JFC 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 ...

, calypso, 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 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, ...

based in

Arlington Arlington most often refers to: *Arlington, Virginia **Arlington National Cemetery, a United States military cemetery *Arlington, Texas Arlington may also refer to: Places Australia *Arlington light rail station, on the Inner West Light Rail in S ...

Virginia Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States between the East Coast of the United States ...

in the

Northern Virginia Northern Virginia, locally referred to as NOVA or NoVA, comprises several County (United States), counties and independent city (United States), independent cities in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. ...

Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly known as Washington or D.C., is the capital city and federal district of the United States. The city is on the Potomac River, across from Virginia, and shares land borders with ...

area. Starting as an active band in

2005 2005 was designated as the International Year for Sport and Physical Education and the International Year of Microcredit. The beginning of 2005 also marked the end of the International Decade of the World's Indigenous Peoples, Internationa ...

, their music is produced independently.

Biography

JFC is a multi-cultural roots reggae/soca/calypso band with members from

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 ...

Trinidad and Tobago Trinidad and Tobago, officially the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, is the southernmost island country in the Caribbean, comprising the main islands of Trinidad and Tobago, along with several List of islands of Trinidad and Tobago, smaller i ...

, and the USA. Fronted by Trinidad's Stephen Samuel (Prime Minister's Cultural Entourage), JFC plays Caribbean dance rhythms, writing songs with positive messages. Stephen Samuel began his musical career in his homeland of Trinidad circa 1960, playing soca & calypso. He was a mainstay in the showcase

Calypso tent Calypso tents are venues in which calypsonians perform during the Carnival season. They usually are cinema halls, community centers, or other indoor buildings which have seating and stage arrangements to host the entertainers, guests and patrons ...

s at

Trinidad and Tobago Carnival The Trinidad and Tobago Carnival is an annual event held on the Monday and Tuesday before Ash Wednesday in Trinidad and Tobago. This event is well known for participants' colorful costumes and exuberant celebrations. There are numerous cultural ev ...

in the 1970s - 1980s. Throughout the 1980s-1990s, Samuel fronted reggae & caribbean bands for the

Carnival Cruise Lines Carnival Cruise Line is an international cruise line with headquarters in Doral, Florida. The company is a subsidiary of Carnival Corporation & plc. Its logo is a funnel shaped like a whale's tail, with a red, white, and blue color scheme. This ...

. In 2005, after a hiatus from music, Samuel formed the band JFC, attracting local musicians Earl Carter (Marcus Johnson,

Experience Unlimited Experience Unlimited (also known as simply E.U.) is a Washington, D.C.–based go-go/funk band that enjoyed its height of popularity in the 1980s and early 1990s. Fronted by lead singer/bassist Gregory "Sugar Bear" Elliot, the group has had a ...

, P. Diddy), and Glenn Arnett (

Peaches & Herb Peaches & Herb is an American vocal duo. Herb Fame (born October 1, 1941) has remained a constant as "Herb" since the duo was created in 1966; seven different women have filled the role of "Peaches", most notably Francine Edna "Peaches" Hurd B ...

). 2008 saw the addition of African drum teacher David McDavitt(

Chopteeth Chopteeth is a Washington, D.C.–based afrofunk big band. Although rooted in Fela Kuti's Nigerian afrobeat, Chopteeth's music is an amalgam of Ghanaian highlife, Senegalese rumba, Jamaican ska, Mande griot music, 1970s West African funk, Ewe ...

), and bassist Englishman (

Itals The Itals are a Jamaican reggae vocal group formed in 1976 by Alvin "Keith" Porter, Lloyd Ricketts, and Ronnie Davis (formerly a member of The Tennors), all of whom had previously also recorded as solo artists. All three had worked together in ...

Ras Michael Michael George Henry OD (born 1943), better known as Ras Michael, is a Jamaican reggae singer and Nyabinghi specialist. He also performs under the name of Dadawah. Biography Henry was born in Saint Mary Parish, Jamaica, where he was raised in ...

's Sons of Negus, Shango Band). In 2010 guitarist Robin Armstrong (

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 ...

), and saxophonist Trevor Specht (

), joined JFC. In 2011, keyboardist Worrel "Kango" David (Passion Reggaem TR7, DKGB, Heat Wave) joined JFC.

Members

* Stephen Samuel (lead vocals) * Worrel "Kango" David(keyboard) * Robin Armstrong (guitar/vocals) * David McDavitt (drums/percussion/vocals) * Erald "Englishman" Briscoe (bass/vocals) * Trevor Specht (saxophone)

Discography

* ''Barack Obama (song & video)'' (2008) * ''"Last Days" Dec 2008 tba'' * ''Tata (Sam'O solo)]'' (2004)

References

Official Website

Englishman & Shango Band
{{DEFAULTSORT:Jfc Reggae Band Musical groups from Washington, D.C. American reggae musical groups