Black Roots

Black Roots emerged in Bristol, England, during the early 1980s, distinct from the Sugar Minott project sharing its title. Errol Brown handled vocals alongside Delroy Ogilvie, while Kondwani Ngozi contributed congas and vocals, Jabulani Ngozi played rhythm guitar, Cordell Francis took lead guitar duties, Carlton Roots managed keyboards and vocals, Trevor Seivwright sat behind the drums, and Derrick King anchored the bass. A devoted local following quickly formed after the ensemble displayed its formidable abilities across multiple live engagements. Broader visibility arrived via their slot on the inaugural televised Rockers Roadshow, an early Channel 4 program spotlighting British Black music. Introduced by Mikey Dread, the outfit delivered the well-known tracks ‘Move On’, ‘Survival Time’ and ‘Africa’, opening the broadcast with a tribute to Scipio Africanus, one of the UK’s earliest immigrant slaves, interred on Whiteladies Road at Blackboy Hill in Bristol’s St. Pauls district. Establishing themselves as a commanding reggae presence, they launched an intensive touring schedule to promote the Black Roots collection, issued on their Nubian imprint and greeted with strong approval from reggae outlets as well as a review in The Guardian. Mounting curiosity prompted the BBC to task the group with composing the theme for The Front Line, a sitcom centered on two Black brothers—one a streetwise dreadlocked rasta, the other a police officer—whose opening sequence showed the band performing the number and ultimately yielded an album bearing the same name. That same year they issued ‘Juvenile Delinquent’, which, after licensing to the Kick label, registered just beneath the national chart. European tours backing Linton Kwesi Johnson and Eek A Mouse earned further positive notices. Maintaining momentum into 1985, they appeared at the WOMAD festival in Essex alongside Toots And The Maytals and Thomas Mapfumo. Recognized as a committed roots ensemble, they enlisted Mad Professor to helm their third album, which also featured Vin Gordon and Michael ‘Bammi’ Rose. Among its tracks stood the standout lovers rock cut ‘Seeing Your Face’, led by Carlton Roots and regrettably passed over for single release, as was their rendition of the Fat Larry’s Band hit ‘Zoom’. The 1988 single ‘Start Afresh’ achieved modest success, while In A Different Style showcased their range. Additional late-1980s sessions with Mad Professor brought in the versatile Black Steel to expand the sonic palette, producing the evocative tracks ‘Guide Us’, ‘Voice Of The People’ and ‘Natural Reaction’.