BLACK UHURU

Derrick Duckie Simpson the Gong Gong Gullie is the founder and leader for reggaes BLACK UHURU. Although going through numerous lead singers and musicians they have remained to be one of the most recognized and prolific reggae band for over 50 years. The roots of BLACK UHURU were formed in Kingston Jamaicas Waterhouse district also known as Firehouse in the early 60s. Though considered to be one of Jamaicas toughest neighborhoods its home to several other reggae singers and musicians. It was where Duckie Simpson grew up and learned to sing from boyhood friends Winston Pipe Matthews and Lloyd Bread McDonald of Wailing Souls and Bob Marley. He recorded four tracks with Wailing Souls before forming his own group. The original Uhurus (Swahili for freedom) were Derrick Duckie Simpson, Euvin Don Carlos Spencer and Rudolph Garth Dennis. They only recorded a few singles Folk Songs Time Is On Our Side and Slow Coach before separating. Don went solo and Garth joined Wailing Souls. Duckie reformed the group adding Michael Rose Tarzan Nelson, both from Waterhouse. They recorded their debut album Love Crises in 1977 at Prince Jammys famous studio in Waterhouse on St. Lucia Road. It was later re-released as Black Sounds Of Freedom. Errol later left to join The Jayes. He was soon replaced by American female singer Puma Jones. They teamed up with drummer Sly Dunbar and bass player Robbie Shakespeare. Together they developed a musical style full of deep bass thumps, loud drum slaps, sharp keyboards, long instrumentals with guitar riffs, whirly back round noises, echos and the signaturewoh oh ohs creating theyre classic sound. Producing hits like I Love King Sellassie, Shine Eye Gals, General Penitentary and What is Life. BLACK UHURU released the albums Red, Chill Out, Sensemila and Guess Whos Coming To Dinner and began to tour the world bringing them to international audiences. It was during this period they started to gain rapid popularity. They opened live shows for the Rolling Stones and the Police. They began to work with other well accomplished producers and musicians. Keith Richards played guitar for the Shine Eye Gal track. Dennis Brown The Crown Prince of Reggae produced the tracks Rent Man and Wood For My Fire. The track Spongi Reggae appeared on an episode of The Bill Cosby Show and Party in Session in the movie 1980s North Shore. BLACK UHURU made reggae history when they won the first ever Grammy Award for reggae music in 1984 for the album Anthem Shortly after the grammy Michael Rose went solo. Another Waterhouse resident named Delroy Junior Reid became the new lead singer. They released two albums Brutal and Positive. The Brutal album was nominated for a grammy. They filmed three music videos for the tracks Fire City Brutal, and Great Train Robbery, that track also played on a popular video game Grand Theft Auto. read more