Black Uhuru

Black Uhuru are a Jamaican reggae trio that debuted as Black Sounds Uhro with the 1977 album Love Crisis on Third World. Singer Puma Jones joined for their classic run on Island, including the 1980/81 albums Sinsemilla and Red. They rounded out the decade on Real Authentic Sound.

Members: Derrick “Duckie” Simpson , Rudolph “Garth” Dennis (1972-76, 1987-94), Euvin “Don Carlos” Spencer (1972-76, 1987-94), Michael Rose (1977-85), Errol “Tarzan” Nelson (1977-78), Sandra “Puma” Jones (1978-87), Junior Reid (1985-87), Jenifah Nyag (1998-present), Andrew Bees (1998-present)

Original Trio

Uhuru formed around 1972 in the Waterhouse district of Kingston, Jamaica, when singer Derrick “Duckie” Simpson teamed with singers Rudolph “Garth” Dennis and Euvin “Don Carlos” Spencer. The three initially used Uhuru, the Swahili word for freedom, at the suggestion of Waterhouse resident Roy “Scientist” Palmer.

Simpson grew up on Thompson Street in Rema, opposite the Ambassador Theatre, and moved to Waterhouse as a youth. He drummed at school and watched his father sing and play rumba box at Saturday gatherings.

Dennis grew up at 19 Third Street in Trench Town, where singer Joe Higgs rehearsed the Wailers. Higgs, a relative by marriage, taught Dennis vocal harmony. Rudolph’s sister, Joan “Joey” Dennis, sang in the ska duo Andy and Joey. Dennis moved to Waterhouse and took Simpson to rehearsals with the Trench Town singers. He also arranged rehearsals with Higgs for the original Uhuru trio.

Carlos moved from Bread Lane to Waterhouse at age three with his family. He sang at home with his father, a tailor, and visited singers and musicians at Beverley’s studio. His early recordings included “Please Stop Your Lying” with singer Errol Dunkley and “All My Life” for producer Bunny Lee, both songs by Jimmy London.

The trio rehearsed at the Dennis home on 14 Balcombe Drive and recorded a version of the Impressions song “Romancing to the Folk Song” at Dynamic Sounds. Bassist–singer Boris Gardiner replaced Simpson for a harmony vocal at the session. Producer Tommy Cowan issued the recording in 1972 on Top Cat as “Folk Song” by Uhuru the Sound of Freedom (b/w “Folk Song (Version)” by the Freedom Express). The singers also cut “Time Is on Our Side” for producer Clive Chin at Randy’s studio. Dennis attempted “Slow Coach” with the trio, but problems with the harmonies prompted a solo vocal; the track appeared under the Garth Dennis name.

The original trio separated by the mid-1970s. Carlos cut further solo tracks while Dennis joined the Trench Town harmony group Wailing Souls, which briefly included Simpson, who sang on two tracks but declined a permanent membership offer.

New Trio

Simpson added “Black” to Uhuru at the suggestion of Rastafarian elder Alvin “Kojo” Brown. He rebuilt the trio with lead singer Michael Rose and harmony singer Errol Nelson, also known as Errol Wilson. Rose sang calypso and R&B for tourists at north coast hotels. He performed with Happiness Unlimited and cut solo singles for producer Winston “Niney the Observer” Holness, including an early version of “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner.” Nelson sang with the Waterhouse vocal groups the Royals and the Jays. 

Rose approached drummer Sly Dunbar about an album, but Dunbar embarked on a tour with Peter Tosh. The trio accepted an offer from producer Lloyd “Prince Jammy” James, another Waterhouse resident. Jammy returned from Canada in 1976 and became the resident engineer at the Dromilly Avenue studio of dub mixer King Tubby. He recorded rhythm tracks at Harry J’s studio and vocals at King Tubby’s studio for the 1977 debut Love Crisis.

After Love Crisis, Errol Nelson returned to the Jays. In 1978, Simpson recruited American singer and dancer Sandra “Puma” Jones as a harmony vocalist in Black Uhuru. The two met at a Kingston house party, where Simpson heard Jones sing along to a Bob Marley album. Jones studied dance in New York with the Chuck Davis troupe and sang backing vocals in Jamaica on the 1978 Ras Michael & the Sons of Negus album Movements.

Discography:

• Love Crisis (1977 • Black Sounds Uhro)
• Showcase (1979)
• Sinsemilla (1980)
• Red (1981)
• Chill Out (1982)
• Anthem (1983)
• The Dub Factor (1983)
• Brutal (1986)
• Brutal Dub (1986)
• Positive (1987)
• Positive Dub (1987)

Sources

• Luke Vose, “A Q and A with Duckie Simpson of Black Uhuru” (2016). Simpson describes Rema, Thompson Street, the Ambassador Theatre, his father’s rumba box, school drums, and the move to Waterhouse. (MV Times)
• Angus Taylor, “Interview: Don Carlos” (2010). Carlos covers Bread Lane, the childhood relocation, his father, Beverley’s studio, Dunkley, London, Lee, Gardiner, and the original breakup. (United Reggae)
• Stephen Cooper, “Rootsman Garth Dennis Reflects on Reggae’s Richness” (2018). Dennis explains the Balcombe Drive rehearsals, friendship with Simpson, recruitment of Carlos, Higgs instruction, and continued help for the Rose lineup. (Reggae Vibes)
• Michael Watson, “Interview with Garth Dennis: 19 Third Street, Trenchtown, Waterhouse and Beyond” (2012). Dennis discusses the family connections, early Higgs rehearsals, Gardiner session, “Time Is on Our Side,” “Slow Coach,” and preparations for Love Crisis. (World A Reggae)
• Stephen Cooper, “Interview with Fitzroy Francis, Part 2” (2024). The Waterhouse associate identifies Roy Palmer as “Scientist” and credits Kojo Brown with the addition of “Black” to Uhuru. (Reggae Vibes)
• Uhuru the Sound of Freedom / the Freedom Express, “Folk Song / Folk Song (Version).” The original single entry gives the artist names, flip side, and 1972 issue date. (Discogs)
• John Masouri, Brutal / Brutal Dub liner notes. The early-history passage identifies Happiness Unlimited, Rose’s Niney recordings, and the Nelson–Rose lineup. (John Masouri)
• Joshua Green, “A Rosey Future” (1996). Rose discusses lessons from older brothers, hotel repertoire, the proposed Dunbar album, and the partnership with Simpson and Nelson. (Westword)
• “Black Uhuru: Michael Rose,” Antwerp interview (July 2005). Rose explains the north coast–Waterhouse transition and confirms that the Peter Tosh tour interrupted the proposed Sly & Robbie production. (Rebelbase)
• Grant Phabao & the Jays, Stepping Up in Time label biography. Identifies Errol Wilson’s membership in the Royals, Black Uhuru, and the Jays. (Paris DJs)
• Angus Taylor, “Interview: King Jammy” (2015). Jammy explains the 1976 return from Canada, appointment at King Tubby’s studio, and personal offer to record the Waterhouse trio. (United Reggae)
• “King Jammy Presents New Sounds of Freedom” (2016). The label account distinguishes the original rhythm sessions at Harry J’s from the vocal and mix sessions at King Tubby’s. (VP Records)
• TAXI Trax — liner notes. Documents Nelson’s return to the Jays, Jones’s dance studies, and her vocals on Movements. (TAXI TABOU1)
• Duckie Simpson interview — Festiville 2018. Simpson recounts the visit with Kojo Brown and hearing Jones sing in Mona. (Reggaeville)
• Love Crisis — discography entry. Dates Jones’s arrival to 1978. (United Reggae)