Fabulous Five Inc.
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The Fabulous Five Inc. (also known as Fab 5) is a
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 ...
and
soca Soca or SOCA may refer to: Government * Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA), a former public body of the United Kingdom * Sexual Offences and Community Affairs (SOCA), a South African government unit established to combat gender-based violence ...
band formed in
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 ...
in the late 1960s. Over a 45-year career, they have released 26 albums, had many number 1 hits in Jamaica, and were the featured musicians on
Johnny Nash John Lester Nash Jr. (August 19, 1940October 6, 2020) was an American singer and songwriter, best known in the United States for his 1972 hit " I Can See Clearly Now". Primarily a reggae and pop singer, he was one of the first non-Jamaican art ...
's platinum album ''
I Can See Clearly Now "I Can See Clearly Now" is a song written and recorded by American singer-songwriter Johnny Nash. It was the lead single from his twelfth album, ''I Can See Clearly Now'' (1972), and achieved success in the United States and the United Kingdo ...
''. They were voted the top band for three consecutive years by ''Swing'' magazine, have won over 30 major awards in Jamaica in addition to international awards, and performed at numerous international music festivals.


History

The Fabulous Five Inc. was initially a show band supporting various singers across Jamaica. They backed
Johnny Nash John Lester Nash Jr. (August 19, 1940October 6, 2020) was an American singer and songwriter, best known in the United States for his 1972 hit " I Can See Clearly Now". Primarily a reggae and pop singer, he was one of the first non-Jamaican art ...
on the reggae cuts comprising most of his 1972 platinum album ''
I Can See Clearly Now "I Can See Clearly Now" is a song written and recorded by American singer-songwriter Johnny Nash. It was the lead single from his twelfth album, ''I Can See Clearly Now'' (1972), and achieved success in the United States and the United Kingdo ...
.'' Their first recording was "Come Back And Stay", which was a number one song in Jamaica. During their first three years on the road, they won the Swing Awards for best band. Fab 5 have enjoyed a succession of hits in Jamaica and the markets of North America. Their multi‑award-winning
soca Soca or SOCA may refer to: Government * Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA), a former public body of the United Kingdom * Sexual Offences and Community Affairs (SOCA), a South African government unit established to combat gender-based violence ...
album ''Yu Safe'' was the most-popular album produced in Jamaica in the 1980s. Their soca smash "Shape" is very popular and the band's versatility is expressed in ''Dugu-Dugu'', their all-reggae release, and the preceding all-ska album ''Ska Time''. The musician and journalist
Sonny Bradshaw Cecil "Sonny" Bradshaw CD (28 March 1926 – 10 October 2009), known as the "dean of Jamaican music", and the "musician's musician", was a Jamaican bandleader, trumpeter, broadcaster, and promoter who was a major figure in Jamaican music for mo ...
said Fab 5 is the only Jamaican band still playing authentic ska. They have developed songs not only with the
music of Jamaica The music of Jamaica includes Jamaican folk music and many popular genres, such as mento, ska, rocksteady, reggae, dub music, dancehall, reggae fusion and related styles. Reggae is especially popular through the fame of Bob Marley. Jamaican mus ...
, but with their own compositions of soca, the music of the
Eastern Caribbean The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS; French: ''Organisation des États de la Caraïbe orientale'', OECO) is an inter-governmental organisation dedicated to economic harmonisation and integration, protection of human and legal ...
. They have performed
soul The soul is the purported Mind–body dualism, immaterial aspect or essence of a Outline of life forms, living being. It is typically believed to be Immortality, immortal and to exist apart from the material world. The three main theories that ...
,
funk Funk is a music genre that originated in African-American communities in the mid-1960s when musicians created a rhythmic, danceable new form of music through a mixture of various music genres that were popular among African-Americans in the ...
,
rock Rock most often refers to: * Rock (geology), a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals or mineraloids * Rock music, a genre of popular music Rock or Rocks may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * Rock, Caerphilly, a location in Wale ...
,
jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Its roots are in blues, ragtime, European harmony, African rhythmic rituals, spirituals, h ...
,
disco Disco is a music genre, genre of dance music and a subculture that emerged in the late 1960s from the United States' urban nightclub, nightlife, particularly in African Americans, African-American, Italian-Americans, Italian-American, LGBTQ ...
,
gospel Gospel originally meant the Christianity, Christian message ("the gospel"), but in the second century Anno domino, AD the term (, from which the English word originated as a calque) came to be used also for the books in which the message w ...
, and
classical music Classical music generally refers to the art music of the Western world, considered to be #Relationship to other music traditions, distinct from Western folk music or popular music traditions. It is sometimes distinguished as Western classical mu ...
. Their album ''Christmas In the Sun'' is the most-successful
Christmas Christmas is an annual festival commemorating Nativity of Jesus, the birth of Jesus Christ, observed primarily on December 25 as a Religion, religious and Culture, cultural celebration among billions of people Observance of Christmas by coun ...
album by a Jamaican band. The Fab 5 have their own recording studio (Stage Studio), record label and distribution company (Stage Records). They are still working frequently, for concerts and dances, and as a leading creator of commercial jingles. They have been the chosen band for almost every national occasion since the mid-1970s. In 2003, Fab 5 received the Prime Minister's Award for Excellence in the Performing Arts for its services to
Jamaican music The music of Jamaica includes Jamaican folk music and many popular genres, such as mento, ska, rocksteady, reggae, dub music, dancehall, reggae fusion and related styles. Reggae is especially popular through the fame of Bob Marley. Jamaican mus ...
. In 2015, they were given an award for their contribution to Jamaican music by the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC). Fab 5 took their brand of Jamaican music around the world, working with artists including:
Ray Charles Ray Charles Robinson (September 23, 1930 – June 10, 2004) was an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. He is regarded as one of the most iconic and influential musicians in history, and was often referred to by contemporaries as "The Gen ...
;
Dizzy Gillespie John Birks "Dizzy" Gillespie ( ; October 21, 1917 – January 6, 1993) was an American jazz trumpeter, bandleader, composer, educator and singer. He was a trumpet virtuoso and improvisation, improviser, building on the virtuosic style of Roy El ...
;
the Grateful Dead The Grateful Dead was an American rock band formed in Palo Alto, California, in 1965. Known for their eclectic style that fused elements of rock, blues, jazz, folk, country, bluegrass, rock and roll, gospel, reggae, and world music with psyc ...
;
Rick James James Ambrose Johnson Jr. (February 1, 1948 – August 6, 2004), better known by his stage name Rick James, was an American singer, songwriter, and record producer. Born and raised in Buffalo, New York, James began his musical career in his tee ...
;
Linda Ronstadt Linda Maria Ronstadt (born July 15, 1946) is an American singer who has performed and recorded in diverse genres including rock, country, light opera, the Great American Songbook, and Latin music. Ronstadt has earned 11 Grammy Awards, three A ...
;
the Neville Brothers The Neville Brothers were an American R&B/soul/funk group, formed in 1976 in New Orleans, Louisiana. History The group notion started in 1976, when the four brothers of the Neville family, Art (1937–2019), Charles (1938–2018), Aaron (b. 19 ...
;
Roberta Flack Roberta Cleopatra Flack (February 10, 1937 – February 24, 2025) was an American singer and pianist known for her emotive, genre-blending ballads that spanned R&B, jazz, Folk music, folk, and pop and contributed to the birth of the quiet storm ...
;
Fats Domino Antoine Caliste Domino Jr. (February 26, 1928 – October 24, 2017), known as Fats Domino, was an American singer-songwriter and pianist. One of the pioneers of rock and roll music, Domino sold more than 65 million records. Born in New Orl ...
;
Peter, Paul & Mary Peter, Paul and Mary were an American folk group formed in New York City in 1961 during the American folk music revival. The trio consisted of Peter Yarrow (guitar, tenor vocals), Paul Stookey (guitar, baritone vocals), and Mary Travers (contr ...
; Joe Jackson; The Chi‑Lites;
Skeeter Davis Skeeter Davis (born Mary Frances Penick; December 30, 1931September 19, 2004) was an American country music singer and songwriter who sang crossover pop music songs including 1962's " The End of the World". She started out as part of the Davis ...
(with whom they were working on a recording project at the time of her death);
the Drifters The Drifters are an American pop and R&B/soul vocal group. They were originally formed as a backing group for Clyde McPhatter, formerly the lead tenor of Billy Ward and his Dominoes in 1953. The second group of Drifters, formed in 1959 and ...
;
Miriam Makeba Zenzile Miriam Makeba ( , ; 4 March 1932 – 9 November 2008), nicknamed Mama Africa, was a South African singer, songwriter, actress, and civil rights activist. Associated with musical genres including African popular music, Afropop, ja ...
;
Bob Marley Robert Nesta Marley (6 February 1945 – 11 May 1981) was a Jamaican singer, songwriter, and guitarist. Considered one of the pioneers of reggae, he fused elements of reggae, ska and rocksteady and was renowned for his distinctive voca ...
;
Jimmy Cliff James Chambers, Jamaican Order of Merit, OM (born 30 July 1944), known professionally as Jimmy Cliff, is a Jamaican ska, rocksteady, reggae and soul musician, multi-instrumentalist, singer, and actor. He is the only living reggae musician to hol ...
;
Chuck Jackson Charles Benjamin Jackson (July 22, 1937 – February 16, 2023) was an American R&B singer who was one of the first artists to record material by Burt Bacharach and Hal David successfully. He performed with moderate success starting in 1961. Hi ...
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The Mighty Sparrow Slinger Francisco ORTT CM OBE (born 9 July 1935), better known as Mighty Sparrow, is a Trinidadian calypso vocalist, songwriter, and guitarist. Known as the "Calypso King of the World", he is one of the best-known and most successful calyps ...
;
Aretha Franklin Aretha Louise Franklin ( ; March 25, 1942 – August 16, 2018) was an American singer, songwriter and pianist. Honored as the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Queen of Soul", she was twice named by ''Rolling Stone'' magazine as the Roll ...
;
Gladys Knight Gladys Maria Knight (born May 28, 1944) is an American singer and actress. Knight recorded hits through the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s with her family group Gladys Knight & the Pips, which included her brother Merald "Bubba" Knight and cousins Will ...
;
Harold Melvin & The Bluenotes Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes were an American soul and R&B vocal group. One of the most popular Philadelphia soul groups of the 1970s, the group's repertoire included soul, R&B, doo-wop, and disco. Founded in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in ...
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Jerry Butler Jerry Butler Jr. (December 8, 1939 – February 20, 2025) was an American soul singer-songwriter, producer, musician, and politician. He was the original lead singer of the R&B vocal group the Impressions, who were inducted into the Rock and ...
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; Ray Goodman & Brown; The Delphonics,
Beres Hammond Beres Hammond OJ (born Hugh Beresford Hammond; 28 August 1955, in Annotto Bay, Saint Mary, Jamaica)Moskowitz, David V. (2006) ''Caribbean Popular Music: an Encyclopedia of Reggae, Mento, Ska, Rock Steady, and Dancehall'', Greenwood Press, , p. ...
,
Marcia Griffiths Marcia Llyneth Griffiths (born 23 November 1949) is a Jamaican singer best known for the 1989 remix of her single " Electric Boogie", which serves as the music for the four-wall " Electric Slide" line dance. It is the best-selling single of ...
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Queen Ifrica Ventrice Morgan (born 25 March 1975), better known by the stage name Queen Ifrica, is a reggae singer and disc jockey from the hills above Montego Bay, Jamaica. She is the daughter of ska musician Derrick Morgan but was raised by her mother and ...
,
Mr Vegas Clifford Smith (born 29 December 1974), better known as Mr. Vegas, is a Jamaican dancehall musician. Biography Clifford Smith was born in Kingston in 1974.Barrow, Steve & Dalton, Peter (2004) "The Rough Guide to Reggae, 3rd edn.", Rough Guides ...
, and
Tarrus Riley Omar "Tarrus" Riley, Order of Distinction, CD (born April 26, 1979, Bronx, New York (state), New York, United States) is a Jamaican-American reggae singer and member of the Rastafari movement.Kenner, Rob (21 August 2009"Reggae Singer With a Leg ...
. They have performed at the
Kool Jazz Festival The Newport Jazz Festival is an annual American multi-day jazz music festival held every summer in Newport, Rhode Island. Elaine Lorillard established the festival in 1954, and she and husband Louis Lorillard financed it for many years. They hire ...
, the
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, at Japansplash, and have entertained a live audience of one million at an anti‑nuclear concert in New York's Central Park. In July 2011, their performance at the Celebrate Brooklyn! festival drew a 5-minute ovation and their performances at the Irie Fest in Toronto during
Caribana The Toronto Caribbean Carnival, formerly and affectionately known as Caribana, is a festival of Caribbean culture and traditions held each summer in the city of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is a pan-Caribbean Carnival event and has been billed ...
have become legendary. Their collection of major awards includes 29 between 1986 and 1996, from all principal sources: the JBC, RJR, ''
The Daily Gleaner ''The Daily Gleaner'' is a morning daily newspaper serving the city of Fredericton, New Brunswick, and the upper Saint John River Valley. The paper was printed Monday through Saturday, until dropping to Tuesday through Saturday in 2022 and anno ...
'', ''The Star'', Rockers, the Jamaica Music Industry (JAMI), the Jamaica Federation of Musicians (JFM), the 1995 Rockers Award for Best Band, the 1996 award for Best Group (Instrumental) at the Jamaica Music Awards, a 1999 Tamika Award, the 2000–2002 JFM Best Show Band Awards, The Reggae Soca Awards Best Soca Band 2002–2003, a 2007 Lifetime Achievement Award from
Reggae Sumfest Reggae Sumfest is the largest music festival in Jamaica and the Caribbean, taking place each year in mid-July in Montego Bay.Johnson, Richard (2014)All Set for Sumfest, '' Jamaica Observer'', 8 July 2014. Retrieved 8 July 2014 Sumfest started in 1 ...
, and a 2012 JaRIA Honours Award. The group has won several international awards, including the 1996 awards for Best Album and Best Single (both won for ''Good Buddy''), at the Miami Reggae/Soca Awards, and the 1999 "Best International Reggae Album" award at the Canadian Reggae Music Awards for ''Fab 5 Live - The Ultimate Vintage Jamaican Party Mix ... Part 1''. Fab 5 won the "Best Soca Album" award at the Reggaesoca Awards in Miami for their 1999 album ''Shape'', making them the first group to win best album awards for reggae and soca in the same year. The band's musical director Grub Cooper's CD has won numerous awards, including the
Order of Distinction The Order of Distinction (OD) is a national order in the Jamaican honours system. It is the sixth in order of precedence of the Orders of Societies of Honour, which were instituted by an Act of Parliament (''The National Honours and Awards Ac ...
, Commander Class (CD) 2006 (a national award of the Government of Jamaica), and a special honor award from the JFM (1988) for his contribution to the development of Jamaican music. He has been Jamaica's leading theater musician for more than three decades and a major producer of gospel music. Frankie Campbell also received the OD. Fab 5 have been actively involved in keeping Jamaican music alive, with major representation on the boards of JARIA (Jamaica Reggae Industry Association), the Recording Industry Association of Jamaica (RIAJAM), and the Jamaican Association of Vintage Artistes and Affiliates (JAVAA). The band works with many charitable organizations.


Members

The band consisted of manager Frankie Campbell (bass); Harold (Jr) Bailey (guitar, flute, saxophone, and now part-time sound engineer); musical director Grub Cooper (drums and lead vocals); Sidney Thorpe (keyboards); Donovan Lee Palmer (keyboards); Romeo Gray (trombone); Andre Palmer (trumpet); Andrew Cassanova (vocals); and Cleveland Manderson (guitar and vocals) who has been working with the Unique Vision for more than 27 years. Other people perform from time to time as part of the wider Stage Records family. Keyboardist Sidney Thorpe died from
sepsis Sepsis is a potentially life-threatening condition that arises when the body's response to infection causes injury to its own tissues and organs. This initial stage of sepsis is followed by suppression of the immune system. Common signs and s ...
on 5 May 2025.


Selected discography


Albums

# ''Fabulous Five Inc.'' (1973), New Dimension # ''F F One'' (1975), Tit for Tat # ''My Jamaican Girl'' (1976), Harry J # ''Miles and Miles of Music'' (1985), Stage Records # ''Yu Safe'' (1986) # ''Jamaican Woman'' (1987) # Stage Records Greatest Hits (1988), Various Artistes – Stage Records # ''All Night Party'' (1989), Stage Records # ''Mini'' (1990), Stage Records # ''Christmas In The Sun'' (1990), Stage Crew (Various Artistes), Stage Records # ''Don't Wear None'' (1993), Stage Records # ''Good Buddy'' (1995), Stage Records # ''Fab 5 Live – The Ultimate Vintage Jamaican Party Mix, Part 1'' (1998), Stage Records # ''Shape'' (1999), Stage Records # ''Dugu-Dugu'' (2000), Stage Records # ''Fab 5 Live – The Ultimate Vintage Jamaican Party Mix, Part 2'' (2002), Stage Records # ''Jamaica Soca Attack'' (2002), Various Artistes – Stage Records # ''Back To Back'' (CD compilation of ''Yu Safe'' and ''All Night Party'') (2002), Stage Records # ''Fab 5 Greatest Hits'' (2002), Stage Records # ''Ska Time'' (2002) Stage Records # ''A Jamaican Christmas Gift'' (2002), Stage Records # ''Fab 5 Live – The Ultimate Vintage Jamaican Party Mix, Part 3'' (2004), Stage Records # ''Fab 5 Live – The Ultimate Vintage Jamaican Party Mix, Part 4'' (2007), Stage Records # ''Fab 5 Live – The Ultimate Vintage Jamaican Party Mix'', BOX SET (Parts 1–4) (2007), Stage Records # ''Fab 5 & Friends Live: 1962–2012... 50 Years of Jamaican Music'' (2011), Stage Records # ''Face to Face'' (Fab 5 collaborations) (2015) Stage Records


Singles

* "Come Back and Stay" * "Chirpy Chirpy Cheep" (cover) * "Oh Dad" * "
Shaving Cream Shaving cream or shave cream is a category of cream cosmetics used for shaving preparation. The purpose of shaving cream is to soften the hair by providing lubrication. Different types of shaving creams include aerosol shaving cream (also kn ...
" (cover) * "Married Lady" * "
Love Me for a Reason "Love Me for a Reason" is a song by American musician Johnny Bristol. It was recorded most famously by American family music group the Osmonds, and released in 1974. Twenty years later, Irish boy band Boyzone covered the song. Both versions wer ...
" (cover) * "If I Could Read Your Mind" * "All I Want" * "Sweet P" * "Disco Pot" * "Asking For Love" * "Oo? Wa?" * "Yu Safe" * "Ring Road Jam" * "Feeling Horny" * "What The Police High Command Can Do" * "All Night Party" * "Jamaican Woman" * "Psalms" * "We Want Peace" * "Mini" * "Sweat" * "Don't Wear None" * "Freeze" * "Soca Train" * "Good Buddy" * "Mango" * "Glory Hallelujah"


Awards

;Jamaica * Swing Awards, best band of 1971–72, 1972–73 and 1973–74 * El Suzie Award, Joint Top Road and Dance Band for 1975–76 * RJR Listeners' Award, Best Band, 1980 * Rockers Award for Best Band, 1995 * Jamaica Music Awards, Best Group (Instrumental), 1996 * Tamika Award, 1999 * JFM Best Show Band Awards, 2000–2002 * Prime Minister's Award for Excellence in The Performing Arts, 2003 *
Reggae Sumfest Reggae Sumfest is the largest music festival in Jamaica and the Caribbean, taking place each year in mid-July in Montego Bay.Johnson, Richard (2014)All Set for Sumfest, '' Jamaica Observer'', 8 July 2014. Retrieved 8 July 2014 Sumfest started in 1 ...
Lifetime Achievement Award, 2007 * Jamaica Reggae Industry Association Honours Award, 2012 * Jamaica Cultural Development Commission award for contribution to Jamaican music, 2015 Among dozens of other national awards. Grub Cooper and Frankie Campbell have each been awarded the
Order of Distinction The Order of Distinction (OD) is a national order in the Jamaican honours system. It is the sixth in order of precedence of the Orders of Societies of Honour, which were instituted by an Act of Parliament (''The National Honours and Awards Ac ...
(OD) from the government of Jamaica for their contribution to the development of Jamaican music. ;International * Miami Reggae/Soca Awards: **Best Album, ''Good Buddy'', 1996 **Best Single, "Good Buddy", 1996 **Best Soca Album, ''Shape'', 1999 *Canadian Reggae Music Awards: **Best International Reggae Album, ''The Ultimate Vintage Jamaican Party Mix Part 1'', 1999


References


External links


The Fab Five
at Roots Archive {{Authority control Commanders of the Order of Distinction Jamaican reggae musical groups Jamaican ska groups Musical groups established in 1970 Soca musical groups