Knowledge (band)
Encyclopedia
Knowledge were a Jamaica
n roots reggae
group, best known for their work in the late 1970s and early 1980s, which saw them sign to A&M Records
.
, in 1974, the line-up including Anthony Doyley (lead vocals and main songwriter), Delroy Fowlin (vocals)aka Bronco Knowledge, Earl MacFarlane (vocals), Michael Smith (guitar), and Michael Samuels (vocals). Doyley had previously been a member of The Classics, who had recorded for Lee "Scratch" Perry in the late 1960s. Paul Freeman joined the group later in their career. They recorded for deejay
and producer
Tapper Zukie
, first on the "Make Faith" single, with several releases on his "Stars" label. These led to a major label deal with A&M
, who issued the group's debut album, Hail Dread (produced by Zukie), in 1978. The deal with A&M proved to be short-lived, with the group's second album, Judgement, issued on the Roach label in 1980. Samuels subsequently embarked on a solo career, and Freeman set up his own 'Sunshine' label, along with Trevor "Leggo Beast" Douglas.
In the early 1980s, the group worked with producer Roy Cousins
, achieving reggae hits with "Na Buy Apartheid", "Chant Rasta Man", and "Fire Burn" on Cousins' Tamoki-Wambesi label. They used musicians including keyboard player Pablove Black
, Winston Wright, Leroy "Horsemouth" Wallace, and Sowell Radics. These recordings were collected on the Stumbling Block album in 1982.
The group split up, with Doyley emigrating to England. He died on 26 February 2011, aged 55.
Delroy Fowlin also emigrated to England in 2001, and released his own albums, Tell Me Something and More Knowledge for the People.
Compilations:
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 roots reggae
Roots reggae
Roots reggae is a subgenre of reggae that deals with the everyday lives and aspirations of the artists concerned, including the spiritual side of Rastafari and with the honoring of God, called Jah by rastafarians. It also is identified with the life of the ghetto sufferer, and the rural poor...
group, best known for their work in the late 1970s and early 1980s, which saw them sign to A&M Records
A&M Records
A&M Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group that operates under the mantle of its Interscope-Geffen-A&M division.-Beginnings:...
.
History
The group formed in the Rema area 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 1974, the line-up including Anthony Doyley (lead vocals and main songwriter), Delroy Fowlin (vocals)aka Bronco Knowledge, Earl MacFarlane (vocals), Michael Smith (guitar), and Michael Samuels (vocals). Doyley had previously been a member of The Classics, who had recorded for Lee "Scratch" Perry in the late 1960s. Paul Freeman joined the group later in their career. They recorded for deejay
Deejay
A deejay is a reggae or dancehall musician who sings and toasts to an instrumental riddim .Deejays are not to be confused with disc jockeys from other music genres like hip-hop, where they select and play music. Dancehall/reggae DJs who select riddims to play are called selectors...
and producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
Tapper Zukie
Tapper Zukie
Tapper Zukie is a reggae deejay and producer.-Biography:Tapper was the nickname given to him by his grandmother in his youth, while Zukie was a name that came from his friends' association as a young boy - their gang was called 'The Zukies'.In 1973 his mother, concerned with Zukie's tendency to...
, first on the "Make Faith" single, with several releases on his "Stars" label. These led to a major label deal with A&M
A&M Records
A&M Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group that operates under the mantle of its Interscope-Geffen-A&M division.-Beginnings:...
, who issued the group's debut album, Hail Dread (produced by Zukie), in 1978. The deal with A&M proved to be short-lived, with the group's second album, Judgement, issued on the Roach label in 1980. Samuels subsequently embarked on a solo career, and Freeman set up his own 'Sunshine' label, along with Trevor "Leggo Beast" Douglas.
In the early 1980s, the group worked with producer Roy Cousins
Roy Cousins
Roy Cousins is a reggae singer, producer, and record label owner, known for his work as leader of The Royals, his productions of artists such as Charlie Chaplin, Prince Far I, and Cornell Campbell, and his record labels such as Tamoki Wambesi.-Biography:Cousins worked for the Jamaican Post Office...
, achieving reggae hits with "Na Buy Apartheid", "Chant Rasta Man", and "Fire Burn" on Cousins' Tamoki-Wambesi label. They used musicians including keyboard player Pablove Black
Pablove Black
Pablove Black is a Jamaican reggae musician , arranger, composer, bandleader, vocalist and producer.-Biography:...
, Winston Wright, Leroy "Horsemouth" Wallace, and Sowell Radics. These recordings were collected on the Stumbling Block album in 1982.
The group split up, with Doyley emigrating to England. He died on 26 February 2011, aged 55.
Delroy Fowlin also emigrated to England in 2001, and released his own albums, Tell Me Something and More Knowledge for the People.
Albums
- Hail Dread (1978) A&MA&M RecordsA&M Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group that operates under the mantle of its Interscope-Geffen-A&M division.-Beginnings:...
, reissued under the title Word, Sound and Power (1978) Tappa - Judgement (1980) Roach
- Stumbling Block (1982) Tamoki-Wambesi (reissued 1995)
Compilations:
- Straight Outta Trenchtown: 1975-1980 (2002) Makasound
- Kebra-Nagast (2005), Tamoki-Wambesi-Dove
- Rasta Don't Take Bribe (2006) Tamoki-Wambesi-Dove
External links
- Knowledge at Roots Archives