The Chantells

Last updated

The Chantells
GenresReggae
Years active1975–1979
Past membersSamuel Bramwell
Tommy Thomas
Lloyd Forrester

The Chantells were a Jamaican reggae group from the latter half of the 1970s. [1]

Samuel Bramwell, Tommy Thomas and Lloyd Forrester started to record as a vocal harmony trio in 1975, for the producers Duke Reid and Clive Hunt.

Their collaboration with Roy Francis on his record label, Phase One, was the strongest part of their short career. The success of such singles such as "True Born African" or "Children of Jah", and their sole album, Waiting in the Park (featuring Jah Berry and U Brown) in 1978, made them one of the most promising soulful bands of this rockers reggae period. The Chantells were usually backed on their records by The Revolutionaries or by Lloyd Parks and his band Skin, Flesh and Bones, with King Tubby and Scientist engineering and producing. Toaster U Brown also featured on their release, Children of Jah.

The single How Can I Get Over, released by Sonia Pottinger on her High Note label, was a major success. The record had also been released earlier with attribution to Duke Reid, appearing on his renowned Treasure Isle label. By 1974, Sonia Pottinger had bought Duke Reid's studio and the rights to the releases on his label. The track was later released on a Heartbeat Records compilation entitled The Reggae Train : More Great Hits from the High Note Label. The group disbanded in 1979.

Vocalist Sam Bramwell made a number of powerful solo recordings for producer and label owner, Donovan Germain. One of Germain label's most well-known records on the sound system circuit in UK, especially on Jah Shaka sound, was Sam Bramwell's It aggo Dread Inna Babylon, which Bramwell recorded with The Revolutionaries. Effort in Yourself and Ruling Time have also proved to be a firm favourite from that time to the present time with the roots sound systems worldwide. Bramwell was killed in 1985 during a failed attempted robbery in Kingston. [2]

A number of highly regarded compilations of their work have been released in recent years, solidifying their reputation as roots reggae and dub artists of innovation, originality and creativity : the most notable is The Chantells & Friends – Children of Jah 1977-1979, released by Blood and Fire in 1999, with extensive and well-researched sleeve notes from reggae historian, archivist and collector, Steve Barrow. In 2002 Motion Records released The Sound of Phase One, also focusing on Chantells rarities. The Chantells also featured on Motion Records King Tubby and Friends.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sugar Minott</span> Jamaican reggae singer (1956–2010)

Lincoln Barrington "Sugar" Minott was a Jamaican reggae and dancehall singer, record producer and sound-system operator.

Arthur "Duke" Reid CD was a Jamaican record producer, DJ and label owner.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">U-Roy</span> Jamaican musician (1942–2021)

Ewart Beckford OD, known by the stage name U-Roy, was a Jamaican vocalist and pioneer of toasting. U-Roy was known for a melodic style of toasting applied with a highly developed sense of timing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Culture (band)</span> Jamaican roots reggae band

Culture are a Jamaican roots reggae group founded in 1976. Originally they were known as the African Disciples. The one constant member until his death in 2006 was Joseph Hill.

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

Lloyd Woodrowe James, better known as Prince Jammy or King Jammy, is a Jamaican dub mixer, sound system owner and record producer. He began his musical career as a dub master at King Tubby's recording studio. His dubs are known for their clear sound and use of effects.

Heartbeat Records is an independent record label based in Burlington, Massachusetts. The label specializes in Jamaican music.

Roland Alphonso OD or Rolando Alphonsoa.k.a. "The Chief Musician" was a Jamaican tenor saxophonist, and one of the founding members of the Skatalites.

Henry James, better known as Peter Broggs, was a Jamaican roots reggae vocalist and songwriter.

Sonia Eloise Pottinger OD was a Jamaican reggae record producer. An icon in the music business, Sonia Pottinger was the first female Jamaican record producer and produced artists from the mid-1960s until the mid-1980s.

Justin Hinds was a Jamaican ska and conscious roots reggae vocalist with his backing singers the Dominoes.

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

Willi Williams is a Jamaican reggae and dub musician and producer. He is known as the "Armagideon Man" after his hit, "Armagideon Time", first recorded in 1977 at Studio One in Kingston. The song was covered by The Clash as the flipside of their "London Calling" single.

The Silvertones are a Jamaican reggae harmony group formed in 1964, best known for their recordings for Lee "Scratch" Perry in the early 1970s.

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

Nkrumah "Jah" Thomas is a reggae deejay and record producer who first came to prominence in the 1970s, later setting up his own Midnight Rock and Nura labels.

Horatious Adolphus "Pat" Kelly was a prolific, influential Jamaican rocksteady and reggae singer and innovative, groundbreaking sound engineer working with King Tubby, Bunny Lee and Scientist (musician), whose career began in the mid-1960s. He recorded as a solo artist and as a member of the vocal group the Techniques. Slim Smith, who had been the lead vocalist in the band, left The Techniques in 1966 to be replaced by Pat Kelly. The shift from ska to rocksteady suited The Techniques, with a string of hits in 1967 and 1968 notably "You Don't Care" and "Queen Majesty", tunes which were versioned by Big Youth, Tony Tuff, Duke Reid, Tommy McCook, Sonia Pottinger's High Note label with The Revolutionaries, Ronnie Davis, The Itals, Cornell Campbell and many more

Huford Brown, better known by the stage name U Brown, is a reggae deejay who released eleven albums between 1976 and 1984.

Jah Lloyd, aka Jah Lion, The Black Lion of Judah, and Jah Ali was a Jamaican reggae singer, deejay and producer.

Donovan Germain OD is a reggae producer, one of the most successful of the digital era.

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

Stranger Cole, also known as StrangeJah Cole is a Jamaican singer whose long recording career dates from the early days of ska in 1962 through to the present (2024).

The Viceroys, also known as The Voiceroys, The Interns, The Inturns, The Brothers, and The Hot Tops, are a conscious roots reggae vocal group who first recorded in 1967. After releasing several albums in the late 1970s and early 1980s, they split up in the mid-1980s. They reformed and recorded a new album in 2006.

References

  1. ↑ Steffens, Roger (December 1986). "World Beat - News and Notes". SPIN . 2 (9): 18 – via Google Books.
  2. ↑ Steffens, Roger (December 1986). "World Beat - Pato Banton and Tippa Irie Inna Deejay Style". SPIN . 2 (9): 18 – via Google Books.


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.