Tanto Metro and Devonte

Last updated

Tanto Metro and Devonte
OriginJamaica
Genres Dancehall
Years active1996 (1996)–present
Labels VP, Epic, Universal, Penthouse
MembersTanto Metro
Devonte

Tanto Metro and Devonte are the Jamaican dancehall vocal duo of deejay Tanto Metro and singer Devonte.

Contents

History

Tanto Metro (born Mark Wolfe in Kingston, Jamaica) acquired his stage name from working on the Metromedia sound system. [1] He moved on to become part of Patrick Roberts' Shocking Vibes organization and released the solo album Ratings in 1995 which featured guest appearances from Beenie Man and Dean Fraser. He subsequently established a working partnership with tenor-voiced singer Devonte (born Wayne Passley), and the duo had a major hit in Jamaica in 1997 with "Everyone Falls in Love", which was followed by an album of the same name produced by Donovan Germain for penthouse Records; The single and album also sold well in the United States and Canada (the album topped the Billboard Top Reggae Albums Chart and the single reached number 6 in the Canadian singles chart), leading to a deal with Epic Records. [2] [3] The duo were compared to the similar duo of Chaka Demus and Pliers. [4] [5]

The duo's second album, The Beat Goes On, was released in 2001 by VP Records in Jamaica and Universal in the US. [2] The album reached number 4 on Billboard's Top Reggae Albums Chart in 2002. [6] A single from the album, "Give It to Her", reached number 85 in the Billboard Hot 100. [6] Beenie Man again guested and the duo repaid the compliment on his 2002 album Tropical Storm . [7]

The duo released Musically Inclined in 2006, with a guest appearances from Courtney Melody and Morgan Heritage. [8] A quiet period for the duo followed, although a compilation in VP/Greensleeves Most Wanted series was released in 2009. [9] [10] In 2008, Japanese musician Miliyah Kato released "Kono Mama Zutto Asa Made", a song that sampled "Everyone Falls in Love", [11] which despite being a single B side became a hit in Japan, and was certified gold by the RIAJ. [12]

They returned with the single "Already Know" in 2013, a Sly and Robbie-produced single. The album Request was scheduled to be released later that year but never did. [13]

The album Sly and Robbie Presents Tanto Metro and Devonte followed in June 2015. [14]

Discography

Tanto Metro and Devonte

Albums

  • Everyone Falls in Love (1997), VP/Epic/550 Music
  • The Beat Goes On (2001), VP/Universal
  • Musically Inclined (2006), VP
  • Request (2013), Taxi
  • Sly and Robbie Presents Tanto Metro and Devonte (2015), Taxi
  • Shocking Vibes (2024)
Compilations
  • Most Wanted (2009), VP

Singles

  • "Everyone Falls in Love" (1997), VP/Epic/550 Music
  • "Better Body" (1998), 2 Hard
  • "Say Wooee" (1998), K.Licious
  • "Go So" (1998), Greensleeves
  • "She Gone" (1998), Greensleeves
  • "How We Win Dem" (1998), Vibes House
  • "Girls Ready" (1998), Penthouse
  • "Feel Sen" (1998), Fat Eyes
  • "Everyone Falls in Love" (1999), Penthouse
  • "Front of the Line" (1999), Greensleeves
  • "I Can't Get No Sleep" (1999), Stone Love
  • "Long Time" (1999), Too Good
  • "Call My Name" (1999), How Yu Fi Sey Dat? (with Mega Banton)
  • "Promises" (1999), VP
  • "Sensimelia" (1999), K.Licious
  • "Aim for Your Goal" (1999), Penthouse
  • "Talk Up Girl" (99 Mix) (1999), Crimes Production
  • "Old Gangster Rule" (1999), Studio 2000
  • "That Thing" (1999), K.Licious
  • "Everyone Falls in Love" (1999), Relentless
  • "Give It to Her" (2002)
  • "Already Know", The Baker Productions
  • "Teaser", VP

Tanto Metro solo

Albums

  • Ratings (1995), VP

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bounty Killer</span> Jamaican musician (born 1972)

Rodney Basil Price, known as Bounty Killer, is a Jamaican reggae and dancehall deejay. AllMusic describes him as "one of the most aggressive dancehall stars of the '90s, a street-tough rude boy with an unrepentant flair for gun talk". He is considered one of the best dancehall lyricists of all time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gregory Isaacs</span> Jamaican reggae musician (1951–2010)

Gregory Anthony Isaacs OD was a Jamaican reggae musician. Milo Miles, writing in The New York Times, described Isaacs as "the most exquisite vocalist in reggae".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anthony B</span> Musical artist

Keith Blair, better known by the stage name Anthony B, is a Jamaican DJ and member of the Rastafari movement.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cocoa Tea</span> Jamaican musician (born 1959)

Colvin George Scott, better known as Cocoa Tea, is a Jamaican reggae singer and songwriter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wayne Wonder</span> Jamaican reggae fusion singer

Von Wayne Charles, better known by his stage name Wayne Wonder, is a Jamaican reggae artist. While his early recordings were dancehall and reggae, he later moved towards hip hop and rap. His most popular single is the 2003 hit "No Letting Go".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dennis Brown</span> Jamaican reggae singer (1957–1999)

Dennis Emmanuel Brown CD was a Jamaican reggae singer. During his prolific career, which began in the late 1960s when he was aged eleven, he recorded more than 75 albums and was one of the major stars of lovers rock, a subgenre of reggae. Bob Marley cited Brown as his favourite singer, dubbing him "The Crown Prince of Reggae", and Brown would prove influential on future generations of reggae singers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roots Radics</span> Musical artist

The Roots Radics Band is a Jamaican reggae group, formed in 1978 by bass player Errol "Flabba" Holt, guitarist Eric "Bingy Bunny" Lamont and drummer Lincoln "Style" Scott. The nucleus of Holt and Lamont had previously worked together in the group The Morwells and in the backing band for Prince Far I called The Arabs. They were joined by many musicians, including guitarist Noel "Sowell" Bailey, Dwight Pinkney and Steve Golding, keyboard player Wycliffe "Steelie" Johnson, Pianist Gladstone "Gladdy" Anderson and saxophonist Headley Bennett. As a combined force the Roots Radics became a well-respected studio and stage band, which dominated the sound in the first half of the 1980s. In addition to their own catalogue, they have worked with artists such as Bunny Wailer, Gregory Isaacs, Michael Prophet, Eek-A-Mouse, and Israel Vibration.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VP Records</span> US independent reggae record label

VP Records is an independent Caribbean-owned record label in Queens, New York. The label is known for releasing music by notable artists in reggae, dancehall and soca. VP Records has offices in New York City, Miami, London, Kingston, Tokyo, Johannesburg and Rio de Janeiro. Additionally, the label has established a presence in Toronto, Australia and New Zealand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Garnett Silk</span> Jamaican reggae musician (1966-1994)

Garnet Silk was a Jamaican reggae musician and Rastafarian, known for his diverse, emotive, powerful and smooth voice. During the early 1990s he was hailed as a rising talent, however his career was ended by his early death in 1994, while attempting to save his mother from her burning house.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cutty Ranks</span> Jamaican dancehall singer

Philip Thomas, better known as Cutty Ranks, is a Jamaican dancehall singer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Half Pint</span> Musical artist

Half Pint, and sometimes credited Lindon Andrew Roberts, is a Jamaican dancehall, ragga, and reggae singer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Wailing Souls</span>

The Wailing Souls are a Jamaican reggae vocal group whose origins date back to the 1960s. The group has undergone several line-up changes over the years with Winston "Pipe" Matthews and Lloyd "Bread" McDonald the only constant members. They have been nominated for Grammy Awards three times.

Paul Blake, better known as Frankie Paul, was a Jamaican dancehall reggae artist. Born blind, he has been dubbed by some 'The Jamaican Stevie Wonder'.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tony Rebel</span> Musical artist

Patrick George Anthony Barrett, better known by his stage name Tony Rebel, is a Jamaican reggae deejay.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Richie Stephens</span> Jamaican singer and producer (born 1966)

Richard Stephenson, better known as Richie Stephens is a Jamaican R&B, dancehall and reggae singer and producer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mad Cobra</span> Jamaican dancehall musician

Ewart Everton Brown, better known by his stage name Mad Cobra or simply Cobra, is a Jamaican dancehall musician.

<i>Nyah Man Chant</i> 1997 studio album by Bushman

Nyah Man Chant is the debut album from Jamaican roots reggae singer Bushman. It was released in 1997 by Greensleeves Records in the United Kingdom and by VP Records in the United States. Bushman had hitch-hiked seventy miles to Kingston in the hope of furthering his career. After meeting renowned production team Steely & Clevie in the car park of the Arrows dub-cutting studio, where they were playing football, he auditioned on the spot and was invited to their studio. Prior to the album, Bushman recorded a string of singles for the duo, including "Grow Your Natty", "Call the Hearse", "Remember the Days", "Black Star Liner", and "Man a Lion", all of which were included on the album. The whole album was produced by Steely & Clevie, and employed a real horn section in contrast to many reggae albums of the time, and met with a positive critical reaction. The album recreated the sound of 1970s and 1980s reggae, and included musicians such as Earl "Chinna" Smith, Dean Fraser, and Vin Gordon. The album was described in the Rough Guides book Reggae: 100 Essential CDs as "a coherent, excellently crafted set" and "as good an example of modern roots singing as you could hope to find". Allmusic called the album "a classic".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sadiki</span> Musical artist

Henry Buckley Jr. aka Sadiki previously known as Pancho Kryztal, is a Jamaican-American singer, songwriter and producer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Romain Virgo</span> Musical artist

Romain Virgo is a Jamaican singer, specializing in the lovers rock style of reggae music, and a past competitor in the local music competition Rising Stars.

Kemar McGregor, also known by his nicknames, DJ Flava and Flava McGregor, is a Jamaican-American pop reggae producer. He has recorded and produced music for the most renowned artists in the music industry, including Sinéad O'Connor, Musiq Soulchild, Syleena Johnson, Snoop Dogg/Snoop Lion, Jon Secada, Maxi Priest, Sizzla, Marcia Griffiths, Beenie Man, Wayne Wonder, Buju Banton, Capleton, Sanchez, Freddie McGregor, Luciano, Sugar Minott, Barrington Levy, Gregory Isaacs, Morgan Heritage, Half Pint, Tanya Stephens, Gyptian, Cas Haley, Beres Hammond, Glen Washington, Etana and Cocoa Tea, among many others. McGregor is the owner and chief executive officer of FM Records.

References

  1. Henry, Krista (2007) "'Metro' Plays Year to Year Archived 12 August 2011 at the Wayback Machine ", Jamaica Gleaner , 11 November 2007. Retrieved 16 June 2013
  2. 1 2 Ruhlmann, William "Tanto Metro Biography", Allmusic. Retrieved 16 June 2013
  3. Oumano, Elena (1999) "The Year in Reggae", Billboard , 25 December 1999 – 1 Jan 2000. Retrieved 16 June 2013
  4. Cummings-Yeates, Rosalind ""Everyone Falls In Love" Review", Allmusic. Retrieved 16 June 2013
  5. Barrow, Steve & Dalton, Peter (2004) The Rough Guide to Reggae, Rough Guides, ISBN   1-84353-329-4, pp. 315–6
  6. 1 2 "The Beat Goes On Awards", Allmusic. Retrieved 16 June 2013
  7. Anderson, Rick "Tropical Storm", Allmusic. Retrieved 16 June 2013
  8. Anderson, Rick "Musically Inclined Review", Allmusic. Retrieved 16 June 2013
  9. Tognazzini, Anthony "Most Wanted Review", Allmusic. Retrieved 16 June 2013
  10. "Wanted: Tanto Metro and Devonte Archived 21 December 2011 at the Wayback Machine ", Jamaica Gleaner , 4 June 2009. Retrieved 16 June 2013
  11. "New Single「Eyes on you」リリース決定!" . Retrieved 19 January 2021.
  12. "Japanese digital single certifications – 加藤ミリヤ – このままずっと朝まで" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan . Retrieved 27 September 2021.Select 2009年2月 on the drop-down menu
  13. Campbell-Livingston, Cecelia (2013) "Special request for Tanto Metro & Devonte", Jamaica Observer , 7 June 2013. Retrieved 16 June 2013
  14. Morgan, Simone (2015) "Tanto Metro and Devonte are back", Jamaica Observer , 3 July 2015. Retrieved 4 July 2015