The Cables
Encyclopedia
The Cables are a Jamaica
n rocksteady
/reggae
vocal trio led by Keble Drummond, who recorded for Studio One in the late 1960s.
and write his first songs after attending a songwriting course. Drummond had previously been a member of The Sylastians, along with Barry Llewellyn and Earl Morgan of The Heptones
, and Clive Campbell of The Aces, and the Cables were first formed in 1962. After recording a single for Sonia Pottinger
around 1966, they recorded a string of singles for Studio One, and these were later collected on the album What Kind of World in 1970. "What Kind of World" has been described as "a classic...a low-key showcase for some of the most under-rated vocals of the age". Studio One boss Clement "Coxsone" Dodd
built up demand for the "Baby Why" single by limiting it to sound system plays for four months before releasing it. The rhythm tracks were later employed by Dodd on several tracks by other artists. Unsatisifed with the lack of money received from Dodd, The Cables recorded for Harry J while they were still under contract to Studio One, with Drummond altering his voice and the single released under the name "Herbie Carter" (a real singer who recorded for Harry J) to avoid Dodd finding out. By 1970, The Cables had left Studio One. "(Everybody) Feel Alright" was entererd into the Festival Song Contest in 1971, losing out to Eric Donaldson
's "Cherry Oh Baby". They recorded a few more singles for producers such as J.J. Johnson, Harry J, and Bunny Lee
("Come On", recorded with Slim Smith
), but failed to repeat their Studio One success. Drummond left the group to embark on an unsuccessful solo career in 1972, and briefly formed a new group, True Experience, with Trevor Shields and Bobby Ellis, releasing "My Girl" in 1974.
"Baby Why" formed the basis of deejay
tracks from both Dennis Alcapone
and Prince Jazzbo
, and the rhythm was used by The Gladiators
for their 1974 track "Rearrange".
A second album, Baby Why, produced by Harry J, was recorded in 1977, where they were backed by musicians from The In Crowd and Third World
.
The Cables have reformed several times in the years that followed. Drummond earned a living working in a shoe factory during The Cables' peak and moved to the United States
in 1979, later working for American Airlines
.
A third album, also titles Baby Why and credited to "Cables and friends" was issued in 1993, and led to The Cables performing at the 1994 Reggae Sunsplash
festival.
The three original members, along with tenor Owen “Bobby” Dockery, reunited in 2011 to perform at the Sierra Nevada World Music Festival
in California.
Keble Drummond:
Keble Drummond and The Cables:
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 rocksteady
Rocksteady
Rocksteady is a music genre that originated in Jamaica around 1966. A successor to ska and a precursor to reggae, rocksteady was performed by Jamaican vocal harmony groups such as The Gaylads, The Maytals and The Paragons. The term rocksteady comes from a dance style that was mentioned in the Alton...
/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...
vocal trio led by Keble Drummond, who recorded for Studio One in the late 1960s.
History
The group was led by Keble Drummond (sometimes spelled Keeble), whose first name led to the name of the group. Drummond explained "Now, I look at something with a cable and wires, and I say, well, 'Cables' would be a good name because you could send a message across the world, and that's how I came up with the name". He was backed by harmony singers Elbert Stewart (baritone) and Vince Stoddart (tenor). Drummond was taught the basics of guitar by Peter Austim of The ClarendoniansThe Clarendonians
The Clarendonians were a ska and rocksteady vocal group from Jamaica, active from the mid to late 1960s.-History:The Clarendonians were originally Fitzroy "Ernest" Wilson and Peter Austin , the duo coming together in 1963 in their native Clarendon...
and write his first songs after attending a songwriting course. Drummond had previously been a member of The Sylastians, along with Barry Llewellyn and Earl Morgan of The Heptones
The Heptones
The Heptones are a Jamaican rocksteady and reggae vocal trio most active in the 1960s and early 1970s. They were one of the more significant trios of that era, and played a major role in the gradual transition between ska and rocksteady with their three-part harmonies.-History:Leroy Sibbles, Earl...
, and Clive Campbell of The Aces, and the Cables were first formed in 1962. After recording a single for Sonia Pottinger
Sonia Pottinger
Sonia Eloise Pottinger OD was a Jamaican reggae record producer.The most important Jamaican woman involved in music business, Sonia Pottinger was the first female Jamaican record producer and produced artists from the mid 1960s until the mid 1980s.Married to music producer Lyndon Pottinger, she...
around 1966, they recorded a string of singles for Studio One, and these were later collected on the album What Kind of World in 1970. "What Kind of World" has been described as "a classic...a low-key showcase for some of the most under-rated vocals of the age". Studio One boss Clement "Coxsone" Dodd
Coxsone Dodd
Clement Seymour "Sir Coxsone" Dodd, CD was a Jamaican record producer who was influential in the development of ska and reggae in the 1950s, 1960s and beyond...
built up demand for the "Baby Why" single by limiting it to sound system plays for four months before releasing it. The rhythm tracks were later employed by Dodd on several tracks by other artists. Unsatisifed with the lack of money received from Dodd, The Cables recorded for Harry J while they were still under contract to Studio One, with Drummond altering his voice and the single released under the name "Herbie Carter" (a real singer who recorded for Harry J) to avoid Dodd finding out. By 1970, The Cables had left Studio One. "(Everybody) Feel Alright" was entererd into the Festival Song Contest in 1971, losing out to Eric Donaldson
Eric Donaldson
Eric Donaldson is a Jamaican reggae singer-songwriter.-Biography:Donaldson has won the Jamaican Festival Song Competition six times, in 1971, 1977, 1978, 1984, 1993 and 1997. His winning 1971 entry, "Cherry Oh Baby", launched him into the limelight, although he had been composing and recording...
's "Cherry Oh Baby". They recorded a few more singles for producers such as J.J. Johnson, Harry J, and 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:...
("Come On", recorded with Slim Smith
Slim Smith
Slim Smith was a ska, rocksteady and reggae singer. In their book Reggae: The Rough Guide , Steve Barrow and Peter Dalton described Smith as "the greatest vocalist to emerge in the rocksteady era".-Biography:Smith first came to prominence as a member of the Victors Youth Band, who were highly...
), but failed to repeat their Studio One success. Drummond left the group to embark on an unsuccessful solo career in 1972, and briefly formed a new group, True Experience, with Trevor Shields and Bobby Ellis, releasing "My Girl" in 1974.
"Baby Why" formed the basis of 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...
tracks from both Dennis Alcapone
Dennis Alcapone
Dennis Alcapone is a reggae DJ and producer.-Career:Smith initially trained as a welder and worked for the Jamaica Public Services...
and Prince Jazzbo
Prince Jazzbo
Prince Jazzbo is a Jamaican reggae and dancehall deejay and producer.Prince Jazzbo began recording with Coxsone Dodd's Studio One label in the early 1970s...
, and the rhythm was used by The Gladiators
The Gladiators (band)
The Gladiators are a Jamaican roots reggae band, most popular during the 1970s. The core was Albert Griffiths , Clinton Fearon and Dallimore Sutherland bass guitar and singer. The two most famous albums are Trenchtown Mix Up and Proverbial Reggae with songs as "Hearsay", "Jah Works", "Dreadlocks...
for their 1974 track "Rearrange".
A second album, Baby Why, produced by Harry J, was recorded in 1977, where they were backed by musicians from The In Crowd and Third World
Third World (band)
Third World is a Jamaican reggae band formed in 1973. Their sound is influenced by soul, funk and disco.-History:Third World started when keyboard player Michael "Ibo" Cooper and guitarist Stephen "Cat" Coore, who had originally played in The Alley Cats then Inner Circle, subsequently left to form...
.
The Cables have reformed several times in the years that followed. Drummond earned a living working in a shoe factory during The Cables' peak and moved to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1979, later working for American Airlines
American Airlines
American Airlines, Inc. is the world's fourth-largest airline in passenger miles transported and operating revenues. American Airlines is a subsidiary of the AMR Corporation and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas adjacent to its largest hub at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport...
.
A third album, also titles Baby Why and credited to "Cables and friends" was issued in 1993, and led to The Cables performing at the 1994 Reggae Sunsplash
Reggae Sunsplash
Reggae Sunsplash is a reggae music festival first staged in 1978 in the northern part of Jamaica. In 1985 it expanded with the addition of an international touring festival...
festival.
The three original members, along with tenor Owen “Bobby” Dockery, reunited in 2011 to perform at the Sierra Nevada World Music Festival
Sierra Nevada World Music Festival
The Sierra Nevada World Music Festival is an annual music festival held every June on the weekend of the summer solstice. It is currently held at the Mendocino County Fairgrounds in Boonville, California....
in California.
Singles
The Cables:- "Good Luck to You" (196?)
- "What Kind of World" (1968) Studio One/Coxsone
- "Baby Why" (1968) Studio One
- "Love Is a Pleasure" (1968) Studio One
- "So Long" (1969) Bamboo
- "Got to Find Someone" (1969) Studio One
- "Happy Time" (1969) Harry J (credited to Herbie Carter)
- "How Can I Trust You" (1970) Studio One/Bamboo
- "Didn't I" (1970) Harry J
- "Feel All Right" (1970) Harry J
- "Salt of the Earth" (1970) Harry J
- "Come On" (1970) Jackpot
- "A Sometime Girl" (1971) Big Shot/Electro
- "Mixing" (1971) Electro
- "Be Wise" (1971) Panther
- "Cheer Up" SEP
- "Happy End" SEP
- "You Betrayed Me" SEP
- "Everybody's Got a Song to Sing" (1976) TrojanTrojan RecordsTrojan Records is a British record label founded in 1968. It specialises in ska, rocksteady, reggae and dub music. The label currently operates under the Sanctuary Records Group. The name Trojan comes from the Croydon-built Trojan truck that was used as Duke Reid's sound system in Jamaica...
/Horse - "Jamaica" Afrik (1977)
- "I've Got to Go Back Home" Harry J
- "Baby I Love You" (197?) World Wide/Money Disc
- "Fast Mouth" Gaydisc
- "How Do You Think I Feel?" Gaydisc
- "Rich Man Poor Man" Dynamic
- "Too Much Talking" Bright Star
Keble Drummond:
- "Dangerous" (1972) Mud/PamaPama RecordsPama records was a United Kingdom record label active during the 1960s and 1970s. Initially focused on soul music, it became one of the major outlets for reggae in the UK.-History:...
(b-side of the Phil Pratt All Stars' "Feel Good All Over") - "Your Pretty Face" (1973) Jackpot
- "Praise Jah" (1976) Mummy
- "Keep on Dancing" Mummy
- "Imagine Now" Starlight
- "The Twinkle is Gone" Harry J (credited to "Eric Fater")
- "If Only Love Could Last"
Keble Drummond and The Cables:
- "Poor People" High Note
- "What Kind of World" (1977) IslandIsland RecordsIsland 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...
/Black Swan
Albums
- What Kind of WorldWhat Kind of WorldWhat Kind of World is the debut album from Jamaican vocal trio The Cables. It was released in 1970 by Studio One, and collects tracks from singles the group recorded for the label. Backing was provided by Studio One house band the Soul Vendors, which included musicians such as Jackie Mittoo, Eric...
(1970) Studio One - Baby Why (1977) Harry J
- Baby Why (2002) VPVP RecordsVP Records is an independent reggae record label, located in Queens, New York. It is best known for producing Caribbean singers.-The foundation:...
(Cables and friends)
External links
- The Cables at Roots Archives
- Leggett, Steve "[ The Cables Biography]", Allmusic, Macrovision Corporation
- http://thelegendarycables.com/index.html The Cables Official Website