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Biography
Originally comprised of Garth Dennis, Don Carlos, and Derrick “Duckie” Simpson under the name Uhuru, the band released a couple of unsuccessful singles before disbanding. Simpson returned alongside Errol Nelson and Michael Rose, now known as Black Sounds Uhuru, and released their debut album “Love Crisis” in 1977. The album featured Sly Dunbar on drums and Robbie Shakespear on bass and was heralded by the music press as equalling any of their reggae peers.
Later in 1977, Columbia University graduate Sandra “Puma” Jones joined from South Carolina, U.S., formerly of Mama Africa, and the group took up the name Black Uhuru. This period represented the band’s most successful, working extensively with Sly and Robbie. Black Uhuru released the singles “General Penitentiary” and “Shine Eye Gal”, ahead of their sophomore album “Showcase”, the latter single of which features guest guitarist Keith Richards. “Showcase”, released in 1979 was exactly as the name suggests, a showcase of their talents, and the band went on to increase their touring schedule, including a performance at 1980’s Reggae Sunsplash Festival.
Also in 1980, the band signed with Island Records who gave an international release to their third full-length “Sinsemilla” and subsequently “Red” in 1981. “Red” reached No. 28 in the UK Albums Chart, and Rolling Stone magazine named it as their 23rd best record of the 1980s. “Chill Out” was release a year later in 1982, which again found chart success reaching No. 38 in the UK Albums Chart, which the band supported by opening for The Rolling Stones. Continuing the streak of success Black Uhuru released their fifth full-length “Anthem” in 1984 to overwhelmingly positive reviews. The album subsequently won the first ever Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album and made a number of year-end lists.
Tensions were rising within the band however and following the release Rose departed after falling out with Simpson. Black Uhuru signed with RAS Records and released the album “Brutal” which took the band in a more dance beat direction. The album earned the group a Grammy nomination and the lead single “The Great Train Robbery” became their second to reach the UK Singles Chart. Subsequently, the band stopped working with Sly and Robbie, Jones left due to ill health, replaced by Janel “Olafunke” Reid, who remained for one album “Positive” in 1988.
Black Uhuru continued to reinvent themselves with varying line-ups, although Simpson remained the only consistent member. Alongside original members Don Carlos and Garth Dennis the band reunited for a show in California and released the album “Now” in 1991. After the split and a period of touring with dub poet Yasus Afari, Simpson enlisted Andrew Bess and Jennifer Connally to record and tour in support of “Dynasty” in 2002. In 2011 Simpson returned with Bees and Kaye Starr to embark on a successful world tour including a host of international festivals.
Live reviews
We arrived a few minutes late, hoping that the concert was on "Jamaican time". But to our pleasant surprise, Black Uhuru was already on stage.
We hurried in and found a great space to watch the performance. It was my husband, my 3 year old son, and myself. The sound was great, bass was perfectly heavy. There was a great atmosphere on this cool evening in Lake Worth.
There were patrons of every age, as my son found a few other children to play with using their new light up swords and sceptres. It was a moderately sized crowd considering Black Uhuru was the final act of the two day festival.
Even though we were interested in the performance only, there was an inordinate amount of food at the venue. No one could ever possibly go hungry.
And Black Uhuru delivered a great set which built up to hits "Solidarity" and "Guess who's coming to dinner". Led by original member Duckie Simpson, and vocals delivered by Andrew Bees and Kaye Starr, we thoroughly full-joyed the punky reggae sounds of the Grammy winners.
Nuff respect to the instrumentalists of the band, especially the guitar soloist, whose name I'm not familiar with. They gave great support to the vocalists. It was an A plus performance by Black Uhuru!
Blessings and love!
Nykhana
The first ever Grammy Award for best reggae album is a pretty big deal, and Black Uhuru, with this incredible award under their belt, have had incredible success in the reggae and dub sound industry over the years since winning the prestigious award.
As they have worked predominantly on their Live and Dub albums over the past 20 years, seeing them in concert, I wasn’t sure what to expect, whether they’d go back to their reggae days, or stick with the newer music. I was really pleased that they played a great selection of both, plying some of the really well known tracks from Mystical Truth, and Chill Out, so that everyone in the audience could jam and groove along to tracks that they knew really well. They also worked through Iron Storm Dub, and In Dub which was epic. Their vocals and instrumental skills were powerful and tight, and it was evident that they’d been working together for years and could work off of each other in any situation. Their interaction with the audience was also great, they put such a positive vibe on the whole show, something to really write home about.
yazhow
The inaugural winners of the Best Reggae album Grammy award Black Uhuru consisting of Derrick Simpson and Andrew Bees along with countless past members may have enjoyed the majority of their successes in the 80s yet they still continue to tour at a devoted pace. The Jamaican musicians have so much passion and belief for their music that you cannot imagine them stopping anytime soon as they continue to throw themselves into the performance night after night.
As the group has been recording albums throughout their long career, it is a tricky feat to choose a ten song setlist yet they play all the favourites including 'Push Push' and 'Bull In the Pen' to keep the audience grooving along. It is clear the crowds are excited and elated that the band has come to play as they are not frequent visitors to Europe so therefore they capitalise on this energy and really raise the roof for 'General Penitentiary'. The soulful reggae tones sound as good as ever and after saying gracious thank yous they close with a fun performance of 'I Love King Selassie'.
sean-ward
