Check out the Black Uhuru albums page.
Formed: 1973 (Kingston, Jamaica)
Rudolph "Garth" Dennis joined the Wailing Souls
Derrick 'Duckie' Simpson
Don McCarlos went solo as Don Carlos
Michael Rose went solo, replaced by Junior Reid
Junior Reid - went solo in 1988
Errol Nelson of The Jays replaced by Puma (Sandra) Jones
Puma (Sandra) Jones died of cancer on January 28, 1990
The most successful of the second generation reggae bands, Black Uhuru maintained their high quality despite numerous personnel changes in their sixteen year history. The first reggae band to win a Grammy award, for their 1983 album, "Anthem", Black Uhuru was, according to "Reggae: The Rough Guide", "The most dynamic and progressive reggae act of the 1970s and early 1980s".
Black Uhuru, whose name comes from the Swahili word meaning "freedom", was formed in the Waterhouse district of Kingston by Ervin "Don Carlos" Spencer, Rudolph "Garth" Dennis and Derrick "Duckie" Simpson. When the group experience difficulties securing a record contract, Spencer left to pursue a solo career and Dennis joined the Wailing Souls. Simpson, who remained the thread throughout Black Uhuru's evolution, reorganized the band with Errol "Jay" Wilson and quivery-voiced, lead vocalist, Michael Rose, compared by "Trouser Press" to "a Rasta cantor". Accompanied by the rhythm section of Sly Dunbar on drums and Robbie Shakespeare on bass, Black Uhuru created a sound that made them a match for any reggae ensemble. Their debut album, "Love Crisis", released in 1977, included the anthemic hit, "I Love King Selassie". Three years later, the album was remixed and released as "Black Sounds Of Freedom".
With the addition of harmony singer, Sandra "Puma" Jones, an Afro-American woman who held a masters degree from Columbia University and was a former member of the female group Mama Africa, in 1981, Black Uhuru entered their most commercially successful period. In addition to recording a memorable studio album, "Red", and an exciting live album, "Tear It Up", the group reached its peak with the release of "Anthem" in 1983. Remixed and revised for release in the United States, the redone version was re-released in Europe shortly afterwards. Although the album received a Grammy, internal problems caused the band to splinter the following year. Rose was replaced by sound-alike Junior Reid. Jones and Reid remained with the band until 1989. Although Reid left when visa problems prevented him from touring, Jones, who was replaced by Olefunke, was forced to step down after being diagnosed with cancer. She died on January 28, 1990 and was buried in her home state of South Carolina.
The original three members-Simpson, Spencer and Dennis —- reunited to record a trio album, "Now", in 1990. They've continued to tour and perform in this configuration.
Bio from Allmusic.com
Formed in Jamaica by Garth Dennis, Derrick 'Ducky' Simpson and Don McCarlos in the early 70s, Black Uhuru first recorded a version of Curtis Mayfield 's 'Romancing To The Folk Song' for Dynamic's Top Cat label as Uhuru (the Swahili word for 'freedom'), which met with limited success. Dennis then joined the Wailing Souls and McCarlos (as Don Carlos) went on to a solo career. Simpson then enlisted Michael Rose as lead singer, who himself had previously recorded as a solo artist for Yabby You (on the excellent 'Born Free') and for Winston 'Niney' Holness, including the first recording of 'Guess Who's Coming To Dinner', inspired by the Sidney Poitier film. Errol Nelson, from the Jayes, was used for harmonies. This line-up sang on an album for Prince Jammy in 1977 entitled Love Crisis, later reissued and retitled Black Sounds Of Freedom, after the group had found success. Nelson returned to the Jayes soon afterwards and Puma Jones (b. Sandra Jones, 5 October 1953, Columbia, South Carolina, USA, d. 28 January 1990, New York, USA) took over. Formerly a social worker, she had worked with Ras Michael And The Sons Of Negus as a dancer in a bid to retrace her African ancestry via Jamaica. This combination began work for Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare 's Taxi label in 1980, and Black Uhuru mania gripped the Jamaican reggae audience. The solid bedrock of Sly And Robbie 's rhythms with Jones's and Simpson's eerie harmonies provided a perfect counterpoint to Rose's tortured vocals, as his songs wove tales of the hardships of Jamaican life that managed to convey a far wider relevance. Their first album for Taxi, Showcase, later reissued as Vital Selection, gave equal prominence to the vocal and instrumental versions of songs such as 'General Penitentiary', 'Shine Eye Gal' and 'Abortion', and was a massive reggae seller.
Island Records signed the group and they became a hot property throughout the musical world over the next few years. Their albums for Mango/Island continued in the same militant vein, and Anthem was remixed for the American market and earned a Grammy for the band. They toured the globe with the powerhouse rhythm section of Sly And Robbie, in addition to a full complement of top Jamaican session musicians. For a time they were widely touted as the only reggae band with the potential to achieve international superstar status, but although their popularity never waned after their initial breakthrough, it sadly never seemed to grow either. Michael Rose left the band in the mid-80s for a solo career that always promised more than it has actually delivered, although his 1990 album Proud was very strong. Junior Reid took over on lead vocals, but in retrospect, his approach was too deeply rooted in the Jamaican dancehalls at the time for Black Uhuru's international approach, and after a couple of moderately well-received albums, he also left for a solo career, which to date has been remarkably successful. For Now, Don Carlos returned to his former position as lead singer, reuniting the original triumvirate of himself, Simpson and Dennis, and the group still tour and release records, which are particularly popular in America. Tragically, Puma Jones died of cancer in 1990. She had left the band after Brutal, replaced by soundalike Olafunke. Black Uhuru will always remain one of the great reggae acts, despite the fact that the international status that they deserved proved elusive.
Bio From Encyclopedia of Popular Music
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