The Disciples are a dub

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 that was formed in 1986 by brothers Russ D. and Lol Bell-Brown, named 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 ...

after providing

Discomix A discomix, or simply a disco, is an extended reggae 12-inch single that typically features the vocal track followed by a dub version or a deejay version of the same track.Heath, ML (2010)Joe Gibbs: 12" Reggae Discomix Showcase Volumes 4 and 5, Pop ...

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 ...

s for his sound system. They recorded four albums of instrumental dub for Jah Shaka's ''King Of The Zulu Tribe'' label during 1987 to 1990. Russ D. acquired some basic recording equipment in 1985 which started their productions. Over the years this has seen many changes moving from a bedroom with four- and eight track recording to a small purpose built studio which now comprises full 24 track recording and mixing facilities. The Disciples built their own

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 ...

in 1991 and played events across the UK for the following five years. They played alongside

Aba Shanti-I Aba Shanti-I (born Joseph Smith) is a sound system operator and dub producer from the UK. Aba and his sound system have been playing through UK and Europe for over 30 years. He has been a resident sound system at Notting Hill Carnival since 199 ...

Iration Steppas Iration Steppas is a UK-based sound system and dub music production collective from Leeds, England. Founded in the early 1990s by Mark Iration, the group took its current form in 1993 when he was joined by partner Dennis Rootical. Their musical ...

and Channel One Sound System. Musical content was strictly

and

dub music Dub is a musical style that grew out of reggae in the late 1960s and early 1970s. It is commonly considered a subgenre of reggae, though it has developed to extend beyond that style.Dub: soundscapes and shattered songs in Jamaican reggae, p.&nb ...

from all eras. Their first label, Boom Shacka Lacka, was formed in 1993 for releasing heavyweight instrumental dubs and this included a release of

discomix A discomix, or simply a disco, is an extended reggae 12-inch single that typically features the vocal track followed by a dub version or a deejay version of the same track.Heath, ML (2010)Joe Gibbs: 12" Reggae Discomix Showcase Volumes 4 and 5, Pop ...

''Prowling Lion''. They also produced another album, ''For Those Who Understand''. During this time their tracks featured on compilations for labels such as

Virgin Virginity is a social construct that denotes the state of a person who has never engaged in sexual intercourse. As it is not an objective term with an operational definition, social definitions of what constitutes virginity, or the lack thereof ...

(Macrodub series), Dope On Plastic, Zip Dog and Dubhead. Further albums were released with artists such as Rootsman, Dayjah and Sister Rasheda. In 1996, they formed their second label, ''Backyard Movements'', as a vehicle for producing

vocal and dub releases. The label has seen works with both homegrown and Jamaican artists including

Prince Alla Keith Lorenzo Blake (born 10 May 1950), better known as Prince Alla (sometimes Prince Allah or Ras Allah) is a Jamaican roots reggae singer whose career began in the 1960s, and has continued with a string of releases into the 2000s. Biography B ...

, Sister Rasheda ( who had previously recorded for

Augustus Pablo Horace Michael Swaby (21 June 1953 – 18 May 1999), Thompson, Dave (2002). ''Reggae & Caribbean Music''. Backbeat Books. , pp. 200–202. also known as Augustus Pablo, was a Jamaican roots reggae and dub composer, performer, record produc ...

's ''Rockers International'' and ''Message'' labels ), Michael Rose,

Yami Bolo Rolando Ephraim McLean (born 1 October 1970), better known as Yami Bolo, is a Jamaican reggae singer. Biography Yami Bolo grew up in postal zone 13 of Kingston. His first professional job and exposure was with Sugar Minott's Youth Promotion C ...

, Bunny Lie Lie, Lutan Fyah, Prince Malachi, Tony Roots, Danny Vibes,

Michael Prophet Michael George Haynes (3 March 1957 – 16 December 2017), known professionally as Michael Prophet, was a Jamaican roots reggae singer known for his "crying" tenor vocal style, whose recording career began in 1977. Prophet was one of Jamaica’s ...

Johnny Clarke Johnny Clarke (born 12 January 1955) is a Jamaican reggae musician, best known for his recordings with producer Bunny Lee in the 1970s. Biography Clarke grew up in the Kingston ghetto of Whitfield Town and attended Jamaica College.Vivian Jones (singer), Ras Mac Bean,

Zion Train Zion Train are a British Dub music, dub ensemble that formed in Oxford, 1988. They have consistently released music and toured from 1992 to present day. Their mix of reggae and dance music was a notable innovation in the early 1990s. History ...

and David Ruffy of

The Ruts The Ruts (later known as The Ruts D.C.) are an English reggae-influenced punk rock band, notable for the 1979 UK top 10 hit single " Babylon's Burning", and an earlier single "In a Rut", which was not a hit but was highly regarded and regular ...

( under the moniker ''Powersteppers''),

Luciano (singer) Luciano is an Italian, Spanish and Portuguese given name and surname. It is derived from Latin ''Lucianus'', patronymic of ''Lucius'' ("Light"). The French form is '' Lucien'', while the Basque form is '' Luken''. Single name * Luciano (rapp ...

, Alpha & Omega (band),

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 ...

, High Priest, Anthony Que and others. Since 1996, the Disciples sound system was dissolved and brother Lol pulled out of the recording business, going on to work for Dub Vendor. Russ D. continued with both the label and DJing, teaming up with long-time friend, mic

chant A chant (from French ', from Latin ', "to sing") is the iterative speaking or singing of words or sounds, often primarily on one or two main pitches called reciting tones. Chants may range from a simple melody involving a limited set of no ...

er and

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 ...

ist Jonah Dan. The works continue in the Disciples Backyard Studio for their own productions and other labels. In 2005, Russ Disciple released the

''Rootsman'' with foundation Toaster

U-Roy Ewart Beckford OD (21 September 1942 – 17 February 2021), known by the stage name U-Roy, was a Jamaican vocalist and pioneer of toasting.Jo-Ann GreeneU-Roy Biography, AllMusic. Retrieved 11 April 2013. U-Roy was known for a melodic style ...

, co-produced with

François Kevorkian François Kevorkian (; born 10 January 1954), also known by the stage name François K, is a French DJ, producer, remixer and label owner of Armenian descent and based in the United States of America, who started his career DJing in clubs such ...

References

External links

Myspace siteInterview with The Disciples (2003)
British dub musical groups British reggae musical groups Musical groups established in 1986 {{UK-band-stub