The Revolutionaries (sometimes known as "Revolutionaires") was a Jamaican

reggae Reggae () is a music genre that originated in Jamaica during the late 1960s. The term also denotes the modern popular music of Jamaica and its Jamaican diaspora, diaspora. A 1968 single by Toots and the Maytals, "Do the Reggay", was the first ...

band Band or BAND may refer to: Places *Bánd, a village in Hungary * Band, Iran, a village in Urmia County, West Azerbaijan Province, Iran * Band, Mureș, a commune in Romania * Band-e Majid Khan, a village in Bukan County, West Azerbaijan Province, ...

Career

Set up in 1975 as the

house band A house band is a group of musicians, often centrally organized by a band leader, who regularly play at an establishment. It is widely used to refer both to the bands who work on entertainment programs on television or radio, and to bands which ...

of the

Channel One Studios Channel One is a recording studio in Maxfield Avenue, West Kingston, Jamaica. The studio was built by the Hoo Kim brothers in 1972, and has had a profound influence on the development of reggae music. History Joseph Hoo Kim's parents ran a bar a ...

owned by

Joseph Hoo Kim Joseph is a common male name, derived from the Hebrew (). "Joseph" is used, along with " Josef", mostly in English, French and partially German languages. This spelling is also found as a variant in the languages of the modern-day Nordic count ...

, The Revolutionaries with

Sly Dunbar Lowell Fillmore "Sly" Dunbar (born 10 May 1952, Kingston, Jamaica) is a Jamaican drummer, best known as one half of the prolific Jamaican rhythm section and reggae production duo Sly and Robbie. Biography Dunbar began playing at 15 in a ba ...

drum The drum is a member of the percussion group of musical instruments. In the Hornbostel–Sachs classification system, it is a membranophone. Drums consist of at least one membrane, called a drumhead or drum skin, that is stretched over a ...

s and Bertram "Ranchie" McLean on

bass Bass or Basses may refer to: Fish * Bass (fish), various saltwater and freshwater species Wood * Bass or basswood, the wood of the tilia americana tree Music * Bass (sound), describing low-frequency sound or one of several instruments in th ...

, created the new " rockers" style that would change the whole

Jamaica Jamaica is an island country in the Caribbean Sea and the West Indies. At , it is the third-largest island—after Cuba and Hispaniola—of the Greater Antilles and the Caribbean. Jamaica lies about south of Cuba, west of Hispaniola (the is ...

n sound (from

roots reggae Roots reggae is a subgenre of reggae that deals with the everyday lives and aspirations of Ethnic groups of Africa, Africans and those in the African Diaspora, including the spiritual side of Rastafari, black liberation, revolution and the ho ...

to rockers, and be imitated in all other productions). Beside Sly, many musicians played in the band:

Robbie Shakespeare Robert Warren Dale Shakespeare (27 September 1953 – 8 December 2021) was a Jamaican bass guitarist and record producer, best known as half of the reggae rhythm section and production duo Sly and Robbie, with drummer Sly Dunbar. Regarded as on ...

, JoJo Hookim, Bertram McLean, and Radcliffe "Dougie" Bryan on

guitar The guitar is a stringed musical instrument that is usually fretted (with Fretless guitar, some exceptions) and typically has six or Twelve-string guitar, twelve strings. It is usually held flat against the player's body and played by strumming ...

, Ossie Hibbert, Errol "Tarzan" Nelson,

Robbie Lyn Robert "Robbie" Bernard Lyn is a Jamaican session musician who plays piano, keyboard and synthesiser. Biography Robbie Lyn is a popular Jamaican session musician, who has played with various session/backing bands including Now Generation, Soun ...

or Ansel Collins on keyboards,

Uziah "Sticky" Thompson Uzziah "Sticky" Thompson (1 August 1936 – 25 August 2014) was a Jamaican percussionist, vocalist and deejay active from the late 1950s. He worked with some of the best known performers of Jamaican music and played on hundreds of albums. Biog ...

, Noel "Scully" Simms on

percussion A percussion instrument is a musical instrument that is sounded by being struck or scraped by a percussion mallet, beater including attached or enclosed beaters or Rattle (percussion beater), rattles struck, scraped or rubbed by hand or ...

Tommy McCook Tommy McCook (4 March 1927 – 5 May 1998) was a Jamaican saxophonist. A founding member of The Skatalites, he also directed The Supersonics for Duke Reid, and backed many sessions for Bunny Lee or with The Revolutionaries at Channel ...

Herman Marquis Herman Marquis is a Jamaican saxophone musician who has played with many reggae artists including Burning Spear. He recorded for Arthur "Duke" Reid in the 1960s and was a member of The Revolutionaries and The Upsetters in the 1970s.Barrow, Steve ...

saxophone The saxophone (often referred to colloquially as the sax) is a type of single-reed woodwind instrument with a conical body, usually made of brass. As with all single-reed instruments, sound is produced when a reed on a mouthpiece vibrates to p ...

Bobby Ellis Bobby Ellis OD (2 July 1932 – 18 October 2016) was a Jamaican trumpet player. He worked with many reggae artists including Peter Tosh, Burning Spear and The Revolutionaries. Biography Born in Kingston on 2 October 1932, Bobby Ellis attended ...

trumpet The trumpet is a brass instrument commonly used in classical and jazz musical ensemble, ensembles. The trumpet group ranges from the piccolo trumpet—with the highest Register (music), register in the brass family—to the bass trumpet, pitche ...

and

Vin Gordon Vin Gordon (a.k.a. Trommie, Don D. Junior or Don Drummond Jr) (born 4 August 1949) is a Jamaican trombone player. Biography Gordon grew up in Jones Town, Kingston, Jamaica as one of eight children. He went to Kingston's Catholic Alpha Boys Sc ...

trombone The trombone (, Italian, French: ''trombone'') is a musical instrument in the Brass instrument, brass family. As with all brass instruments, sound is produced when the player's lips vibrate inside a mouthpiece, causing the Standing wave, air c ...

. In 1976, The Revolutionaries attained further respect from the Sound System and dub fraternity when they recorded a track named after author

Alex Haley Alexander Murray Palmer Haley (August 11, 1921 – February 10, 1992) was an American writer and the author of the 1976 book '' Roots: The Saga of an American Family.'' ABC adapted the book as a television miniseries of the same name and ...

's character,

Kunta Kinte Kunta Kinte ( ) is the main character from the 1976 novel '' Roots: The Saga of an American Family'' by American author Alex Haley. Kunta Kinte was based on family oral tradition accounts of one of Haley's ancestors, a Gambian man who was born ...

, which would become one of

music's most recognisable

riddim In Jamaican dancehall music, a riddim is the instrumental accompaniment to a song and is synonymous with the rhythm section. Jamaican music genres that use the term consist of the ''riddim'' plus the ''voicing'' (vocal part) sung by the deeja ...

s and which for many years was only played by selected

sound systems Sound system may refer to: Technology media * Sound reinforcement system, a system for amplifying audio for an audience * High fidelity, a sound system intended for accurate reproduction of music in the home * Public address system, an institution ...

dubplate A dubplate is an acetate disc usually of 10 inches diameter, traditionally used by studios to test recordings prior to mastering for the subsequent pressing of a vinyl record, but pioneered by reggae sound systems as a way to play exclusive mu ...

. The track ''Kunta Kinte'' was based on an earlier tune, ''Beware Of Your Enemies,'' released from

's Channel One. The 1976 dub version released by The Revolutionaries became a

sound system Sound system may refer to: Technology media * Sound reinforcement system, a system for amplifying audio for an audience * High fidelity, a sound system intended for accurate reproduction of music in the home * Public address system, an institution ...

anthem for many years on

, and also inspired a UK version produced by

Mad Professor Neil Joseph Stephen Fraser (born 27 March 1955, Georgetown, Guyana) known by his stage-name Mad Professor, is a British dub music producer, engineer and remixer. He has collaborated with reggae artists Lee "Scratch" Perry, Sly and Robbie, ...

in 1981. It has also inspired

Drum and Bass Drum and bass (commonly abbreviated as DnB, D&B, or D'n'B) is a genre of electronic dance music characterised by fast Break (music)#Breakbeat (element of music), breakbeats (typically 165–185 Tempo, beats per minute) with heavy Bass (music) ...

and

jungle jungle is land covered with dense forest and tangled vegetation, usually in tropical climates. Application of the term has varied greatly during the past century. Etymology The word ''jungle'' originates from the Sanskrit word ''jaṅgala'' ...

covers, and was consistently played by

Jah Shaka Jah Shaka ( – 12 April 2023), also known as the Zulu Warrior, was a Jamaican reggae/dub sound system operator who operated a South East London-based, roots reggae Jamaican sound system since the early 1970s. His name is an amalgamation of the ...

. The band played on numerous dub albums and recorded as a

backing band A backup band or backing band is a Band (music), musical ensemble that typically Accompaniment, accompanies a single artist who is the featured performer. The situation may be a live performance or in a Studio recording, recording session, and the ...

for artists like B.B. Seaton, Carl Malcolm,

Black Uhuru Black Uhuru is a Jamaican reggae group formed in 1972, initially as Uhuru ( Swahili for 'freedom'). The group has undergone several line-up changes over the years, with Derrick "Duckie" Simpson as the mainstay. They had their most successful pe ...

Culture Culture ( ) is a concept that encompasses the social behavior, institutions, and Social norm, norms found in human societies, as well as the knowledge, beliefs, arts, laws, Social norm, customs, capabilities, Attitude (psychology), attitudes ...

, Prince Alla,

Leroy Smart Leroy Smart (born 1952) is a reggae singer-songwriter and record producer from Kingston, Jamaica. Biography Smart was born in 1952 and orphaned at the age of two. He was raised at Maxfield Park Children's Home and educated at Alpha Boys School ...

Gregory Isaacs Gregory Anthony Isaacs OD (15 July 1951 – 25 October 2010)Thompson, p. 127. was a Jamaican reggae musician. Milo Miles, writing in ''The New York Times'', described Isaacs as "the most exquisite vocalist in reggae".Miles, Milo (1992),RECORDI ...

, John Holt,

The Heptones The Heptones are a Jamaican rocksteady and reggae vocal trio most active in the 1960s and early 1970s. They were one of the more significant trios of that era, and played a major role in the gradual transition between ska and rocksteady in ...

Mighty Diamonds The Mighty Diamonds were a Jamaican harmony trio, recording roots reggae with a strong Rastafarian influence. The group was formed in 1969 and were best known for their 1976 debut album, '' Right Time'', produced by Joseph Hoo Kim, and the 1979 ...

I-Roy Roy Samuel Reid (28 June 1944 – 27 November 1999), better known as I-Roy, was a Jamaican deejay who had a very prolific career during the 1970s. Biography Born in 1944 in Saint Thomas Parish, Jamaica, Reid graduated from Dinthill Technical C ...

Tapper Zukie Tapper Zukie (or Tappa Zukie) (born David Sinclair, 1955, Kingston, Jamaica, Kingston, Jamaica) is a roots reggae Deejay (Jamaican), deejay and record producer, producer.Greene, Jo-AnnTapper Zukie Biography, Allmusic, retrieved 2011-02-15 Biog ...

Trinity The Trinity (, from 'threefold') is the Christian doctrine concerning the nature of God, which defines one God existing in three, , consubstantial divine persons: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ) and God the Holy Spirit, thr ...

U Brown Huford Brown (born 8 June 1956, Kingston, Jamaica), better known by the stage name U Brown, is a reggae deejay who released eleven albums between 1976 and 1984. Biography Brown grew up in Bond Street in Kingston, living two doors away from Du ...

, Errol Scorcher,

Serge Gainsbourg Serge Gainsbourg (; born Lucien Ginsburg; 2 April 1928 – 2 March 1991) was a French singer-songwriter, actor, composer, and director. Regarded as one of the most important figures in French pop, he was renowned for often provocative rel ...

among others.

Discography

The Revolutionaries

* ''Revival Dub Roots Now'' - 1976 - Well Charge * ''Revolutionary Sounds'' - 1976 - Channel One/Well Charge * ''Sounds Vol 2'' - 1979 - Ballistic * ''Vital Dub Well Charged'' - 1976 - Virgin * ''Dread At The Controls'' - 1978 - Hawkeye * ''Dub Expression'' - 1978 - High Note * ''Earthquake Dub'' - 1978 - Joe Gibbs * ''Jonkanoo Dub'' - 1978 - Cha Cha * ''Reaction In Dub'' - 1978 - Cha Cha * ''Sentimental Dub'' - 1978 - Germain * ''Top Ranking Dub'' - 1978 - Rootsman * ''Burning Dub'' - 1979 - Burning Vibrations * ''Dub Out Her Blouse & Skirt'' - 1979 - Germain * ''Dutch Man Dub'' - 1979 - Burning Vibrations * ''Goldmine Dub'' - 1979 - Greensleeves * ''Outlaw Dub'' - 1979 - Trojan * ''Dawn Of Creation'' - Sagittarius * ''Dub Plate Specials At Channel One'' - Jamaican Recordings * ''Green Bay Dub'' - 1979 - Burning Vibrations * ''Medley Dub'' - High Note * ''Phase One Dubwise Vol 1 & 2'' - Sprint * ''Satta Dub Strictly Roots'' - Well Charge * ''Dial M For Murder In Dub Style'' - 1980 - Express * ''I Came, I Saw, I Conquered'' - 1980 - Channel One

Compilations

* ''Channel One - Maxfield Avenue Breakdown - Dub & Instrumentals - 1974-1979'' - Pressure Sounds (2000) * ''Revival - 1973-1976'' - Cha Cha (1982) * ''Roots Man Dub'' - 1979 - GG's * ''Channel One Revisited Dub'' - Top Beat (1995) * ''Macca Rootsman Dub'' - Jamaican Gold (1994) * '' The Rough Guide to Dub'' -

World Music Network World Music Network is a UK-based record label specializing in world music. The World Music Network website features news, reviews, live music listings, and guide sections on world music. It also features an online "Battle of the Bands" competi ...

(2005)

With
The Aggrovators The Aggrovators were a dub/reggae backing band in the 1970s and 1980s, and one of the main session bands of producer Bunny Lee. The line-up varied, with Lee using the name for whichever set of musicians he was using at any time.Larkin, Col ...

* ''Agrovators Meets The Revolutioners At Channel One Studios'' - 1977 - Third World * ''Rockers Almighty Dub (Dubwise, Rockers, Bass & Drums)'' - 1979 - Clocktower * ''Agrovators Meet Revolutionaries Part II'' - Micron

Others

* ''Kunta Kinte'' - 1976 - Channel One * ''Guerilla Dub'' - 1978 - Burning Sounds * ''The Revolutionaries & We The People Band'' - Revolutionary Dub - 1976 - Trenchtown * ''Bobby Ellis And The Professionals Meet The Revolutionaries'' - Black Unity - 1977 - Third World * ''Derrick Harriott & The Revolutionaries'' - Reggae Chart Busters Seventies Style - 1977 - Crystal * ''Sly & The Revolutionaries'' - Don't Underestimate The Force, The Force Is Within You - 1977 - J&L * ''Sly & The Revolutionaries - Go Deh Wid Riddim'' - 1977 - Crystal * ''Sly & The Revolutionaries With Jah Thomas - Black Ash Dub'' - 1980 - Trojan * ''Errol Scorcher & The Revolutionaries - Rasta Fire (A Channel One Experience)'' - 1978 - Ballistic * ''Ossie Hibbert & The Revolutionaries - Satisfaction In Dub'' - 1978 - Live & Love * ''Pancho Alphonso & The Revolutionaries - Never Get To Zion'' - 1978 - Trojan

References

External links

Roots ArchivesDiscography at Discogs
{{DEFAULTSORT:Revolutionaries, The 1975 establishments in Jamaica 1980s disestablishments in Jamaica Jamaican reggae musical groups Jamaican dub musical groups Jamaican backing bands Musical groups established in 1975 Musical groups disestablished in the 1980s Greensleeves Records artists Trojan Records artists