Music >> Artists >> Reggae
Genre:
Reggae

Years Active:
'70s, '80s






Roots Radics

Biography

Roots Radics are the premier session band in Jamaica. In addition to touring and recording as Gregory Isaac's backup band, the group has collaborated with a lengthy list of artists including Bunny Wailer, Israel Vibration, Sugar Minott, the Wailing Souls, On-U-Sounds, Creation Rebel, and Prince Far-I. The group toured the United Kingdom with Prince Far-I as the Arabs. The genesis of Roots Radics traces back to Morris "Blacker" Wellington's band, the Morvells, a group that featured future Roots Radics members Errol "Flabba" Holt on bass and Eric "Bingy Bunny" Lamont on guitar. Together with the Morwells, Holt and Lamont recorded such mid-'70s hits as "Swing and Dine," "They Hold Us Down," and "Kingston Is Tuffy." Lamont had previously worked with bongo player Bongo Herman, with whom he recorded the 1971 hit "Know Far-I" and had produced an album for Pete Boggs. On his own, Holt had earlier recorded such hits as "A You Lick Me First," "Gimme Gimme," and "Who Have Eyes to See." Initially teaming together as members of Channel One session group the Revolutionaries, which also featured the rhythm section of bassist Sly Dunbar and drummer Robbie Shakespeare. When Shakespeare and Dunbar left to launch their own label Taxi Records, the Revolutionaries evolved into Roots Radics. . Roots Radics are the premier session band in Jamaica. In addition to touring and recording as Gregory Isaac's backup band, the group has collaborated with a lengthy list of artists including Bunny Wailer, Israel Vibration, Sugar Minott, the Wailing Souls, On-U-Sounds, Creation Rebel, and Prince Far-I. The group toured the United Kingdom with Prince Far-I as the Arabs. The genesis of Roots Radics traces back to Morris "Blacker" Wellington's band, the Morvells, a group that featured future Roots Radics members Errol "Flabba" Holt on bass and Eric "Bingy Bunny" Lamont on guitar. Together with the Morwells, Holt and Lamont recorded such mid-'70s hits as "Swing and Dine," "They Hold Us Down," and "Kingston Is Tuffy." Lamont had previously worked with bongo player Bongo Herman, with whom he recorded the 1971 hit "Know Far-I" and had produced an album for Pete Boggs. On his own, Holt had earlier recorded such hits as "A You Lick Me First," "Gimme Gimme," and "Who Have Eyes to See." Initially teaming together as members of Channel One session group the Revolutionaries, which also featured the rhythm section of bassist Sly Dunbar and drummer Robbie Shakespeare. When Shakespeare and Dunbar left to launch their own label Taxi Records, the Revolutionaries evolved into Roots Radics.

Roots Radics' first hit on their own, "Bounty Hunter," was produced by Henry "Junjo" Lawes and released in 1979. They soon became spearheads of the dancehall style that dominated reggae music in the early '80s. Their status was lessened by the rise of the digital/ragga style in the mid-'80s. Their final hit, "Hot We Hot," featuring the lead vocals of Dwight "Brother Dee" Pinkney, was released in 1989. The band's future became uncertain following Lamont's death from prostate cancer in January 1994.

Top Albums

In a Dub Explosion, Roots Radics Meets Scientist And King Tubby
1. In a Dub Exp..
Dub Fi Junjo, Bravo
2. Dub Fi Junjo
Forward Ever, Backward Never, Roots Radics
3. Forward Ever..
Essential Dub '79-'82, Roots Radics
4. Essential Du..
World Peace Three, Roots Radics
5. World Peace ..
Roots Radics - Live At Channel One In Jamaica, Roots Radics
6. Roots Radics..
Reality, Johnny Osbourne
7. Reality
More Dangerous Dub (Dub Classics Chapter 2), King Tubby
8. More Dangero..
Radically Radics, Roots Radics
9. Radically Ra..
Live At Channel One, Roots Radics
10. Live At Chan..
King Tubby's Hidden Treasure, Roots Radics
11. King Tubby's..

Top Songs

NameAlbumTimePrice
1.
Radically RadicsRadically Radics3:46$0.99
2.
Book of LifeHot We Hot3:42$0.99
3.
Me for YouHot We Hot3:41$0.99
4.
Shuffle the DeckHot We Hot3:25$0.99
5.
Joy to the WorldHot We Hot3:40$0.99
6.
Lying Girl DubReggae Collectors6:14$0.99
7.
Dub Take a Front SeatTizita Riddim4:42$0.99
8.
Maybe One DubTizita Riddim4:44$0.99
9.
Scientist's Earth DubReggae Anthology, Vol. 24:29$0.99
10.
I Give My Love VersionRight Now3:19$0.99
11.
Make It With VersionRight Now4:01$0.99
12.
Wild DubMore Dangerous Dub (Dub Cla..2:08$0.99
13.
Low DownMore Dangerous Dub (Dub Cla..3:20$0.99
14.
Crisis DubMore Dangerous Dub (Dub Cla..3:09$0.99
15.
BlessingsMore Dangerous Dub (Dub Cla..2:09$0.99
16.
Rub a DubMore Dangerous Dub (Dub Cla..2:03$0.99
17.
More DubMore Dangerous Dub (Dub Cla..2:24$0.99
18.
Pay BackMore Dangerous Dub (Dub Cla..4:05$0.99
19.
Dub OrganizerMore Dangerous Dub (Dub Cla..3:44$0.99
20.
HighestMore Dangerous Dub (Dub Cla..4:13$0.99
21.
Coffee DubEssential Dub '79-'..3:07$0.99
22.
Cane DubEssential Dub '79-'..3:20$0.99
23.
Rum DubEssential Dub '79-'..4:08$0.99
24.
Dub RainbowEssential Dub '79-'..4:57$0.99
25.
Liar Dub Plate StyleEssential Dub '79-'..2:47$0.99

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