Biography
Reggae Regular came together in 1976 to back visiting Jamaican performers across British venues. Its original roster included George ‘Flee’ Clark on keyboards, Allan ‘Kingping’ King and Anthony ‘Benjamin’ Rookwood sharing lead vocals and harmonies, Trevor ‘Seal’ Salmon on bass, Errol ‘Sly Jnr.’ Francis behind the drums, and Patrick ‘Chiki’ Donegan handling rhythm guitar and harmonies; Norman Junior Ebanks later added lead guitar. Early engagements featured the Morwells during their debut UK tour. Under Castro Brown’s management the musicians also supplied instrumental support for the lovers-rock trio 15-16-17. Following a managerial shift in 1977 the band entered a London studio under Lloyd ‘TCB’ Patten’s direction, yielding the year’s standout UK reggae release “Where Is Jah,” a spectral salute to Rastafari that simultaneously launched the enduring independent Greensleeves Records. Its successor, “The Black Star Liner”—an allusion to Marcus Garvey’s planned fleet—enjoyed comparable acclaim and drew CBS Records’ interest. The major-label contract proved detrimental: CBS renamed the act the Regulars, convinced that retaining “reggae” in the title would limit commercial reach. Despite lavish marketing that encompassed a picture disc, gatefold packaging, and a bonus 12-inch, sales collapsed. Lloyd ‘TCB’ Patten’s album was judged lackluster, prompting a watered-down remake of the signature single that dulled its impact, while the label pushed a 2-Tone-inspired stylistic pivot. In 1980 the group’s ska-inflected reading of the Wailers’ “Rude Boy Gone A Jail” and Kenrick Patrick’s “Don’t Stay Out Late” appeared on Epic, albeit assigned a CBS matrix. The ensemble subsequently dissolved, its members pursuing separate endeavors. Trevor Salmon and Patrick Donegan resurfaced on Greensleeves in 1984 under the Reggae Regular banner, now augmented by Weston Salmon and Brian Campbell, with Mad Professor engineering the sessions. Tracks such as “Violence In The Streets,” “Tribute To The DJ,” and “Aristocrat” reflected considerable investment yet failed to recapture earlier momentum. Allan ‘Kingping’ King issued the solo recordings “Letter From Jail” and “God Of Love,” both receiving favorable notice. In spring 1996 Patrick Donegan surfaced again as the Dub Teacher with the album Dub Teachings Lesson One.
Albums
