Biography
Prior to the rocksteady era, Lloyd "Charmers" Terel and Roy "Teddy Charmers" Willis captivated audiences across Jamaica and farther afield through their recordings. The pair first teamed during the late 1950s, establishing themselves firmly within Kingston’s sound-system circuit and club scene. Commercial releases did not appear until the following decade, however, when their initial single, the 1961 track “I’m Going Back Home,” reached retail outlets and was promptly licensed by Britain’s Blue Beat imprint. Coxsone Dodd handled production duties and issued a steady succession of Charmers 45s across the next two years; the titles “Oh Why Baby,” “Sweeter She Is,” “I Am Through,” “Cutie,” “Angel Love,” “Beware,” “My Heart,” “What’s the Use,” “Love Forever,” “Sweet Baby,” “Long Walk Home,” and “Jeannie Girl” all appeared on seven-inch format. Among them, “Jeannie” achieved the strongest sales.
After parting from Dodd in 1962, the duo cut several energetic sides for Theo Beckford before moving on to Prince Buster, for whom “Crying Over You”/“Now You Want to Cry” served as their first release; additional tracks followed. They also supplied singles to Justin Yap, Byron Lee, Linden Pottinger, and D. Dunkley. Their last sessions took place for King Edwards, yielding the numbers “Try Me One More Time,” “You Don’t Know,” and “Where Do I Turn.”
In 1966 former Techniques vocalist Slim Smith recruited Terel for his new ensemble, the Uniques, thereby dissolving the original partnership while leaving the Charmers name intact. Terel subsequently issued numerous solo discs under the billing Lloyd Charmers and occasionally revived the duo credit for later reggae-era releases. One such example, “Skinhead Train,” appeared under the Charmers name yet consisted of a funk-inflected instrumental topped by the singer’s own toast; likewise “Just My Imagination,” though essentially a solo performance augmented by harmony vocals, carried the old duo attribution. In their prime the Charmers moved with equal assurance through R&B, ballads, and exuberant ska, their warm and expressive harmonies consistently pleasing. Despite these accomplishments, their scattered catalogue and the still-uncompiled Buster material have left them among Jamaica’s most overlooked talents.
After parting from Dodd in 1962, the duo cut several energetic sides for Theo Beckford before moving on to Prince Buster, for whom “Crying Over You”/“Now You Want to Cry” served as their first release; additional tracks followed. They also supplied singles to Justin Yap, Byron Lee, Linden Pottinger, and D. Dunkley. Their last sessions took place for King Edwards, yielding the numbers “Try Me One More Time,” “You Don’t Know,” and “Where Do I Turn.”
In 1966 former Techniques vocalist Slim Smith recruited Terel for his new ensemble, the Uniques, thereby dissolving the original partnership while leaving the Charmers name intact. Terel subsequently issued numerous solo discs under the billing Lloyd Charmers and occasionally revived the duo credit for later reggae-era releases. One such example, “Skinhead Train,” appeared under the Charmers name yet consisted of a funk-inflected instrumental topped by the singer’s own toast; likewise “Just My Imagination,” though essentially a solo performance augmented by harmony vocals, carried the old duo attribution. In their prime the Charmers moved with equal assurance through R&B, ballads, and exuberant ska, their warm and expressive harmonies consistently pleasing. Despite these accomplishments, their scattered catalogue and the still-uncompiled Buster material have left them among Jamaica’s most overlooked talents.
Albums
Reggae Originals: John Holt, Pat Rhoden & The Charmers
2021
Everyone I Love Is Here
2019
Bad and Gettin' Worse`
2013
Then You Grow Up
2013
Is She Is, Or Is She Ain´t / Lonely Boy
1946
Singles
