On November 24, 2025, James Chambers (aka Jimmy Cliff) died aged 81. He was singer, musician (guitar, piano, keyboards, congas) and actor, one of the most important figures in worldwide promotion of the Jamaican ska, rocksteady and reggae music. He was the only living reggae musician to hold the “Order of Merit”, the highest honor that can be granted by the Jamaican government for achievements in the arts and sciences. In 2010, Jimmy Cliff was inducted in the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame”.
Tag Archives: Jamaica
Burning Spear: Dry & Heavy
On August 5, 1977, “Island” label released “Dry & Heavy”, the sixth Burning Spear album. It was recorded in 1977, at “Harry J’s Studio” in Kingston, Jamaica, and was produced by Winston Rodney.
Personnel:
- Winston Rodney – lead vocals, percussion, arrangements
- Earl “Chinna” Smith – lead and rhythm guitar
- Donald “Roots” Kinsey – lead guitar
- Bertram “Ranchie” McLean – rhythm guitar
- Bernard “Touter” Harvey – keyboards
- Earl “Wire” Lindo – keyboards
- Robbie Shakespeare – bass guitar
- Aston “Family Man” Barrett – bass guitar
- Leroy “Horsemouth” Wallace – drums
- Noel “Skully” Simms – percussion
- Uziah “Sticky” Thompson – percussion
- Herman Marquis – alto sax
- Richard “Dirty Harry” Hall – tenor sax
- Bobby Ellis – trumpet
- Vincent “Trommie” Gordon – trombone
- Sylvan Morris – engineer
Track listing:
All tracks by Walter Rodney, except where noted.
- Any River
- The Sun – Winston Rodney, Don Taylor, Phillip Fullwood
- It’s a Long Way Around – Winston Rodney, Phillip Fullwood
- I W.I.N.
- Throw Down Your Arms
- Dry & Heavy
- Wailing
- Black Disciples
- Shout It Out
Johnny Nash
On October 6, 2020, John Lester Nash Jr. aka Johnny Nash died aged 80. He was a singer, songwriter, one of the first non-Jamaican artists to record reggae music in Kingston. He was best known for his 1972 song, the million-selling anthem “I Can See Clearly Now”. Nash recorded 17 albums.
Prince Buster
On September 8, 2016, Cecil Bustamente Campbell aka Prince Buster, died aged 78. He was singer-songwriter and music producer, known as the first Jamaican to have a top 20 hit in the UK. His records form the 1960s, influenced the sound of ska and inspired the reggae artists of the late ’70s.
Emmanuel “Rico” Rodriguez
On September 4, 2015, Emmanuel “Rico” Rodriguez died aged 80. He was musician (trombone), one of the first and most distinguished reggae and ska artists. He has formed the group Rico and the Rudies, and has recorded and performed with many famous musicians and producers including Karl Pitterson, Prince Buster, Lloyd “Matador” Daley, Jools Holland’s Rhythm and Blues Orchestra, Bob Marley, Toots & the Maytals, Delroy Washington , Burning Spear, The Specials, Jools Holland, Dennis Bovell, Ian Dury, Chas Jankel, Joan Armatrading, John Martyn, Linton Kwesi Johnson, Steel Pulse and Paul Young. In 2007, he was awarded an “MBE” (Member of the Order of the British Empire) for services to music. For his contribution to Jamaican music, in 2012 he was awarded the “Silver Musgrave Medal” by the “Institute of Jamaica”.
The Upsetters: Super Ape
In August 1976, “Island” label released “Super Ape”, the twelve Upsetters album. It was recorded in 1976 at “Black Ark” in Kingston, Jamaica, and was produced by Lee “Scratch” Perry.
Personnel:
- Lee Perry – percussion, conga
- Michael “Mikey Boo” Richards – drums
- Anthony “Benbow” Creary – drums
- Noel “Skully” Simms– conga
- Boris Gardiner– bass
- Earl “Chinna” Smith– guitar
- Keith Sterling– piano
- Bobby Ellis– horns
- “Dirty” Harry Hall, Herman Marquis– horns
- Vin Gordon– trombone
- Egbert Evans – flute
- Prince Jazzbo– toasting
- Barry Llewellyn, Earl Morgan– backing vocals
- Tony Wright– cover art
Track listing:
All track by Lee “Scratch” Perry.
- Zion’s Blood
- Croaking Lizard
- Black Vest
- Underground
- Curly Dub
- Dread Lion
- Three in One
- Patience
- Dub Along
- Super Ape
Black Uhuru: Sinsemilla
In July 1980, “Mango” label released “Sinsemilla”, the third Black Uhuru album. It was recorded in January 1980, at “Channel One Studio” in Kingston, Jamaica, and was produced by Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare.
Personnel:
- Michael Rose- lead vocals
- Radcliffe “Dougie” Bryan – guitar
- Bertram “Ranchie” McLean- guitar
- Ansel Collins- piano, organ
- Jimmy Becker – harmonica
- Robbie Shakespeare- bass
- Sly Dunbar- drums, percussion
- Uziah “Sticky” Thompson- percussion
- Derrick “Duckie” Simpson – harmony vocals
- Puma Jones- harmony vocals
Track listing:
All tracks by Michael Rose.
- Happiness
- World is Africa
- Push Push
- There Is Fire
- No Loafing (Sit and Wonder)
- Sinsemilia
- Endurance
- Vampire
Peter Tosh: Wanted Dread & Alive
In June 1981, “EMI America” label released “Wanted Dread & Alive”, the fifth Peter Tosh album. It was recorded in 1981, at “Dynamic Studios” in Kingston, Jamaica, and was produced by Peter Tosh.
Personnel:
- Peter Tosh – lead and backing vocals, guitar, keyboards, percussion
- Gwen Guthrie – lead vocals
- Darryl Thompson – lead guitar
- Mikey Chung – rhythm guitar
- Keith Sterling, Robbie Lyn – keyboards
- Robbie Shakespeare – bass
- Sly Dunbar – drums
- Noel “Scully” Simms, Uziah “Sticky” Thompson – percussion
- Dean Fraser – alto and tenor saxophone
- Ronald “Nambo” Robinson – trombone
- Pee Wee – flute
- Barry Rogers, Jon Faddis, Lew Soloff, Lou Marini – horns
- The Tamlins – backing vocals
- Geoffrey Chung – recording, mixing
Track listing:
All tracks by Peter Tosh except where noted.
- Coming in Hot
- Nothing But Love – Ella Mitchell, Freddie Harris
- Reggae-Mylitis
- The Poor Man Feel It
- Cold Blood
- Wanted Dread & Alive
- Rastafari Is
- That’s What They Will Do
- Fools Die
Black Uhuru: Red
In May 1981, “Mango” label released “Red”, the sixth Black Uhuru album. It was recorded in 1981, at “Channel One” in Kingston, Jamaica, and “Compass Point” in Nassau, Bahamas, and was produced by Sly & Robbie.
Personnel:
- Michael Rose- vocals
- Derrick “Duckie” Simpson – harmony vocals
- Puma Jones- harmony vocals
- Mikey Chung- rhythm guitar, lead guitar
- Radcliff “Dougie” Bryan – lead guitar
- Barry Reynolds- lead guitar
- Ranchie McLean- rhythm guitar, lead guitar
- Robert Lynn – piano
- Keith Sterling- piano
- Robbie Shakespeare- bass, piano
- Sly Dunbar- drums, syndrums
- Uziah “Sticky” Thompson- percussion
Track listing:
All tracks by Michael Rose, except where noted.
- Youth of Eglington
- Sponji Reggae
- Sistren – Michael Rose, Derrick “Duckie” Simpson
- Journey – Derrick “Duckie” Simpson
- Utterance
- Puff She Puff
- Rockstone – Michael Rose, Derrick “Duckie” Simpson
- Carbine
Joe Cocker: Jamaica Say You Will
In April 1975, “Cube” label released “Jamaica Say You Will”, the fifth Joe Cocker studio album. It was recorded in 1974, at “The Village Recorders” in Los Angeles and was produced by Jim Price.
Personnel:
- Joe Cocker – lead vocals
- Ben Benay, Dan Sawyer, Daniel Moore, Henry McCullough, Cornell Dupree- guitar
- Jim Price, Jean Alain Roussel, Nicky Hopkins, Richard Tee- keyboards
- Ben Benay – harmonica
- Chuck Rainey, Chris Stewart, Dave McDaniel – bass
- Bernard “Pretty” Purdie, Jim Karstein, Joe Correro – drums
- Don Poncher – percussion
- Jim Horn, Trevor Lawrence, Bobby Keys- saxophone
- Steve Madaio – trumpet
- Sherlie Matthews, Cynthia Barclay, Carol Stallings, Jim Price, Matthew Moore, Daniel Moore, Buzz Clifford, Joanne Bell, Clydie King, Venetta Fields- backing vocals
- Peggy Sandvig – orchestration
- Sid Sharp – strings
- Jim Price, Richard Tee – arrangements
- Daniel Moore – additional choral arranging
- Zak Zenor, Rob Fraboni, Rob Fraboni, Joe Tuzen – engineer
- Allen Zentz – mastering
Track listing:
- (That’s What I Like) In My Woman – Matthew Moore
- Where Am I Now – Jesse Ed Davis
- I Think It’s Going to Rain Today – Randy Newman
- Forgive Me Now – Matthew Moore
- Oh Mama – Jim Price
- Lucinda – Randy Newman
- If I Love You – Daniel Moore
- Jamaica, Say You Will – Jackson Browne
- It’s All Over But the Shoutin’ – Joe Hinton, Johnny Bristol
- Jack-A-Diamonds – Daniel Moore
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