Soul Syndicate

Last updated

Soul Syndicate
Origin Kingston, Jamaica
Genres Reggae
Years activeearly 1970s – present
Members Earl "Chinna" Smith
Carlton "Santa" Davis
George "Fully" Fullwood
Tony Chin
Bernard "Touter" Harvey
Keith Sterling
Leroy "Horsemouth" Wallace
Cleon Douglas
Earl Lindo
Tyrone Downie
Donovan Carless

Soul Syndicate, originally called the Rhythm Raiders, were one of the top reggae session bands in Jamaica from the early 1970s to the mid-1980s.

Contents

History

In the first half of the 1970s the band from the Greenwich Farm area of Kingston recorded for producers such as Keith Hudson, Winston Holness (under the pseudonym The Observers), [1] Duke Reid and others on some of the most popular and influential recordings of the era. Core members of the band are guitarist Earl "Chinna" Smith, drummer Carlton "Santa" Davis, bassist and founder of Soul Syndicate George "Fully" Fullwood, rhythm guitarist Tony Chin and keyboard player Bernard "Touter" Harvey, later with Keith Sterling on keyboards. [2] [3] Other members at various times included drummer Leroy "Horsemouth" Wallace, guitarist Cleon Douglas, and keyboard players Earl Lindo and Tyrone Downie. [3] Freddie McGregor was at one time the band's featured vocalist. [2] The nucleus of the band also recorded under the name The Aggrovators for Bunny Lee. As well as playing on countless releases backing some of Jamaica's top vocalists, including Dennis Brown and Gregory Isaacs, they also released several albums credited to the band. Harvey later became a member of The Wailers Band. [2]

According to guitarist Tony Chin, Sun is Shining was the first song members of the band recorded with Bob Marley. Soul Syndicate is also credited with recording the original versions of the Wailers' classic tunes "Small Axe" and "Mr. Brown."

The Soul Syndicate's "Stalag 17" and "Taxi" bass lines, are among many bass lines created by George "Fully" Fullwood, an instrumental, featuring Ansell Collins on organ who was a resident studio musician for Soul Syndicate in the 1970s, was much-versioned, providing the basis for hits over the two decades that followed for Big Youth, Horace Andy, Augustus Pablo, Frankie Paul, General Echo, Tenor Saw and others. [4] Soul Syndicate is accredited with performing on singles featuring many vocalists and feature artists including: Roy Shirley, Max Romeo, Cynthia Richards, Keith Hudson, Winston Garrett, Dirty Harry, Bobby Ellis, Lenroy Muffatt & the Soul Tops, Joe Gibbs, Romax & Elaine, Maria Baines, Abdul Sabuza, Leonard Dillon, Junior Byles, Errol Alphanso, African Brothers, Bim Sherman, Bobby Kalphat, Bim Man, Eli & Chen, Jah Carlos, Dillinger, I-Roy, Junior Delgado, Ingrid Scott, Country Joe, L. Moodie, Phillip Frazer, Freddie McGregor, Tony Tuff, Willie Brackenridge, Ashanti Waugh & D.J. Baller Joe, Augustus Pablo, Sheena Spirit & The Third Eye, King Tubby, King Jango, The Heptones, Nora Jean, Alton Ellis, U Roy, H. Cunningham, Cornell Campbell, Shenley Duffus, The Stingers, Johnny Cool, Sylvan White, Robert Scott, Blue Flame, Jimmy London, Enos McLeod, Mary Mundy, Dr. Alimantado, Dizzy, Lloyd A. Lawrence, Glen Lee & the Vandells, Charles Bennett, Porkey & Cynthia, Derrick Morgan, Badoo, Tony Brevett, Johnnie "Dizzy" Moore, Winston Fergus and Niney. [5]

Reunion

In 2015, the band reunited and performed at Huntington Beach, California. The line-up for the performance included George "Fully" Fullwood, Tony Chin, Earl "Chinna" Smith, Carlton "Santa" Davis, Soul Syndicate's original vocalist Donovan Carless [6] and Keith Sterling. [7]

In Summer 2016, Soul Syndicate re-united once again to perform at Reggae on the River in Northern California. There, they backed six artists including Big Youth, U-Roy, Earl Zero, Marty Dread, Nature and Randy Valentine. The band featured George "Fully" Fullwood on bass, Tony "Valentine" Chin on rhythm guitar, Keith Sterling on keys, Karl Wright on drums, Vince Black on lead guitar, Glenn Holdaway on trumpet, Warren Huang on saxophone and Mad Professor controlling the mix. [8]

In the Summer 2024, they also re-united again to perform at Rototom Reggae Sunsplash in Benicàssim, Spain. They were backing son of Peter Tosh, Andrew. The band featured George "Fully" Fullwood on bass, Tony "Valentine" Chin on rhythm guitar, Keith Sterling on keys, Earl "Chinna" Smith on lead and Carlton "Santa" Davis on drums. [9]

Discography

Albums

Compilations

DVD

Notes

  1. ↑ Thompson, p.194
  2. 1 2 3 Larkin, p.279
  3. 1 2 Thompson, p.462
  4. ↑ Barrow, p.117
  5. ↑ "The Soul Syndicate". Discogs. Retrieved 16 November 2015.
  6. ↑ "Donovan & the Posse | Reggae from Raleigh, NC". ReverbNation. Retrieved 16 November 2015.
  7. ↑ "Fully Fullwood's LIVE Reggae Sundays". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 16 November 2015.
  8. ↑ "Home". reggaeontheriver.com.
  9. ↑ https://rototomsunsplash.com/en/eventos/peter-tosh-tribute/
  10. ↑ "Soul Syndicate* - Harvest Uptown / Famine Downtown". Discogs. Retrieved 16 November 2015.
  11. ↑ "Keith Hudson & The Soul Syndicate - Nuh Skin Up Dub". Discogs. Retrieved 16 November 2015.
  12. 1 2 "The Soul Syndicate". Discogs. Retrieved 16 November 2015.
  13. ↑ "Roots Radics* Meet Soul Syndicate* - In Dub". Discogs. Retrieved 16 November 2015.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Upsetters</span> Jamaican reggae band

The Upsetters was the name given to the house band for Jamaican reggae producer Lee "Scratch" Perry. The name of the band comes from Perry's nickname of Upsetter, after his song "I Am the Upsetter", a musical dismissal of his former boss Coxsone Dodd.

<i>Marcus Garvey</i> (album) 1975 studio album by Burning Spear

Marcus Garvey is the third album by reggae artist Burning Spear, released in 1975 on Fox Records in Jamaica and then internationally on Island Records later in the year. The album is named after the Jamaican National Hero and Rastafari movement prophet Marcus Garvey. A dub version of it was released four months later as Garvey's Ghost.

<i>Cry Tuff Dub Encounter Part 2</i> 1979 studio album by Prince Far I

Cry Tuff Dub Encounter Part 2 is a 1979 reggae album by Prince Far I. It was recorded at Harry J's studio in Kingston, Jamaica and mixed by Prince Jammy. The album was reissued on compact disc in expanded form as Dubwise, with additional tracks taken from singles from the same era.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pressure Sounds</span> British record label

Pressure Sounds is a British DIY record label, specialising in releasing reggae music. Run by Pete Holdsworth, it is one of the most enduring reggae labels in the UK, specialising in reissuing obsolete tunes. It was originally a subsidiary of On-U Sound.

<i>Garveys Ghost</i> 1976 studio album by Burning Spear

Garvey's Ghost is the fourth album by the reggae artist Burning Spear, released in 1976 on Island Records, ILPS 9382. Each track is a dub version of its correspondent song on his third album, Marcus Garvey.

Keith Hudson, was a Jamaican reggae artist and record producer. He is known for his influence on the dub movement.

The Aggrovators were a dub/reggae backing band in the 1970s and 1980s, and one of the main session bands of producer Bunny Lee. The line-up varied, with Lee using the name for whichever set of musicians he was using at any time. The band's name derived from the record shop that Lee had run in the late 1960s, Agro Sounds. Alumni of the band included many musicians who later went on to make names for themselves in reggae music. Legends such as Jackie Mittoo, Sly and Robbie, Tommy McCook, and Aston Barrett were all involved with the band at one point or another. Other regular members included Carlton "Santa" Davis, Earl "Chinna" Smith, George "Fully" Fullwood, Ansel Collins, Bernard "Touter" Harvey, Tony Chin, Bobby Ellis, and Vin Gordon. The band recorded Lee's most popular output from the 1970s, with the instrumental B-sides of Lee's single releases on the Jackpot and Justice labels generally credited to The Aggrovators and mixed by King Tubby.

Albert Valentine "Tony" Chin is a Jamaican guitarist, who has collaborated with many reggae artists including Bob Marley, Dennis Brown, Gregory Isaacs, Freddie McGregor, Bunny Wailer, Big Youth, U-Roy, Max Romeo, Don Carlos, Mikey Dread, Burning Spear, Johnny Clarke and many others.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Earl "Chinna" Smith</span> Musical artist

Earl "Chinna" Smith, a.k.a. Earl Flute and Melchezidek the High Priest, is a Jamaican guitarist active since the late 1960s. He is most well known for his work with the Soul Syndicate band and as guitarist for Bob Marley & the Wailers, among others, and has recorded with many reggae artists, appearing on more than 500 albums.

<i>Open the Iron Gate: 1973–77</i> 1999 compilation album by Max Romeo

Open the Iron Gate: 1973–77 is a reggae compilation album by Max Romeo, released in 1999.

<i>Isaiah First Prophet of Old</i> 1978 studio album by Big Youth

Isaiah First Prophet of Old is an album by the Jamaican musician Big Youth, released in 1978. It was produced by Devon Russell.

<i>The Chanting Dread Inna Fine Style</i> 1983 compilation album by Big Youth

The Chanting Dread Inna Fine Style is a 1983 compilation of singles tracks released by Big Youth on his Negusa Nagast label dating back as far as 1973. It followed the similarly-sourced Some Great Big Youth collection. Both albums were released by Heartbeat Records.

<i>Reggae Gi Dem Dub</i> 1978 studio album by Big Youth

Reggae gi dem Dub is a studio album by Jamaican reggae artist Big Youth. It was recorded at the Harry J studio in Kingston, Jamaica.

Carlton "Santa" Davis is a musician from Jamaica, primarily known for his drumming with bands such as Bob Marley & The Wailers, The Aggrovators, Soul Syndicate and Roots Radics. He has worked with reggae artists such as Jimmy Cliff, Black Uhuru, Burning Spear, Big Youth, The Wailers, Peter Tosh, Andrew Tosh, Wailing Souls, Ini Kamoze, Big Mountain, Michael Rose, and Ziggy Marley.

<i>Natty Universal Dread 1973–1979</i> 2001 box set by Big Youth

Natty Universal Dread 1973–1979 is a 3-CD-Box-set by Big Youth, released in 2001.

<i>Pick Up the Pieces</i> (album) 1977 studio album by The Royals

Pick Up the Pieces is the debut album from Jamaican roots reggae group The Royals, collecting recordings made between 1973 and 1977, and produced by Royals lead vocalist and only constant member Roy Cousins. Musicians on the album include members of The Wailers, Soul Syndicate, The In Crowd, and the Now Generation Band. The album was later licensed to United Artists subsidiary Ballistic Records, and was reissued in an expanded form in 2002 by Pressure Sounds. The songs on the album have been described as "some of the most musically sublime expressions of Rastafarian faith and the hardships of ghetto living Jamaica has produced".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tribo de Jah</span>

Tribo de Jah is a reggae band from Brazil formed in 1986 at the Maranhão's capital city, São Luís is known as the Brazilian Jamaica, by Fauzi Beydoun, who in that time was a multinational CEO coming from Ivory Coast in África, that maintained a successful reggae program on a radio in town. It was in this school where the members met. Four band members are fully blind while the fifth has partial vision.

References

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.