The Roots Radics Band was formed in 1978 by

bass Bass or Basses may refer to: Fish * Bass (fish), various saltwater and freshwater species Music * Bass (sound), describing low-frequency sound or one of several instruments in the bass range: ** Bass (instrument), including: ** Acoustic bass gui ...

player Errol "Flabba" Holt, guitarist Eric "Bingy Bunny" Lamont and drummer

Lincoln "Style" Scott Lincoln Valentine Scott (29 April 1956 – 9 October 2014), better known as Style Scott, was a Jamaican reggae drummer, famous for playing in the Roots Radics and, later, with Dub Syndicate. He also recorded and performed with Prince Far I, Bunn ...

. They were joined by many musicians, including guitarist Noel "Sowell" Bailey, Dwight Pinkney and Steve Golding, keyboard player Wycliffe "Steelie" Johnson, Pianist Gladstone "Gladdy" Anderson and saxophonist Headley Bennett. As a combined force the Roots Radics became a well-respected

studio A studio is an artist or worker's workroom. This can be for the purpose of acting, architecture, painting, pottery (ceramics), sculpture, origami, woodworking, scrapbooking, photography, graphic design, filmmaking, animation, industrial design, ...

and

stage band In opera, a ''banda'' (Italian for ''band'') refers to a musical ensemble (normally of wind instruments) which is used in addition to the main orchestra and plays the music which is actually heard by the characters in the opera. A ''banda sul palco' ...

, which dominated the sound in the first half of the 1980s. In addition to their own catalogue, they have worked with artists such as Bunny Wailer, Gregory Isaacs, Michael Prophet, Eek-A-Mouse, and Israel Vibration. In 1979, the band recorded the riddims for Barrington Levy's first songs for producer Henry "Junjo" Lawes, credited at the time as the Channel One Stars. As a sought after studio lineup, Roots Radics backed several reggae stars in the studio and on tour. For example, they appear on several Eek-A-Mouse albums: ''Bubble Up Yu Hip'' (1980), ''Wa-Do-Dem'' (1981), ''Skidip'' (1982), ''The Mouse and the Man'' (1983) and ''Assassinator'' (1983). They backed reggae superstar Gregory Isaacs on his album '' Night Nurse'' (1982), and are often credited on releases by Prince Far I, both on his solo recording work, and as part of producer Adrian Sherwood's studio supergroup Singers and Players. Johnson went on to become half of the production duo

Steely and Clevie Steely & Clevie was a Jamaican dancehall reggae production duo that was composed of members Wycliffe Johnson and Cleveland Browne. The duo worked with artists such as the Specials, Gregory Peck ("Poco Man Jam," 1990), Bounty Killer, Elephant Man ...

. Bailey died of

cancer Cancer is a group of diseases involving abnormal cell growth with the potential to invade or spread to other parts of the body. These contrast with benign tumors, which do not spread. Possible signs and symptoms include a lump, abnormal bl ...

in July 2014, aged 61. Lincoln 'Style' Scott was shot dead in his home 9 October 2014. In 2019 they received their first Grammy nomination for the album ''The Final Battle: Sly & Robbie vs Roots Radics'', a collaboration with

Sly & 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 separ ...

that was produced by Hernan "Don Camel" Sforzini.

Discography

Albums

* ''Dangerous Dub'' (1981),

Greensleeves "Greensleeves" is a traditional English folk song. A broadside ballad by the name "A Newe Northen Dittye of ye Ladye Greene Sleves" was registered by Richard Jones at the London Stationer's Company in September 1580,Frank Kidson, ''English Fo ...

* ''Live at Channel One Kingston Jamaica'' (1982), Channel One * ''Radical Dub Session'' (1982), Solid Groove * ''12 Inches of Dub'' (2019),

VP Records VP Records is an independent Caribbean-owned record label in Queens, New York. The label is known for releasing music by notable artists in reggae, dancehall and soca. VP Records has offices in New York City, Miami, London, Kingston, Tokyo, Joh ...

* ''The Final Battle: Sly & Robbie vs Roots Radics '' (2019),

Serious reggae Serious may refer to: * Seriousness, an attitude of gravity, solemnity, persistence, or earnestness * ''Serious'' (TV series), a BBC children's television show Albums * ''Serious'' (Luther Allison album) or the title song, 1987 * ''Serious'' ( ...

* ''The Dub Battle: Sly & Robbie vs Roots Radics '' (2021),

Collaborative albums

* ''Alborosie Meets The Roots Radics – Dub For The Radicals'' (2019), Greensleeves

References

External links

The Roots Radics at Discogs
* Jamaican backing bands Jamaican reggae musical groups {{Reggae-musician-stub