Musical Youth -

Musical Youth was an English pop-reggae band from Birmingham that scored a UK No. 1 hit with “Pass the Dutchie” from their 1982 MCA album The Youth of Today, followed in 1983 with Different Style!

Members: Michael Grant (keyboards, vocals), Kelvin Grant (guitar, vocals), Dennis Seaton (lead vocals, percussion), Patrick Waite (bass, vocals), Freddie “Junior” Waite (drums, vocals)

Background

Musical Youth formed in 1979 in Birmingham when singer Frederick Waite Sr. and Cultural Music Workshop founder Toney Owens assembled bassist Patrick Waite, drummer Frederick “Junior” Waite, guitarist Kelvin Grant, and keyboardist Michael Grant.

Waite Sr. sang with the Techniques in Jamaica and moved in 1966 to England, where he settled in Nechells, Birmingham. He gave instrumental lessons to Kelvin, Junior, and Patrick. Michael Grant took classical piano lessons and learned further keyboard techniques from Waite Sr. The four boys attended Duddeston Manor School with Dennis Seaton, a close friend of Patrick and Junior.

Musical Youth rehearsed for nine months in the Waite living room, then moved to Saltley Music Workshop for regular rehearsals and recording sessions. The group supported the Beat at Birmingham Locarno in May 1981 and continued pub and club dates across Birmingham. Musical Youth recorded “Political” and “Generals” at Saltley Music Workshop and issued the two songs on Birmingham label 021 as a fundraiser for the workshop. John Peel played “Generals” on BBC Radio 1 in February 1981 and booked Musical Youth for an April session at the BBC.

Charlie Ayre, an A&M A&R representative, heard the single through Peel’s program and saw Musical Youth at the General Wolfe in Coventry. Ayre asked the group to add a lead singer near the ages of the boys. Musical Youth recruited schoolmate Dennis Seaton, who learned the live set under Waite and gradually became front-person. The parents of all five members co-signed the March 1982 MCA recording agreement. Musical Youth spent the next six months in extended rehearsals. Ayre paired the quintet with producer Peter Collins for the sessions that became The Youth of Today.

Discography: