Tradition (band)
Encyclopedia
Tradition are a United Kingdom
-based reggae
band. They enjoyed success with UK reggae audiences in the late 1970s, and were signed by RCA Records
. They split up in 1983 but reformed over twenty years later.
, North West London
in 1976, initially as Special Brew. The original line-up comprised Chris "Buff Head" Henry (bass guitar
), Paul "Echo" Thompson (keyboards
, vocals), Tony "Drummie" Matthews (drums), Michael Johnson (guitar
), and Grace Reed (vocals
). Reed and Johnson left early in the band's history, to be replaced by Les McNeil and Paul Dawkins (bass). In 1977 the band signed to Venture Records, and released early singles including "Moving On", "Rastafari", and "Summertime
". They were also one of the headline acts on the Anti-Nazi League
's 'Rock Against Racism
' tour. In 1978 they released a discomix
12-inch single of "Why Why". The band built a reputation through their live performances, backing singers such as Alton Ellis
, Delroy Wilson
, Honey Boy
, and Culture
, and were also utilized as a studio band by producer David Tyrone. They won the Best Single award from Echoes in 1978 for "Breezin'", and they signed a short-lived deal with RCA Records
the same year. Dawkins left to pursue a solo career in 1979 and was replaced by Shakeel Khan. As members continued to leave the band, the swansong 1982 album Spirit of Ecstasy relied heavily on Thompson's keyboard-playing. McNeil also pursued a solo career.
In the 2000s, Thompson and McNeil formed a new band, Reloaded, and in the late 2000s, Tradition reformed.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
-based 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...
band. They enjoyed success with UK reggae audiences in the late 1970s, and were signed by RCA Records
RCA Records
RCA Records is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. The RCA initials stand for Radio Corporation of America , which was the parent corporation from 1929 to 1985 and a partner from 1985 to 1986.RCA's Canadian unit is Sony's oldest label...
. They split up in 1983 but reformed over twenty years later.
History
Tradition formed in BrentLondon Borough of Brent
In 1801, the civil parishes that form the modern borough had a total population of 2,022. This rose slowly throughout the 19th century, as the district became built up; reaching 5,646 in the middle of the century. When the railways arrived the rate of population growth increased...
, North West London
North West London
North West London may refer to:*NW postcode area*Western part of North London...
in 1976, initially as Special Brew. The original line-up comprised Chris "Buff Head" Henry (bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
), Paul "Echo" Thompson (keyboards
Keyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, vocals), Tony "Drummie" Matthews (drums), Michael Johnson (guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
), and Grace Reed (vocals
Singing
Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
). Reed and Johnson left early in the band's history, to be replaced by Les McNeil and Paul Dawkins (bass). In 1977 the band signed to Venture Records, and released early singles including "Moving On", "Rastafari", and "Summertime
Summertime (song)
"Summertime" is an aria composed by George Gershwin for the 1935 opera Porgy and Bess. The lyrics are by DuBose Heyward, the author of the novel Porgy on which the opera was based, although the song is also co-credited to Ira Gershwin by ASCAP....
". They were also one of the headline acts on the Anti-Nazi League
Anti-Nazi League
The Anti-Nazi League was an organisation set up in 1977 on the initiative of the Socialist Workers Party with sponsorship from some trade unions and the endorsement of a list of prominent people to oppose the rise of far-right groups in the United Kingdom. It was wound down in 1981...
's 'Rock Against Racism
Rock Against Racism
Rock Against Racism was a campaign set up in the United Kingdom in 1976 as a response to an increase in racial conflict and the growth of white nationalist groups such as the National Front. The campaign involved pop, rock and reggae musicians staging concerts with an anti-racist theme, in order...
' tour. In 1978 they released a discomix
Discomix
A discomix, or simply a disco, is an extended reggae 12-inch single that typically features the vocal track followed by a dub version or a deejay version of the same track. The format became popular in the mid-1970s, with the extended bass range of 12-inch singles being better suited to dub music...
12-inch single of "Why Why". The band built a reputation through their live performances, backing singers such as Alton Ellis
Alton Ellis
Alton Nehemiah Ellis, OD, was a Jamaican musician best known as one of the innovators of rocksteady music and was often referred to as the "Godfather of Rocksteady". In 2006, he was inducted into the International Reggae And World Music Awards Hall Of Fame.-Biography:Ellis was born in 1938 and...
, Delroy Wilson
Delroy Wilson
Delroy Wilson was a Jamaican ska, rocksteady and reggae singer.-Biography:Wilson released his first single "Emy Lou" in 1961 for record producer, Clement "Coxsone" Dodd, at the age of thirteen...
, Honey Boy
Honey Boy
Keith Williams , better known as Honey Boy, is a Jamaican reggae singer best known for his recordings in the 1970s who is regarded as one of the pioneers of lovers rock.-Biography:...
, and Culture
Culture (band)
Culture was a Jamaican roots reggae group founded in 1976. Originally they were known as the African Disciples.The members of the trio were Joseph Hill , Albert Walker and Kenneth Dayes ....
, and were also utilized as a studio band by producer David Tyrone. They won the Best Single award from Echoes in 1978 for "Breezin'", and they signed a short-lived deal with RCA Records
RCA Records
RCA Records is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. The RCA initials stand for Radio Corporation of America , which was the parent corporation from 1929 to 1985 and a partner from 1985 to 1986.RCA's Canadian unit is Sony's oldest label...
the same year. Dawkins left to pursue a solo career in 1979 and was replaced by Shakeel Khan. As members continued to leave the band, the swansong 1982 album Spirit of Ecstasy relied heavily on Thompson's keyboard-playing. McNeil also pursued a solo career.
In the 2000s, Thompson and McNeil formed a new band, Reloaded, and in the late 2000s, Tradition reformed.
Album discography
- Tradition in Dub/High Risk Dub (1977), BPI
- Moving On (1978), RCARCA RecordsRCA Records is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. The RCA initials stand for Radio Corporation of America , which was the parent corporation from 1929 to 1985 and a partner from 1985 to 1986.RCA's Canadian unit is Sony's oldest label...
/Venture - Alternative Routes (1978), RCA
- Tell Your Friends About Dub (1978), RCA
- Captain Ganja & The Space Patrol (1980), Venture
- Runaway Love (1980), RCA
- Tradition's Party Disco Episode 1&2 (198?), Venture
- Spirit of Ecstasy (1982), Solid Groove - Tradition featuring Paul Thompson
External links
- Tradition at Roots Archives