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 ...
group founded in 1976. Originally they were known as the African Disciples. The one constant member until his death in 2006 was Joseph Hill.
History
The group formed in 1976 as the vocal trio of Joseph Hill (formerly a percussionist in Studio One house band the Soul Defenders), his cousin Albert "Ralph" Walker, and Roy "Kenneth" Dayes, initially using the name The African Disciples.Thompson, Dave (2002) ''Reggae & Caribbean Music'', Backbeat Books, , p. 83-85 Roy Dayes also used the name "Kenneth Paley", which is the name that appears on the Culture records released by Virgin Records. The African Disciples soon changed their name to Culture, and auditioned successfully for the "Mighty Two": producer Joe Gibbs and engineer Errol Thompson. While at Gibbs' studio, they recorded a series of singles, starting with "See Dem a Come" and including "Two Sevens Clash" (which predicted the apocalypse on 7 July 1977), many of which ended up on their debut album ''Two Sevens Clash''.Barrow, Steve & Dalton, Peter (2004). ''The Rough Guide to Reggae'', third ed. Rough Guides. . p. 163."Joseph Hill and Culture: Age-Defying Reggae", ''
The Washington Post
''The Washington Post'', locally known as ''The'' ''Post'' and, informally, ''WaPo'' or ''WP'', is an American daily newspaper published in Washington, D.C., the national capital. It is the most widely circulated newspaper in the Washington m ...
The Washington Post
''The Washington Post'', locally known as ''The'' ''Post'' and, informally, ''WaPo'' or ''WP'', is an American daily newspaper published in Washington, D.C., the national capital. It is the most widely circulated newspaper in the Washington m ...
'', 8 May 2006 The song was sufficiently influential that many in Kingston stayed indoors on 7 July, fearing that the prophecy would come true.Norris, Michele (2007) Birth of a Phenomenon: 'Two Sevens Clash' ,
NPR
National Public Radio (NPR) is an American public broadcasting organization headquartered in Washington, D.C., with its NPR West headquarters in Culver City, California. It serves as a national Radio syndication, syndicator to a network of more ...
, 12 July 2007 A second Gibbs-produced album, ''Baldhead Bridge'', followed in 1978, by which time the group had moved on to record for producer
Sonia Pottinger
Sonia Eloise Pottinger OD ( Durrant; 21 June 1931 – 3 November 2010)Thompson, Dave (2002) ''Reggae & Caribbean Music'', Backbeat Books, , p. 316 The group entered into a long-running dispute with Gibbs over royalties to the first album.
''Two Sevens Clash'' meanwhile had become a big seller in the United Kingdom, popular with
punk rock
Punk rock (also known as simply punk) is a rock music genre that emerged in the mid-1970s. Rooted in 1950s rock and roll and 1960s garage rock, punk bands rejected the corporate nature of mainstream 1970s rock music. They typically produced sh ...
fans as well as reggae fans and boosted by the support of
John Peel
John Robert Parker Ravenscroft (30 August 1939 – 25 October 2004), better known as John Peel, was an English radio presenter and journalist. He was the longest-serving of the original disc jockeys on BBC Radio 1, broadcasting regularly from ...
on his
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station owned and operated by the BBC. It specialises in modern popular music and Contemporary hit radio, current chart hits throughout the day. The station provides alternative genres at night, including ...
show, and reached number 60 on the
UK Albums Chart
The Official Albums Chart is the United Kingdom's industry-recognised national record chart for album, albums. Entries are ranked by sales and audio streaming. It was published for the first time on 22 July 1956 and is compiled every week by the O ...
Liverpool Daily Post
The ''Liverpool Post'' was a newspaper published by Reach plc, Trinity Mirror in Liverpool, Merseyside, England. The newspaper and its website ceased publication on 19 December 2013.
Until 13 January 2012 it was a daily morning newspaper, wi ...
'', 22 August 2006 This prompted
Virgin Records
Virgin Records is a British record label owned by Universal Music Group. They were originally founded as a British independent record label in 1972 by entrepreneurs Richard Branson, Simon Draper, Nik Powell, and musician Tom Newman (musician), ...
to sign the group to its
Front Line
A front line (alternatively front-line or frontline) in military terminology is the position(s) closest to the area of conflict of an Military, armed force's Military personnel, personnel and Military technology, equipment, usually referring to ...
label, releasing ''Harder than the Rest'' (1978) and ''International Herb'' (1979). Culture also released records on other labels in Jamaica, including a dub version of ''Harder than the Rest'', ''Culture in Dub'' (1978, High Note), and an album of different recordings of the same album, ''Africa Stand Alone'' (April 1978). An album recorded for Pottinger in 1979 with a working title of ''Black Rose'' remained unreleased until tracks emerged in 1993 on ''Trod On''.
Culture performed at the
One Love Peace Concert
The One Love Concert (OLPC) was a large concert held on 22 April 1978 at the National Stadium in Kingston, Jamaica.
This concert was held during a political civil war in Jamaica between opposing parties Jamaican Labour Party and the People's ...
The New York Times
''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...
'', 16 January 1988, retrieved 15 September 2012 Hill carried on using the Culture name, and recorded the ''Lion Rock'' album, which was reissued in the United States by
Heartbeat Records
Heartbeat Records is an independent record label based in Burlington, Massachusetts. The label specializes in Jamaican music.
Founded by reggae music enthusiasts Bill Nowlin and Duncan Brown, the label's first release was a vinyl LP reissue of ...
. Hill and his new band recorded a session for long time supporter
John Peel
John Robert Parker Ravenscroft (30 August 1939 – 25 October 2004), better known as John Peel, was an English radio presenter and journalist. He was the longest-serving of the original disc jockeys on BBC Radio 1, broadcasting regularly from ...
in December 1982, and the group went on to record further studio sessions for Peel in 1998 and 2002, and their performance at the
Royal Festival Hall
The Royal Festival Hall is a 2,700-seat concert, dance and talks venue within Southbank Centre in London, England. It is situated on the South Bank of the River Thames, not far from Hungerford Bridge, in the London Borough of Lambeth. It is a G ...
in July 1998 was broadcast on his show.Culture , ''Keeping It Peel'',
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is a British public service broadcaster headquartered at Broadcasting House in London, England. Originally established in 1922 as the British Broadcasting Company, it evolved into its current sta ...
, retrieved 15 September 2012 For their part, Walker and Dayes recorded a handful of songs on their own; a few of which turned up on an album titled ''Roots & Culture''. Hill performed at the '' Reggae Sunsplash'' festival in 1985 and in 1986 the original line-up reformed to record two highly regarded albums – ''Culture in Culture'' and ''Culture at Work''.
Several albums followed in the 1990s on
Shanachie Records
Shanachie Records is an American, New Jersey–based record label, founded in 1975 by Richard Nevins and Dan Collins. The label is named for the Gaelic word '' seanchaí'' (anglicised as shanachie), an Irish storyteller.
It was previously distr ...
Sly and Robbie
Sly and Robbie were a prolific Jamaican rhythm section and production duo, associated primarily with the reggae and dub genres. Drummer Sly Dunbar and bassist Robbie Shakespeare teamed up in the mid-1970s after establishing themselves separat ...
The Cavalier Daily
''The Cavalier Daily'' is an independent, student-run daily news organization at the University of Virginia. Founded in 1890, under the name ''College Topics'', ''The Cavalier Daily'' is Virginia's oldest collegiate daily and the oldest daily n ...
'', 1 February 1990, p. 4, retrieved 15 September 2012Stoute, Lenny (1994) "Reggaeman pounds Culture message home", ''
Toronto Star
The ''Toronto Star'' is a Canadian English-language broadsheet daily newspaper. It is owned by Toronto Star Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary of Torstar Corporation and part of Torstar's Daily News Brands (Torstar), Daily News Brands division.
...
'', 28 July 1994, p. E5 Dayes subsequently worked as a solo artist under the name Kenneth Culture.Campbell, Howard (2016) Kenneth Culture continues journey ", ''
Jamaica Observer
The ''Jamaica Observer'' is a daily newspaper published in Kingston, Jamaica
Kingston is the Capital (political), capital and largest city of Jamaica, located on the southeastern coast of the island. It faces a natural harbour protected by ...
'', 27 May 2016. Retrieved 5 June 2016
By 2001 Telford Nelson had replaced Taylor.Cooke, Mel (2003) Culture remains humble ", ''
Jamaica Gleaner
''The Gleaner'' is an English-language, morning daily newspaper founded by two brothers, Jacob and Joshua de Cordova on 13 September 1834 in Kingston, Jamaica.
It is the oldest continuously published newspaper in the Western Hemisphere. Original ...
The Washington Post
''The Washington Post'', locally known as ''The'' ''Post'' and, informally, ''WaPo'' or ''WP'', is an American daily newspaper published in Washington, D.C., the national capital. It is the most widely circulated newspaper in the Washington m ...
'', 26 March 2001
Joseph Hill, who came to symbolise the face of Culture, died in Berlin, Germany on 19 August 2006 while the group was on tour, after collapsing following a performance.Francis, Petrina (2006) Reggae Icon, Joseph Hill, Dies ", ''
Jamaica Gleaner
''The Gleaner'' is an English-language, morning daily newspaper founded by two brothers, Jacob and Joshua de Cordova on 13 September 1834 in Kingston, Jamaica.
It is the oldest continuously published newspaper in the Western Hemisphere. Original ...
'', 20 August 2006, retrieved 15 September 2012 His son, Kenyatta Hill, who had acted as the group's sound engineer on tour, performed with his father's band at the Western Consciousness show in 2007, which was dedicated to Joseph Hill, and became the lead singer of Culture; Walker and Nelson continue to provide backing vocals.Cooke, Mel (2007) Culture tribute for Western Consciousness 2007 ", ''
Jamaica Gleaner
''The Gleaner'' is an English-language, morning daily newspaper founded by two brothers, Jacob and Joshua de Cordova on 13 September 1834 in Kingston, Jamaica.
It is the oldest continuously published newspaper in the Western Hemisphere. Original ...
Jamaica Gleaner
''The Gleaner'' is an English-language, morning daily newspaper founded by two brothers, Jacob and Joshua de Cordova on 13 September 1834 in Kingston, Jamaica.
It is the oldest continuously published newspaper in the Western Hemisphere. Original ...
'', 21 January 2007, retrieved 15 September 2012Joseph 'Culture' Hill lives on , ''The Weekly Gleaner'', 1 September 2011
In 2011, ''Live On'' was released, featuring Kenyatta's performances of his father's songs, including "Two Sevens Clash" and "International Herb".
Discography
Studio albums
* '' Two Sevens Clash'' (1977), Joe Gibbs Music
* '' Baldhead Bridge'' (1978), Joe Gibbs Music
* ''Harder than the Rest'' produced by
Sonia Pottinger
Sonia Eloise Pottinger OD ( Durrant; 21 June 1931 – 3 November 2010)Thompson, Dave (2002) ''Reggae & Caribbean Music'', Backbeat Books, , p. 316Virgin Records
Virgin Records is a British record label owned by Universal Music Group. They were originally founded as a British independent record label in 1972 by entrepreneurs Richard Branson, Simon Draper, Nik Powell, and musician Tom Newman (musician), ...
/
Front Line
A front line (alternatively front-line or frontline) in military terminology is the position(s) closest to the area of conflict of an Military, armed force's Military personnel, personnel and Military technology, equipment, usually referring to ...
* '' Africa Stand Alone'' (1978), April
* ''Cumbolo'' produced by Sonia Pottinger (1979), Virgin/Front Line
* ''International Herb'' produced by Sonia Pottinger (1979), High Note/Virgin
* ''More Culture'' aka ''Innocent Blood'' (1981), Joe Gibbs Music
* ''Lion Rock'' (1982), Sonic Sounds
* ''Culture in Culture'' (1985), Music Track
* ''Culture at Work'' (1986), Blue Mountain/ Shanachie
* '' Nuff Crisis!'' (1988), Blue Mountain
* ''Good Things'' (1989), RAS
* ''Three Sides to My Story'' (1991), Shanachie
* ''Wings of a Dove'' (1992), Shanachie
* ''One Stone'' (1996), Gorgon/ RAS
* ''Trust Me'' (1997), RAS
* ''Payday'' (1999), RAS
* ''Humble African'' (2000), VP
* ''World Peace'' (2003), Heartbeat
* ''Pass the Torch'' (Tafari Records) (2007) (Seven versions of old tunes by Joseph Hill, and seven tunes by his son Kenyatta Hill)Steckles, Gary (2008) Spin Control , ''
Chicago Sun-Times
The ''Chicago Sun-Times'' is a daily nonprofit newspaper published in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Since 2022, it is the flagship paper of Chicago Public Media, and has long held the second largest circulation among Chicago newspaper ...
'', 27 January 2008
* ''Live On'' (2011), Zojak Worldwide
Dub albums
* ''Culture Dub'' (1978), High Note
* ''Culture in Dub: 15 Dub Shots'' (1994), Heartbeat
* ''Stoned'' (''One Stone in Dub'' engineered by Fathead and Jim Fox) (1996), RAS
* ''Scientist Dubs Culture into a Parallel Universe'' (2000)
* ''Rare and Unreleased Dub'', Revolver
Live albums
* ''Cultural Livity: Live Culture '98'' (1998), RAS
* ''Live in Africa'' (2002)
* ''Live in Negril'' (2003)
Split albums
* ''Roots and Culture'' (1982), Jah Guidance – split with
Don Carlos
''Don Carlos'' is an 1867 five-act grand opera composed by Giuseppe Verdi to a French-language libretto by Joseph Méry and Camille du Locle, based on the 1787 play '' Don Karlos, Infant von Spanien'' (''Don Carlos, Infante of Spain'') by Fried ...
Compilations
* ''Vital Selection'' (1981), Virgin
* ''Rare and Unreleased Dub'' Revolver Records (1989)
* ''Too Long in Slavery'' produced by Sonia Pottinger (1981), Virgin
* ''17 Chapters of Culture'' (1992), Sonic Sounds
* ''Trod On'' produced by Sonia Pottinger (1993), Heartbeat
* ''Strictly Culture: The Best Of Culture 1977–1979'' (1994), MCI
* ''Ras Portraits'' (1997), RAS
* ''Peace and Love'' (1997), Rhino
* ''Reggae Giants'' (1997), Top Tape
* ''Production Something'' (1998), Heartbeat
* ''Kings of Reggae'' (2001), Nocturne
* ''Chanting On'' (2004), Earmark
* ''This Is Crucial Reggae'' (2004), Sanctuary
* ''Culture & The Deejays at Joe Gibbs 1977–79'' (2008), 17 North Parade
* ''At Joe Gibbs'' (2011), 17 North Parade
* ''Seven Sevens Clash'' (2012), 17 North Parade – box set of seven 7-inch singles
* ''Stronger than Ever: At Their Best'', Rocky One
* ''Natty Never Get Weary'', Revolver
DVDs
* ''Live in Africa'' (2002), RAS
References
External links
*
Allmusic biography
AllMusic (previously known as All-Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the dat ...