Is a Jamaican reggae band probably best known for their hits "Shine Eye Gal", "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner," "Sinsemilla," "Solidarity," and "What Is Life?." They were the first group to win a Grammy in the reggae category when it was introduced in 1984.

Originally formed as Uhuru (the Swahili word for freedom) and consisting of Garth Dennis, Don Carlos, and Derrick "Duckie" Simpson, the group has undergone several lineup changes: Carlos left, replaced by Michael Rose; then Dennis left to play with the Wailing Souls, and was replaced by Errol Nelson. During this early period, the band's most famous recording is the album entitled 'Love Crisis', later re-titled 'Black Sounds Of Freedom'. In 1979 the group was joined by Sandra "Puma" Jones, a social worker from North Carolina. Under this lineup, (Rose, Simpson and Jones), with Sly & Robbie as producers (and also permanently employed on drum and bass), they released the band's most popular albums: "Showcase", "Sinsemilla", "Red", "Chill Out", "The Dub Factor" and the Grammy-winning "Anthem"ยน.

During this period, Black Uhuru became the biggest reggae band in the world, regularly touring with the likes of The Police and The Rolling Stones. A recent CD release "Live 1984" (a concert at the Rockpalast in Germany which was actually recorded on October 18th, 1981) captures the band at the height of its powers. Born in Kingston, Jamaica on July 11, 1957, Michael Rose was fortunate enough to be introduced to music as a teenager by his older brother Joseph. ... Sandra Puma Jones, an American singer, was a Columbia University graduate and social worker, was most famous for singing in the Grammy Award-winning group, Black Uhuru. Sly and Robbie are probably reggaes most prolific and long lasting production team. After Rose went solo in 1985, Junior Reid joined for a few records and also left; and Puma Jones left in 1987 (and died of cancer three years later, in 1990). In 1990, Simpson reunited with Dennis and Carlos in the original line-up of the group. They recorded several albums and toured extensively. By the end of the 90's, Dennis and Carlos left the band and fought a legal battle against Simpson over the name Black Uhuru. Simpson won the lawsuit and formed yet another incarnation of Black Uhuru with Andrew Bees as lead singer. Only one album, "Dynasty", was released before Bees left the group. In February 2004, it was announced in the Jamaican press that Simpson and Michael Rose had re-united under the name "Black Uhuru feat. Michael Rose". Together with a female backing singer named Kay Starr, they released a single, "Dollars" and performed at several concerts including "Western Consciousness 2004" April 28th in Jamaica, of which a live video was released shortly thereafter. A new album has been reported to be in progress.

  

  

  




|Home| |About| |Shop| |Global Beat| |Download| |Kingston 11| |Lloyd Brevett| |King Tubby| |Sly Dunbar| |King Jammy| |Michael Rose| |Black Uhuru| |Beenieman| |Bobby Digital| |Blaze Mob| |Chaka Demus| |Alrick Forbes| |Andrew Bees| |Half Pint| |Junior Reid| |The Ethiopians| |Don Carlos| |Johnny Osbourne| |The Royals| |Nikky Thomas| |Yabby You| |Garth Dennis| |Iqulah| |The Jays| |Ward 21| |Warrior King| |Sons of Negus| |Viceroys| |Lloyd Parks| |Ranking Trevor| |Kojack| |Wayne Smith| |Nicodemus| |King Everald| |Sources| |Mother Lisa| |Noel Davey| |Sydney Wolfe| |Pad Anthony| |Risto Benji| |Errol Marshall| |Baby Cham| |Shaba Ranks| |Paul Elliott| |Wailing Souls| |Vybz Kartel| |Publications| |Message Board| |Link X-Change| |Internet Links| |Disclaimer|


 
Home

About

Shop

Global Beat

Download

Kingston 11

Lloyd Brevett

King Tubby

Sly Dunbar

King Jammy

Michael Rose

Black Uhuru

Beenieman

Bobby Digital

Blaze Mob

Chaka Demus

Alrick Forbes

Andrew Bees

Half Pint

Junior Reid

The Ethiopians

Don Carlos

Johnny Osbourne

The Royals

Nikky Thomas

Yabby You

Garth Dennis

Iqulah

The Jays

Ward 21

Warrior King

Sons of Negus

Viceroys

Lloyd Parks

Ranking Trevor

Kojack

Wayne Smith

Nicodemus

King Everald

Sources

Mother Lisa

Noel Davey

Sydney Wolfe

Pad Anthony

Risto Benji

Errol Marshall

Baby Cham

Shaba Ranks

Paul Elliott

Wailing Souls

Vybz Kartel

Publications

Message Board

Link X-Change

Internet Links

Disclaimer

E-mail Me

Don't stop musicing! Products

waterhouserock.com v 4_3