Black Uhuru
Encyclopedia
Black Uhuru are a Jamaica
n reggae
group formed in 1972, initially as Uhuru (Swahili
for 'freedom'). The group has undergone several line-up changes over the years, with Duckie Simpson always maintaining group control and ownership. Their album Anthem
, featuring the hit single "What is Life?" won the first ever Grammy Award
for Best Reggae Album in 1985.
in 1972, initially called simply "Uhuru" (the Swahili
word for freedom), with a line-up of Derrick "Duckie" Gong Simpson,founder and CEO, Garth Dennis,and lastly Don Carlos
Their first release was a cover version
of Curtis Mayfield
's "Romancing to the Folk Song", which was followed by "Time is on Our Side"; Neither song was a success and they split up, with Carlos pursuing a solo career, as did Dennis, before joining The Wailing Souls
. Simpson also briefly worked with the Wailing Souls, before forming a new version of Uhuru with Errol Nelson (of The Jayes) and Michael Rose, the group now taking the name Black Sounds Uhuru. Their Prince Jammy-produced debut album, Love Crisis, was released in 1977.
Nelson returned to The Jayes in late 1977, and was replaced the following year by Sandra "Puma" Jones
, a social worker from South Carolina
, USA
, who had previously worked as a dancer for Ras Michael
& the Sons of Negus, and as a member of the group Mama Africa. The band now took on their most familiar name, Black Uhuru. The group began working extensively with Sly & Robbie, and recorded a string of successful singles, including "General Penitentiary" a re-recording of Rose's solo hit "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner", and "Shine Eye Gal", which featured guest guitarist Keith Richards
. The group's second album Showcase drew on these singles, and the band cemented their status with a performance at the 1980 Reggae Sunsplash festival. They planned to record an album with Dennis Brown
producing, but this didn't materialize, although two singles, "Wood for My Fire" and "Rent Man", were released. They were signed by Island Records
in 1980, who issued the Sinsemilla
album to an international audience in 1981. The follow-up, Red
reached number 28 in the UK Albums Chart
in 1981, Chill Out
reached number 38 a year later, and they toured with The Rolling Stones
. In 1989, their album Red was ranked #23 on Rolling Stone
magazine's list of the "100 greatest albums of the 1980s." Their next studio album, Anthem
, appeared in 1984, and won the first ever Grammy Award
for Best Reggae Album the following year.
Despite this success, Rose left the group to resume his solo career after falling out with Simpson, and was easily replaced by Junior Reid
. They signed to RAS Records
and moved in a different direction with the album Brutal and the single "The Great Train Robbery", the latter recorded with New York dance producer Arthur Baker
. Although these alienated much of their roots reggae following, Brutal was nominated for a Grammy and "The Great Train Robbery" gave them their second UK hit single, reaching number 62. The band began to disintegrate; Their next album with Jammy was started but never completed, they stopped working with Sly & Robbie, and Jones left the band due to ill health (she died in 1990 from cancer). Her replacement was Janet "Olafunke" Reid, and the group returned in 1988 with the Positive album. Reid was unable to obtain a US visa, and unable to tour&unfortunately left the band, followed shortly by Olafunke.
Black Uhuru, belonging to Simpson alone, had been booked to play at an awards ceremony in California, which coincidentally had old original members Don Carlos and Garth Dennis on the bill, and they took the opportunity to reunite the original line-up for a performance at the event, and decided to continue afterwards. The Now album followed in 1991, and was also nominated for a Grammy. In 1996 the group fragmented again, with Simpson leaving to tour Europe with dub poet Yasus Afari
,because the name Black Uhuru, which belongs to Duckie Simpson,while Carlos and Dennis also toured the US under the same name. A legal battle over the name followed, won by Simpson in 1997.Don Carlos owes Simpson $250,000.US for illegally using the name of Black Uhuru,determined by a US court judge in Los Angeles,Ca. Carlos resumed his solo career, while Simpson formed a new line-up of Black Uhuru with Andrew Bees and Jennifer Connally. Only one album, Dynasty, was released before Bees went back to pursue his solo career in 2003.
In February 2004, it was announced in the Jamaican press that Simpson and Michael Rose had reunited under the name "Black Uhuru feat. Michael Rose". Together with a female backing singer named Kay Starr, they released a single, "Dollars", and performed at several concerts including "Western Consciousness 2004" on April 28 in Jamaica, of which a live video was released shortly thereafter. A new album was reported to be in progress, although it was never released. The group toured throughout Europe
in 2006.
In 2008, Simpson took on lead vocal duties, and the group recorded a new album, As The World Turns, with guest appearances from Latin superstars Aterciopelados and Jarabe De Palo, although this was still unreleased a year later. A 25th Anniversary Edition DVD of their Live In London concert was released in June 2008.
In 2011,now with New vital&loyal blood has joined the Legendary group,Derrick "Duckie" Simpson,Andrew Bees&lovely statuesque' Kaye Starr,are touring the US first time since 2002 with successful shows&festivals Worldwide.The New Black Uhuru band is vital&better than ever with accomplished international&professional musicians,giving amazing performances&delighting fans worldwide.Black Uhuru is back on top with the fresh revival.
Duckie has a new Cd soon to be out with many new hits waiting to thrill fans.
video game soundtrack, on the fictitious radio station K-Jah West. The song "Sponji Reggae" was featured briefly on season two of The Cosby Show
, when Denise Huxtable and her boyfriend were watching the music video on TV.
Group: Derek "Duckie" Simpson, Michael Rose, Sandra "Puma" Jones, Sly Dunbar, Robbie Shakespeare
Group: Derrick "Duckie" Simpson, Delroy "Junior" Reid, Sandra "Puma" Jones
Group: Derrick "Duckie" Simpson, Delroy "Junior" Reid, Olafunke
Group: Derrick "Duckie" Simpson, Garth Dennis, Don Carlos
Group: Derrick "Duckie" Simpson, Jenifah Nyah, Andrew Bees
Live / Dub albums:
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
n reggae
Reggae
Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...
group formed in 1972, initially as Uhuru (Swahili
Swahili language
Swahili or Kiswahili is a Bantu language spoken by various ethnic groups that inhabit several large stretches of the Mozambique Channel coastline from northern Kenya to northern Mozambique, including the Comoro Islands. It is also spoken by ethnic minority groups in Somalia...
for 'freedom'). The group has undergone several line-up changes over the years, with Duckie Simpson always maintaining group control and ownership. Their album Anthem
Anthem (Black Uhuru album)
Anthem is an album by Black Uhuru, released in 1984. In 1985, the album won Black Uhuru the Grammy Award for Best Reggae Recording.-Reception:-Track listing:...
, featuring the hit single "What is Life?" won the first ever Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
for Best Reggae Album in 1985.
History
The group formed in the Waterhouse district of KingstonKingston, Jamaica
Kingston is the capital and largest city of Jamaica, located on the southeastern coast of the island. It faces a natural harbour protected by the Palisadoes, a long sand spit which connects the town of Port Royal and the Norman Manley International Airport to the rest of the island...
in 1972, initially called simply "Uhuru" (the Swahili
Swahili language
Swahili or Kiswahili is a Bantu language spoken by various ethnic groups that inhabit several large stretches of the Mozambique Channel coastline from northern Kenya to northern Mozambique, including the Comoro Islands. It is also spoken by ethnic minority groups in Somalia...
word for freedom), with a line-up of Derrick "Duckie" Gong Simpson,founder and CEO, Garth Dennis,and lastly Don Carlos
Don Carlos (musician)
Don Carlos a.k.a. Don McCarlos is a Jamaican reggae singer and composer.-Biography:He was born and raised in Western Kingston, Jamaica in a very deprived district known as Waterhouse out of which came many talented reggae musicians. One such artist was King Tubby, one of the founders of Black...
Their first release was a cover version
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
of Curtis Mayfield
Curtis Mayfield
Curtis Lee Mayfield was an American soul, R&B, and funk singer, songwriter, and record producer.He is best known for his anthemic music with The Impressions during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960's and for composing the soundtrack to the blaxploitation film Super Fly, Mayfield is highly...
's "Romancing to the Folk Song", which was followed by "Time is on Our Side"; Neither song was a success and they split up, with Carlos pursuing a solo career, as did Dennis, before joining The Wailing Souls
The Wailing Souls
The Wailing Souls are a Jamaican reggae vocal group still recording and performing live, whose origins date back to the 1960s.-Career:They have recorded with many top Jamaican record producers including Coxsone Dodd of Studio One, Lloyd "King Jammy" James, Henry "Junjo" Lawes, Delroy Wilson and...
. Simpson also briefly worked with the Wailing Souls, before forming a new version of Uhuru with Errol Nelson (of The Jayes) and Michael Rose, the group now taking the name Black Sounds Uhuru. Their Prince Jammy-produced debut album, Love Crisis, was released in 1977.
Nelson returned to The Jayes in late 1977, and was replaced the following year by Sandra "Puma" Jones
Puma Jones
Sandra "Puma" Jones was an American singer, best known for her involvement with the Grammy Award-winning group, Black Uhuru....
, a social worker from South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, who had previously worked as a dancer for Ras Michael
Ras Michael
Ras Michael is a Jamaican reggae singer and Nyabinghi specialist. He also performs under the name of Dadawah.-Biography:...
& the Sons of Negus, and as a member of the group Mama Africa. The band now took on their most familiar name, Black Uhuru. The group began working extensively with Sly & Robbie, and recorded a string of successful singles, including "General Penitentiary" a re-recording of Rose's solo hit "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner", and "Shine Eye Gal", which featured guest guitarist Keith Richards
Keith Richards
Keith Richards is an English musician, songwriter, and founding member of the Rolling Stones. Rolling Stone magazine said Richards had created "rock's greatest single body of riffs", and placed him as the "10th greatest guitarist of all time." Fourteen songs written by Richards and songwriting...
. The group's second album Showcase drew on these singles, and the band cemented their status with a performance at the 1980 Reggae Sunsplash festival. They planned to record an album with Dennis Brown
Dennis Brown
Dennis Emmanuel Brown was a Jamaican reggae singer. During his prolific career, which began in the late 1960s when he was aged eleven, he recorded more than 75 albums and was one of the major stars of lovers rock, a sub-genre of reggae...
producing, but this didn't materialize, although two singles, "Wood for My Fire" and "Rent Man", were released. They were signed by Island Records
Island Records
Island Records is a record label that was founded by Chris Blackwell in Jamaica. It was based in the United Kingdom for many years and is now owned by Universal Music Group...
in 1980, who issued the Sinsemilla
Sinsemilla (album)
Sinsemilla is the third album by Jamaican Reggae band Black Uhuru, released in on the Island Records subsidiary Mango.-Track listing:-Personnel:*Michael Rose - lead vocals*Derrick "Duckie" Simpson - harmony vocals*Puma Jones - harmony vocals...
album to an international audience in 1981. The follow-up, Red
Red (Black Uhuru album)
Red is an 1981 album by the Jamaican reggae band Black Uhuru. The line-up of the band changed many times during its 16 years and this is the second release for the lineup of Michael Rose, Sandra "Puma" Jones and Derek "Duckie" Simpson...
reached number 28 in the UK Albums Chart
UK Albums Chart
The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart...
in 1981, Chill Out
Chill Out (Black Uhuru album)
Chill Out is an album by reggae band Black Uhuru, released in 1982 . The album was recorded at Channel One Studios in Jamaica and produced by Sly & Robbie...
reached number 38 a year later, and they toured with The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones are an English rock band, formed in London in April 1962 by Brian Jones , Ian Stewart , Mick Jagger , and Keith Richards . Bassist Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts completed the early line-up...
. In 1989, their album Red was ranked #23 on Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
magazine's list of the "100 greatest albums of the 1980s." Their next studio album, Anthem
Anthem (Black Uhuru album)
Anthem is an album by Black Uhuru, released in 1984. In 1985, the album won Black Uhuru the Grammy Award for Best Reggae Recording.-Reception:-Track listing:...
, appeared in 1984, and won the first ever Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
for Best Reggae Album the following year.
Despite this success, Rose left the group to resume his solo career after falling out with Simpson, and was easily replaced by Junior Reid
Junior Reid
Delroy "Junior" Reid is a Jamaican reggae and dancehall musician, best known for the songs "One Blood" and "Funny Man", as well as being the man that replaced Michael Rose as lead vocalist for Black Uhuru.-Biography:...
. They signed to RAS Records
RAS Records
RAS Records, also known as Real Authentic Sound, is a reggae record label.-History:RAS Records was founded in 1979 by Doctor Dread. In his travels to Jamaica he created a network within the reggae artist community there. By the early to mid 1980s RAS had signed artists such as Black Uhuru, Inner...
and moved in a different direction with the album Brutal and the single "The Great Train Robbery", the latter recorded with New York dance producer Arthur Baker
Arthur Baker (musician)
Arthur Baker is an American record producer and DJ best known for his work with hip hop artists like Afrika Bambaataa, Planet Patrol, and the British group New Order.-Early career:...
. Although these alienated much of their roots reggae following, Brutal was nominated for a Grammy and "The Great Train Robbery" gave them their second UK hit single, reaching number 62. The band began to disintegrate; Their next album with Jammy was started but never completed, they stopped working with Sly & Robbie, and Jones left the band due to ill health (she died in 1990 from cancer). Her replacement was Janet "Olafunke" Reid, and the group returned in 1988 with the Positive album. Reid was unable to obtain a US visa, and unable to tour&unfortunately left the band, followed shortly by Olafunke.
Black Uhuru, belonging to Simpson alone, had been booked to play at an awards ceremony in California, which coincidentally had old original members Don Carlos and Garth Dennis on the bill, and they took the opportunity to reunite the original line-up for a performance at the event, and decided to continue afterwards. The Now album followed in 1991, and was also nominated for a Grammy. In 1996 the group fragmented again, with Simpson leaving to tour Europe with dub poet Yasus Afari
Yasus Afari
Yasus Afari is a Jamaican dub poet.-Biography:Sinclair was a childhood friend of Garnett Silk and collaborated with Silk on many of his best-selling recordings. He attended St...
,because the name Black Uhuru, which belongs to Duckie Simpson,while Carlos and Dennis also toured the US under the same name. A legal battle over the name followed, won by Simpson in 1997.Don Carlos owes Simpson $250,000.US for illegally using the name of Black Uhuru,determined by a US court judge in Los Angeles,Ca. Carlos resumed his solo career, while Simpson formed a new line-up of Black Uhuru with Andrew Bees and Jennifer Connally. Only one album, Dynasty, was released before Bees went back to pursue his solo career in 2003.
In February 2004, it was announced in the Jamaican press that Simpson and Michael Rose had reunited under the name "Black Uhuru feat. Michael Rose". Together with a female backing singer named Kay Starr, they released a single, "Dollars", and performed at several concerts including "Western Consciousness 2004" on April 28 in Jamaica, of which a live video was released shortly thereafter. A new album was reported to be in progress, although it was never released. The group toured throughout Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
in 2006.
In 2008, Simpson took on lead vocal duties, and the group recorded a new album, As The World Turns, with guest appearances from Latin superstars Aterciopelados and Jarabe De Palo, although this was still unreleased a year later. A 25th Anniversary Edition DVD of their Live In London concert was released in June 2008.
In 2011,now with New vital&loyal blood has joined the Legendary group,Derrick "Duckie" Simpson,Andrew Bees&lovely statuesque' Kaye Starr,are touring the US first time since 2002 with successful shows&festivals Worldwide.The New Black Uhuru band is vital&better than ever with accomplished international&professional musicians,giving amazing performances&delighting fans worldwide.Black Uhuru is back on top with the fresh revival.
Duckie has a new Cd soon to be out with many new hits waiting to thrill fans.
Appearances in other media
Black Uhuru's song "Great Train Robbery" from the album Brutal appears in the Grand Theft Auto: San AndreasGrand Theft Auto: San Andreas
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is a 2004 open world action video game developed by British games developer Rockstar North and published by Rockstar Games. It is the third 3D game in the Grand Theft Auto video game franchise, the fifth original console release and eighth game overall...
video game soundtrack, on the fictitious radio station K-Jah West. The song "Sponji Reggae" was featured briefly on season two of The Cosby Show
The Cosby Show
The Cosby Show is an American television situation comedy starring Bill Cosby, which aired for eight seasons on NBC from September 20, 1984 until April 30, 1992...
, when Denise Huxtable and her boyfriend were watching the music video on TV.
Discography
Group: Derrick "Duckie" Simpson, Michael Rose, Errol "Tarzan" Nelson, Don Carlos- 1977 – Love Crisis'
- 1981 – Black Sounds of Freedom ("Love Crisis" reedition)
Group: Derek "Duckie" Simpson, Michael Rose, Sandra "Puma" Jones, Sly Dunbar, Robbie Shakespeare
- 1979 – Showcase
- 1980 – Black Uhuru ("Showcase" reedition)
- 1980 – SinsemillaSinsemilla (album)Sinsemilla is the third album by Jamaican Reggae band Black Uhuru, released in on the Island Records subsidiary Mango.-Track listing:-Personnel:*Michael Rose - lead vocals*Derrick "Duckie" Simpson - harmony vocals*Puma Jones - harmony vocals...
- 1981 – RedRed (Black Uhuru album)Red is an 1981 album by the Jamaican reggae band Black Uhuru. The line-up of the band changed many times during its 16 years and this is the second release for the lineup of Michael Rose, Sandra "Puma" Jones and Derek "Duckie" Simpson...
- 1982 – Chill OutChill Out (Black Uhuru album)Chill Out is an album by reggae band Black Uhuru, released in 1982 . The album was recorded at Channel One Studios in Jamaica and produced by Sly & Robbie...
- 1983 – Guess Who's Coming To DinnerGuess Who's Coming to Dinner (album)Guess Who's Coming to Dinner is the title of a reggae album by Black Uhuru. The album was first released under the title Black Uhuru in 1980, and revamped as Guess Who's Coming to Dinner in 1983...
("Black Uhuru" reedition) - 1983 – AnthemAnthem (Black Uhuru album)Anthem is an album by Black Uhuru, released in 1984. In 1985, the album won Black Uhuru the Grammy Award for Best Reggae Recording.-Reception:-Track listing:...
- 1985 – Reggae Greats (Compilation)
Group: Derrick "Duckie" Simpson, Delroy "Junior" Reid, Sandra "Puma" Jones
- 1986 – Brutal
Group: Derrick "Duckie" Simpson, Delroy "Junior" Reid, Olafunke
- 1987 – Positive
Group: Derrick "Duckie" Simpson, Garth Dennis, Don Carlos
- 1990 – Now
- 1991 – Iron Storm
- 1993 – Mystical truth
- 1994 – Strongg
Group: Derrick "Duckie" Simpson, Jenifah Nyah, Andrew Bees
- 1998 – Unification
- 2001 – Dynasty
Live / Dub albums:
- 1982 – Uhuru in Dub
- 1982 – Tear It Up - Live (album and video)
- 1983 – The Dub Factor
- 1984 – Live
- 1986 – Brutal Dub
- 1987 – The Positive Dub
- 1988 – Live In New York City
- 1990 – Now Dub
- 1990 – Love Dub ("Uhuru In Dub" reedition)
- 1992 – Iron Storm Dub
- 1993 – Mystical Truth Dub
- 1994 – Strongg Dubb
- 2000 – Live 1984
- 2001 – In Dub
- 2001 – Dubbin'It Live (summer 2001, at Paléo Festival)