Culture -

Culture are a Jamaican roots-reggae group that emerged with the 1977 album Two Sevens Clash on Joe Gibbs Record Globe, followed by thirty-plus titles across three decades on Virgin, Shanachie, RAS, and other labels.

Members: Joseph Hill (lead vocals, 1976-2006), Albert Walker (backing vocals, 1976-82, 1986-present), Kenneth Dayes (backing vocals, 1976-82, 1986-93), Telford Nelson (backing vocals, 1999-present), Kenyatta Hill (lead vocals, 2006-present)

Background

Culture formed in 1975 in Jamaica as the African Disciples when harmony singer Roy “Kenneth” Dayes recruited lead vocalist Joseph Hill and fellow harmonizers Albert Walker and Noel Brown. Walker came from Linstead in St Catherine and was a cousin of Hill. Dayes was born in Golden Hills in rural St Andrew.

Joseph Hill was born on January 22, 1949, in Linstead, Jamaica. He harmonized with school friends and listened to American rhythm and blues through radio broadcasts and visiting sound systems. Hill joined the Selected Few in 1968 as a percussionist and harmony singer alongside lead singer Freddie McKay. Soul Defenders drummer Vin Morgan auditioned Hill in Linstead and recruited him as a percussionist.

The Soul Defenders played three nights a week in Ocho Rios. In 1971, producer Clement “Coxsone” Dodd hired the band for regular sessions at Studio One in Kingston. Hill played percussion on the McKay number “Picture on the Wall” and addressed enslavement and repatriation in “Behold the Land,” a 1972 solo track with Soul Defenders backing. Hill later drummed with C35 Incorporated in May Pen, where he drum-trained vocalist Glen Washington. He also performed on the north coast hotel circuit.

The African Disciples continued in 1976 as a trio of Hill, Walker, and Dayes. Walker maintained a day job as an electrician, while Dayes earned a living as a builder. Deejay and producer Pat “Jah Lloyd” Francis directed the singers to arranger Maurice “Blacka Morwell” Wellington, who supervised auditions at the studio of producer Joe Gibbs. The trio sang “This Time” at the Retirement Crescent studio in Kingston and adopted the name Culture at the audition.

Gibbs produced their first tracks with engineer Errol Thompson under the joint credit the Mighty Two. The producer issued “This Time” in 1976 on Belmont (b/w the Mighty Two dub “Our Time”). Culture followed with “I’m Not Ashamed” and “Jah Jah See Dem a Come.” Hill wrote “Two Sevens Clash” around prophecies attributed to Pan-Africanist Marcus Garvey. The trio continued the sessions with Gibbs and Thompson for the debut album, Two Sevens Clash.

Discography:

Two Sevens Clash (1977)
Bald Head Bridge (1978)
Culture in Dub (1978)
Harder Than the Rest (1978)
Cumbolo (1979)
International Herb (1979)
More Culture (1981)
Lion Rock (1982)
Roots & Culture (1982 • Culture & Don Carlos)
Culture at Work (1986)
Culture in Culture (1986)
Nuff Crisis! (1988)
Good Things (1989)

Sources

Mikey Massive, “Kenneth Culture.” Artist representative profile that identifies Dayes as the founder of the 1975 African Disciples quartet and names Noel Brown as the fourth singer. (Back 2 Da Future)
Howard Campbell, “‘Kenneth Culture’ passes on.” Family-supported obituary that identifies Golden Hills as the birthplace of Dayes and Linstead as the home town of Hill and Walker. (Jamaica Observer)
John Masouri, “Culture — Chanting On.” Interview-based liner notes that cover school harmonies, American records, the May Pen band, the occupations of Walker and Dayes, and the Gibbs audition. (John Masouri)
John Masouri, Vin Morgan Meets Lone Ark — Give Thanks liner notes. Morgan describes the recruitment of Hill, the Ocho Rios engagements, and the 1971 Studio One audition. (A-Lone Reggae Shop)
Harry Hawks, “Featured Artist: Culture.” Covers the Selected Few, the early solo recording, the hotel circuit, Jah Lloyd, and the audition with “This Time.” (ReggaeRecord)
“Glen Washington — Reggae Geel 07/2009.” Washington identifies Hill as the original C35 Incorporated drummer and the musician who taught him drums. (Rebel Base)
“Remembering Coxsone Dodd: 10 Essential Productions.” Covers the 1972 “Behold the Land” recording, the Soul Defenders accompaniment, and the lyrics on enslavement and repatriation. (GRAMMY)
Belmont singles catalog. Lists “This Time” b/w “Our Time” as a 1976 Belmont release. (ReggaeRecord)
Howard Campbell, “Two Sevens Clash — the song that put a country on edge.” Covers the 1976 Gibbs recordings and distinguishes the Garvey attribution from a verified prophecy. (Jamaica Observer)