The Morwells

Formed in Kingston, Jamaica, West Indies during 1973, the duo consisted of Maurice ‘Blacka’ Wellington (b. 19 August 1950, d. 12 October 2000; vocals, percussion) alongside Bingi Bunny (b. Eric Lamont, c.1956, Kingston, Jamaica, West Indies, d. January 1994; vocals, guitar). Their name derived from a contraction of Wellington’s own. Before the group’s creation Wellington had worked as a record salesman, while Lamont had already cut sides with Bongo Herman for Derrick Harriott. The pair issued “Mafia Boss” and “You Got To Be Holy” on their own Morwell Esquire imprint in 1974, then delivered their first long-player, Presenting The Morwells, the following year. That set mixed fresh compositions with reinterpretations of material originally popularized by the Melodians and Delroy Wilson. A dub counterpart titled Dub Me appeared as well and ultimately outsold its vocal counterpart. In 1976 Wellington took an engineering and production role at Joe Gibbs’s studio, while Lamont assumed rhythm-guitar duties in Channel One’s house band, the Revolutionaries. Those positions granted ready entrée to premier session talent and facilities, marking the period of their strongest work. Further Morwell Esquire singles arrived in the shape of “Proverb” (1976) and “Crab In A Bag” (1977); eight cuts from the debut album together with four 45s were subsequently compiled for the UK market under the title Crab Race. Bassist Errol Holt became a permanent member, and 1977 yielded additional singles such as “’77 Festival” for Joe Gibbs, “Mix-up” for Winston ‘Niney’ Holness, and “Africa We Want To Go” for Tony Robinson. Strong albums continued with Cool Runnings, Kingston 12 Toughie, and The Best Of The Morwells. The partnership eventually dissolved, Wellington maintaining the Morwell label while Lamont and Holt launched Roots Radics. Wellington succumbed to adenocarcinoma in 2000 at the age of fifty.