Biography
Jamaica's foremost session ensemble, Roots Radics, backed Gregory Isaacs on the road and in recording sessions while also joining forces with an array of other performers that encompassed Bunny Wailer, Israel Vibration, Sugar Minott, the Wailing Souls, On-U-Sounds, Creation Rebel, and Prince Far-I. They crossed the United Kingdom alongside Prince Far-I under the name the Arabs.
The group's roots extend to the Morvells, the band fronted by Morris "Blacker" Wellington that counted future Roots Radics members Errol "Flabba" Holt on bass and Eric "Bingy Bunny" Lamont on guitar among its ranks. Holt and Lamont participated in the mid-'70s successes "Swing and Dine," "They Hold Us Down," and "Kingston Is Tuffy" while affiliated with the Morwells. Lamont had already collaborated with bongo player Bongo Herman on the 1971 hit "Know Far-I" and produced an album for Pete Boggs, while Holt had previously scored solo successes such as "A You Lick Me First," "Gimme Gimme," and "Who Have Eyes to See."
Their first joint work took place inside Channel One's house band the Revolutionaries, whose lineup also featured the rhythm section of bassist Sly Dunbar and drummer Robbie Shakespeare. Once Shakespeare and Dunbar departed to found Taxi Records, the Revolutionaries developed into Roots Radics.
Produced by Henry "Junjo" Lawes, their initial independent success "Bounty Hunter" surfaced in 1979. They quickly emerged as leading exponents of the dancehall approach that defined reggae in the early 1980s, though their standing declined with the arrival of the digital and ragga styles during the mid-1980s. Their last hit, "Hot We Hot," appeared in 1989 and showcased lead vocals by Dwight "Brother Dee" Pinkney. Lamont's death from prostate cancer in January 1994 left the band's prospects uncertain.
The group's roots extend to the Morvells, the band fronted by Morris "Blacker" Wellington that counted future Roots Radics members Errol "Flabba" Holt on bass and Eric "Bingy Bunny" Lamont on guitar among its ranks. Holt and Lamont participated in the mid-'70s successes "Swing and Dine," "They Hold Us Down," and "Kingston Is Tuffy" while affiliated with the Morwells. Lamont had already collaborated with bongo player Bongo Herman on the 1971 hit "Know Far-I" and produced an album for Pete Boggs, while Holt had previously scored solo successes such as "A You Lick Me First," "Gimme Gimme," and "Who Have Eyes to See."
Their first joint work took place inside Channel One's house band the Revolutionaries, whose lineup also featured the rhythm section of bassist Sly Dunbar and drummer Robbie Shakespeare. Once Shakespeare and Dunbar departed to found Taxi Records, the Revolutionaries developed into Roots Radics.
Produced by Henry "Junjo" Lawes, their initial independent success "Bounty Hunter" surfaced in 1979. They quickly emerged as leading exponents of the dancehall approach that defined reggae in the early 1980s, though their standing declined with the arrival of the digital and ragga styles during the mid-1980s. Their last hit, "Hot We Hot," appeared in 1989 and showcased lead vocals by Dwight "Brother Dee" Pinkney. Lamont's death from prostate cancer in January 1994 left the band's prospects uncertain.
Albums
