Soul Syndicate
Encyclopedia
Soul Syndicate, originally called the Rhythm Raiders, were one of the top reggae
session bands
in Jamaica
from the early 1970s to the mid-1980s.
recorded for producers such as Keith Hudson
, Winston Holness (under the pseudonym The Observers), Duke Reid
and others on some of the most popular and influential recordings of the era. Core members of the band were guitarist Earl "Chinna" Smith, drummer Carlton "Santa" Davis, bassist and founder of Soul Syndicate George "Fully" Fullwood, rhythm guitarist Tony Chin and keyboard player Bernard "Touter" Harvey, later with Keith Sterling on keyboards. Other members at various times included drummer Leroy "Horsemouth" Wallace, guitarist Cleon Douglas, and keyboard players Earl Lindo
and Tyrone Downie
. Freddie McGregor
was at one time the band's featured vocalist. The nucleus of the band also recorded under the name The Agrovators for Bunny Lee
. As well as playing on countless releases backing some of Jamaica's top vocalists, including Dennis Brown
and Gregory Isaacs
, they also released several albums credited to the band. Harvey later became a member of The Wailers Band.
The Soul Syndicate's "Stalag 17" and "Taxi" bass lines, was among many bass lines created by George "Fully" Fullwood ,a instrumental, featuring Ansell Collins
on organ, was much-versioned, providing the basis for hits over the two decades that followed for Big Youth
, Horace Andy
, Augustus Pablo
, Frankie Paul
, General Echo
, Tenor Saw
and others.
Compilations:
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...
session bands
Session musician
Session musicians are instrumental and vocal performers, musicians, who are available to work with others at live performances or recording sessions. Usually such musicians are not permanent members of a musical ensemble and often do not achieve fame in their own right as soloists or bandleaders...
in Jamaica
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...
from the early 1970s to the mid-1980s.
History
In the first half of the 1970s the band from the Greenwich Farm 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...
recorded for producers such as Keith Hudson
Keith Hudson
Keith Hudson aka the "Dark Prince of Reggae" , was a Jamaican reggae artist and record producer.He is known for his influence on the Dub movement.- Biography :...
, Winston Holness (under the pseudonym The Observers), Duke Reid
Duke Reid
Treasure Isle re-directs here. For the game, see Treasure Isle .Arthur "Duke" Reid, CD was a Jamaican record producer, DJ and label owner....
and others on some of the most popular and influential recordings of the era. Core members of the band were guitarist Earl "Chinna" Smith, drummer Carlton "Santa" Davis, bassist and founder of Soul Syndicate George "Fully" Fullwood, rhythm guitarist Tony Chin and keyboard player Bernard "Touter" Harvey, later with Keith Sterling on keyboards. Other members at various times included drummer Leroy "Horsemouth" Wallace, guitarist Cleon Douglas, and keyboard players Earl Lindo
Earl Lindo
Earl "Wire" Lindo, b. 7 January 1953 is a Jamaican reggae musician. He is a member of The Wailers and has collaborated with numerous reggae artists including Burning Spear.-Biography:...
and Tyrone Downie
Tyrone Downie
Tyrone Downie is a Jamaican keyboardist/pianist who is most known for his involvement as a member of Bob Marley and The Wailers. He studied at Kingston College and joined the wailers in the mid-1970s, making his recording début with the band on Rastaman Vibration, having previously been a member of...
. Freddie McGregor
Freddie McGregor
Freddie McGregor has been variously a singer, musician and producer. According to Allmusic he is one of reggae's most durable and soulful singers, with a steady career that started in the 1960s, when he was just seven years old.-Biography:In 1963 he joined with Ernest Wilson and Peter Austin to...
was at one time the band's featured vocalist. The nucleus of the band also recorded under the name The Agrovators for Bunny Lee
Bunny Lee
Edward O'Sullivan Lee, better known as Bunny "Striker" Lee is a prominent, prolific and successful record producer best known for his work in the 1960s and 1970s.-Biography:...
. As well as playing on countless releases backing some of Jamaica's top vocalists, including 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...
and Gregory Isaacs
Gregory Isaacs
Gregory Anthony Isaacs was a Jamaican reggae musician. Milo Miles, writing in the New York Times, described Isaacs as "the most exquisite vocalist in reggae". His nicknames include Cool Ruler and Lonely Lover....
, they also released several albums credited to the band. Harvey later became a member of The Wailers Band.
The Soul Syndicate's "Stalag 17" and "Taxi" bass lines, was among many bass lines created by George "Fully" Fullwood ,a instrumental, featuring Ansell Collins
Ansell Collins
Ansell Collins is a Jamaican keyboard player, producer, and occasional singer. Born 1949 in Kingston, Jamaica.-Biography:...
on organ, was much-versioned, providing the basis for hits over the two decades that followed for Big Youth
Big Youth
Manley Augustus Buchanan , better known as Big Youth , is a Jamaican deejay, mostly known for his work during the 1970s....
, Horace Andy
Horace Andy
Horace Andy is a roots reggae songwriter and singer, known for his distinctive vocals and hit songs such as "Government Land", "Angel", "Five Man Army" and a cover version of "Ain't No Sunshine"....
, Augustus Pablo
Augustus Pablo
Horace Swaby , known as Augustus Pablo, was a Jamaican roots reggae and dub record producer, melodica player and keyboardist, active from the 1970s onwards. He popularized the use of the melodica in reggae music...
, Frankie Paul
Frankie Paul
Paul Blake , better known as Frankie Paul, is one of Jamaica's best-loved and popular dancehall reggae artists. Born blind, he has been dubbed by some 'The Jamaican Stevie Wonder'.-Biography:...
, General Echo
General Echo
General Echo aka Ranking Slackness, was one of the first reggae deejays to move away from 'cultural' lyrics towards 'slackness' ....
, Tenor Saw
Tenor saw
Tenor Saw was a prominent dancehall singer in the 1980s, and one of the most influential singers of the early digital reggae era...
and others.
Albums
- Harvest Uptown, Famine Downtown (1977) London/Soul Syndicate
- Moodie In Dub Vol 1 (1978) Moodie Music (Black SlateBlack SlateBlack Slate are a reggae band based in the United Kingdom, and formed in 1974. They toured heavily around London and backed Jamaican musicians such as Dennis Brown, Delroy Wilson, and Ken Boothe when they played in the UK...
& The Soul Syndicate) - Was, Is, & Always (1980) High Times/Epiphany
- Roots Radics Meet Soul Syndicate In Dub (198?) Razor Sounds (with Roots RadicsRoots RadicsThe Roots Radics Band was formed in 1978 by bass player Errol "Flabba" Holt and guitarist Eric "Bingy Bunny" Lamont. They were joined by many great musicians. As a combined force the Roots Radics became a well-respected studio and stage band, which dominated the sound in the first half of the 1980s...
) - Friends and Family (1996) Epiphany
Compilations:
- Freedom Sounds In Dub (1996) Blood & Fire (King TubbyKing TubbyKing Tubby was a Jamaican electronics and sound engineer, known primarily for his influence on the development of dub in the 1960s and 1970s...
& The Soul Syndicate) - Dub Classics (2006) Jamaican Recordings
External links
- Legendary Jamaican bassist Fully Fullwood web site
- Legendary Jamaican roots reggae guitarist Tony Chin,member of Soul Syndicate,Big Mountain,the Fully Fullwood Band;and more.
- Legendary Jamaican drummer Carlton "Santa" Davis web site
- Soul Syndicate at Roots Archives