Bongo Herman

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Bongo Herman
Also known asHerman Constantine Davis
Born (1944-09-16) 16 September 1944 (age 81)
Origin Kingston, Jamaica
Genres Reggae
Instruments Drums, percussion
Years activeearly 1960s–present

Herman Constantine Davis [1] (born 16 September 1944), better known as Bongo Herman, is a Jamaican hand-drummer, percussionist and singer who has had a successful career stretching back to the early 1960s.

Contents

Biography

Herman Davis was born on 16 September 1944, [2] and grew up in the Trench Town area of Kingston. [3] He began playing in the late 1950s, and in the 1960s performed on the Vere Johns Opportunity Hour , and in Kingston's live music scene. In 1966 he performed at the visit to Jamaica of Haile Selassie. [3] Herman's recording career began in 1969. [2] He recorded as a duo with Eric "Bingy Bunny" Lamont in the early 1970s for producer Derrick Harriott, having hits in Jamaica including "Know For I" in 1971. [4] He moved on to record for Harry Mudie in the mid-1970s. [5] In the 1970s and 1980s he was much in demand as a studio musician, recording with The Abyssinians (including kété drums on "Satta Masa Gana"), Jimmy Cliff, Prince Far I, the Congos, Culture, the Revolutionaries, Roots Radics, and Mikey Dread. [2] [6] He acted as percussionist for The Itals for several years. [2]

He made an acting appearance in the 1978 film Rockers , of which he commented "Me was the first man in Jamaica to break-dance in a movie". [3] [6] He also features in the 2009 documentary Rock Steady the Roots of Reggae. [7]

During the 1990s he continued to work with many of Jamaica's top stars including Beenie Man, Capleton (with whom he toured Europe in 2003/4), Sizzla, Lady Saw, and U-Roy, and in the 2000s recorded with Mutabaruka and Gyptian. [2] [8] The digital era proved no barrier, with Herman stating "Once yuh is a professional musician yuh will fit inna anything, even a steel band; yuh have various type a percussion fi play, yuh jus' have fi know how to mix it inna di rhythm." [6]

His live performances often include the playing of a chamber pot and an enamel chimney. [9] [10]

Discography

Albums

Singles

Notes

  1. ↑ "ETERNAL DRUMS". ascap.com. American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. Retrieved 12 July 2025.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Moskowitz, p. 133
  3. 1 2 3 Edwards
  4. ↑ Larkin, p. 26
  5. ↑ Larkin, p. 205
  6. 1 2 3 Campbell
  7. ↑ Walters
  8. ↑ YardFlex, 7 October 2005
  9. ↑ Cooke
  10. ↑ Spaulding

References

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