Don Carlos (musician)
Encyclopedia
Don Carlos a.k.a. Don McCarlos (born Ervin Spencer, 29 June 1952) is a Jamaican reggae
singer and composer.
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 Uhuru
, The Jays, Junior Reid
and King Jammy
. Don Carlos began singing in 1973 as a member of Black Uhuru
. He sang alongside Garth Dennis and Derrick Simpson the leader of the trio. Don played a key role in the recordings of the highly acclaimed Love Crisis album, produced by Prince Jammy in 1977 which was later re-released as The Black Sounds of Freedom. After some time finding his sound as a soloist Carlos blossomed in May 1981 releasing the heavy cultural roots album Suffering for Negus Roots.
He has since become very popular in the live scene and has released twelve solo albums working alongside Gold, his backup vocalist and co writer. Some of his most notable albums include Harvest Time, Day to Day Living and Them Never Know a Natty Dread were released in 1982. Spread Out also released in 1982 commonly known now as Laser Beam had many fan favorites.
Though Carlos' solo peak period was during the 80's dance hall craze he still maintains his roots flavor and awesome melodies to this day. In 1988 he recorded Jingle Bells
with Glenice Spenser on A Reggae Christmas on RAS Records. In 1990 he re-united as the lead vocal for a Black Uhuru album. Don continues to grow in popularity and still performs all over the world.
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...
singer and composer.
Biography
He was born and raised in Western Kingston, JamaicaKingston, 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 a very deprived district known as Waterhouse out of which came many talented reggae musicians. One such artist was King Tubby
King Tubby
King Tubby was a Jamaican electronics and sound engineer, known primarily for his influence on the development of dub in the 1960s and 1970s...
, one of the founders of Black Uhuru
Black Uhuru
Black Uhuru are a Jamaican reggae group formed in 1972, initially as Uhuru . The group has undergone several line-up changes over the years, with Duckie Simpson always maintaining group control and ownership...
, The Jays, 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:...
and King Jammy
King Jammy
Lloyd James , better known as Prince Jammy or King Jammy, is a dub mixer and record producer. He began his musical career as a dub master at King Tubby's recording studio...
. Don Carlos began singing in 1973 as a member of Black Uhuru
Black Uhuru
Black Uhuru are a Jamaican reggae group formed in 1972, initially as Uhuru . The group has undergone several line-up changes over the years, with Duckie Simpson always maintaining group control and ownership...
. He sang alongside Garth Dennis and Derrick Simpson the leader of the trio. Don played a key role in the recordings of the highly acclaimed Love Crisis album, produced by Prince Jammy in 1977 which was later re-released as The Black Sounds of Freedom. After some time finding his sound as a soloist Carlos blossomed in May 1981 releasing the heavy cultural roots album Suffering for Negus Roots.
He has since become very popular in the live scene and has released twelve solo albums working alongside Gold, his backup vocalist and co writer. Some of his most notable albums include Harvest Time, Day to Day Living and Them Never Know a Natty Dread were released in 1982. Spread Out also released in 1982 commonly known now as Laser Beam had many fan favorites.
Though Carlos' solo peak period was during the 80's dance hall craze he still maintains his roots flavor and awesome melodies to this day. In 1988 he recorded Jingle Bells
Jingle Bells
"Jingle Bells" is one of the best-known and commonly sung winter songs in the world. It was written by James Lord Pierpont and published under the title "One Horse Open Sleigh" in the autumn of 1857...
with Glenice Spenser on A Reggae Christmas on RAS Records. In 1990 he re-united as the lead vocal for a Black Uhuru album. Don continues to grow in popularity and still performs all over the world.