorded a version of The Police's "The Bed's Too Big Without You" which also charted in the UK (no. 35 UK,[5] 1981). She had success on the reggae charts in 1983 with "Let's Dance", before moving to the United States the following year.[3]
