Bob Marley (Feb. 6, 1945 — May 11, 1981) was a Jamaican vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter known internationally as the frontman of Kingston reggae legends The Wailers. He led the band through several iterations over an 18-year period, achieving global fame with a series of albums on Island Records between 1973 and 1978. Marley co-founded […]
Peter Tosh — aka Winston Hubert MacIntosh (Oct. 19, 1944 — Sept. 11, 1987) — was a Jamaican roots-reggae musician who rose to prominence during the 1960s as a member of the Wailers. In 1976, he released the album Legalize It on Intel Diplo/Columbia, followed by three further albums on the imprint during the late […]
Burning Spear — aka Winston Rodney (born March 1, 1945) — is a Jamaican dub/roots-reggae artist who issued a round of singles on Bamboo and Studio One between 1969 and 1971, followed by a 1972 debut album on Coxsone. Signed to Island Records, he released the popular 1975 album Marcus Garvey, followed by a dub […]
Steel Pulse are an English roots-reggae band from Birmingham that released the 1978–80 Island albums Handsworth Revolution, Tribute to the Martyrs, and Caught You, scoring UK hits with “Ku Klux Klan,” “Prodigal Son,” and “Sound System.” Their 1982–83 Wise Man Doctrine albums True Democracy and Earth Crisis made further headway with “Ravers” and “Steppin’ Out,” […]
Aswad are an English roots-reggae band that released the 1976–82 albums Aswad, Hulet, New Chapter, A New Chapter of Dub, and Not Satisfied across Island and CBS, establishing their early repertoire with “Back to Africa,” “African Children,” and “Not Satisfied.” Their 1983–86 Island and Simba releases Live and Direct, Rebel Souls, and To the Top […]
The Abyssinians are a Jamaican roots-reggae act that released the 1976 album Satta Masa Gana, followed in 1978 by Arise. Formed in Kingston in 1968 by Bernard Collins and brothers Donald and Lynford Manning, they became known for spiritual themes and use of Amharic lyrics that reflected Rastafarian doctrine. After their initial run, they regrouped […]
Dillinger — aka Lester Bullocks (born June 25, 1953) — is a Jamaican reggae artist and deejay who issued a string of singles on assorted Kingston small-press labels in 1973 and 1974, followed by the album Ready Natty Dreadie on Studio One in 1975. A pair of albums appeared on Island Records in 1976, followed […]
Fred Locks — aka Stafford Elliot — is a Jamaican reggae artist who released the 1976 Vulcan album Black Star Liners / True Rastaman, followed by two albums with the Creation Steppers on Revelations and Regal. Background Fred Locks was born Stafford Elliott on June 7, 1950, in Kingston, Jamaica. His father played guitar while […]
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” […]
Junior Delahaye is a Jamaican roots-reggae artist who released the 1982 album Reggae on Wackies. Background Junior Delahaye first recorded under his real name, Noel Delahaye, at Wackies House of Music, a Bronx reggae studio run by producer and fellow Kingston transplant Lloyd “Bullwackie” Barnes. Delahaye and Bullwackie cut a version of “Tribal War,” a […]
Trinity — aka Wade Brammer — is a Jamaican reggae toaster and deejay who emerged with the 1977 albums Shanty Town Determination and Three Piece Suit. He made ten further albums through 1983 and co-headed titles with Dillinger, the Mighty Diamonds, and Ranking Trevor. Background Trinity was born Wade Brammer on February 10, 1954, in […]
Third World are a Jamaican roots-reggae band, established abroad with the 1976–78 Island albums Third World, 96° in the Shade, and Journey to Addis. They scored transatlantic hits with “Now That We Found Love” and the 1981/82 CBS singles “Try Jah Love” and “Dancing on the Floor (Hooked on Love).” They embraced synth-funk on the […]
Linton Kwesi Johnson (born Aug. 24, 1952) is a Jamaican dub-reggae artist who adopted the moniker Poet and the Roots for the 1978 Front Line release Dread Beat an’ Blood, followed by four Island albums through 1984 under his full name. Background Linton Kwesi Johnson was born Linton Johnson on Aug. 24, 1952, in Chapelton, […]
Keith Hudson — aka Lloyd Lindburg Hudson (March 18, 1946 — Nov. 14, 1984) — was a Jamaican dub/funk-reggae artist and deejay who released a string of singles on Imbidimts at the start of the 1970s, followed by a run of albums on Joint International and other labels between 1972 and 1982, including the popular […]
I Roy — aka Roy Samuel Reid (June 28, 1944 — Nov. 27, 1999) — was a Jamaican dub/reggae artist and deejay who released three albums in 1973/74 on Trojan Horse, followed by 22 further titles over the next two decades on assorted labels, including the 1976 Virgin album Musical Shark Attack. Background I-Roy was […]
Horace Andy is a Jamaican dub/roots-reggae artist who cut multiple Kingston singles before the 1972 Studio One release Skylarking. He made forty-plus albums across four decades, including the 1977 In the Light twofer on Hungry Town. Background Horace Andy was born Horace Keith Hinds on February 19, 1951, in Allman Town, Kingston, Jamaica. His cousin, […]
Dennis Brown (Feb. 1, 1957 — July 1, 1999) was a Jamaican reggae singer and songwriter who emerged with the 1970/71 Studio One albums No Man Is an Island and If I Follow My Heart, followed by five albums through 1975 on assorted labels. In 1977, he released the popular album Wolf & Leopards on […]
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 […]
Delroy Washington (November 5, 1952 — March 27, 2020) was a Jamaican-born, London-based reggae singer who cut multiple Trojan singles and the 1976/77 Virgin albums I Sus and Rasta. Background Delroy Washington was born on November 5, 1952, in Savanna-la-Mar, Westmoreland, Jamaica. He grew up around Burnettville and Grange Hill in the household of a […]
The Congos were a Jamaican reggae combo behind the 1977 album Heart of the Congos on Black Art, followed by the 1979 Congo Ashanty titles Congo and Image of Africa and the 1981 Go-Feet release Face the Music. Members: Ashanti Roy [Roydel Johnson] (tenor vocals), Cedric Myton (vocals) Background The Congos formed around 1975 in […]
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” […]
Augustus Pablo (June 21, 1954 — May 18, 1999) was a Jamaican dub/reggae melodica player, keyboardist, and deejay who released a handful of singles on Aquarius, Ackee, and Hot Stuff during the early 1970s, followed by a run of albums on Nationwide, Message, Greensleeves, and numerous other labels during the last quarter of the 20th […]
Earth, Roots & Water were a Canadian roots-reggae band behind the 1977 album Innocent Youths on Summer Records. Members: Adrian “Homer” Miller (vocals), Anthony “Base” Hibbert (bass), Colin “Zuba” Suban (drums), Matt Shelley (guitar), and Tony “KB” Moore (keyboards) Background Earth, Roots & Water formed in the mid-1970s in Malton, Ontario, when Jamaican producer Keith […]
Matumbi was an English reggae/lovers-rock band from London that cut seven 1973–77 singles and the 1978–81 EMI/Harvest albums Seven Seals, Point of View, and Matumbi. Their final album, Testify, appeared in 1982 on Solid Groove Records. Members: Tex Dixon (vocals), Euton “Fergus” Jones (drums, percussion), Errol Pottinger (guitar, vocals), Eaton “Jah” Blake (bass), Lannie “Bevin” […]
Pablo Gad is a Jamaican-English reggae musician who cut two 1977 singles on Caribbean, followed by five 1978–80 singles on the Rockers/Vibrations imprints of Burning Sounds Recordings Ltd. As an album artist, he made the 1979 Celluloid album Trafalgar Square and the 1980 FORM release Hard Times. Background Pablo Gad was born in Jamaica, where […]
