Coolie Ranx
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Coolie Ranx (real name Obi-Ajula Ugbomah) is a New York City based musician best known for his membership Third Wave Ska bands, The Toasters and Pilfers.
Coolie was born in Great Britain and was raised in New York. His mother is from Jamaica and his father is from Nigeria. Coolie was discovered in 1990 when lead singer and guitarist of The Toasters, Rob "Bucket" Hingley, heard Coolie's dancehall reggae EP. Joining the Toasters in the early 1990's, he toured and recorded two albums with the band, including Dub 56, which features two songs he wrote.
After leaving the Toasters, he co-founded a band called Pilfers. In Pilfers, Coolie shared vocal duties with Vinny Nobile. Pilfers played a combination of third wave ska music, punk rock, and reggae that they called "raggacore". After self-releasing their first album, the band signed to Mojo Records, who released the band's second album, Chawalaleng. Coolie made frequent guest appearances on the albums of other Third Wave Ska bands, such as Spring Heeled Jack USA, Metro Stylee and Mojo labelmates, Reel Big Fish.
After a lineup change, which saw the replacement of the rhythm section, Pilfers disbanded in 2001. Coolie began a solo career, recording and playing shows around the world with Fear Nuttin' Band as his new backup band. In November of 2005, Coolie and the other four original members of Pilfers, reunited at the Knitting Factory in New York for a sold-out performance. It remains to be seen if the band will continue playing together.
It has been announced that Coolie will contribute vocals to a song on an upcoming 7" single by Danish rocksteady band, Babylove and the Van Dangos.
[edit] Discography
- 2006 The WBC - Hi-Fidelity Offbeat
- 2006 Sonic Boom Six - All-In
- 2001 Catch 22 - Washed Up And Through The Ringer!
- 2000 The Toasters - Best of (Tin)
- 1999 Aks Mamma - Jolly Holidays
- 1999 Pilfers - Chawalaleng
- 1999 Reel Big Fish - Why Do They Rock So Hard?
- 1998 Pilfers - Pilfers
- 1998 Spring Heeled Jack USA - Songs From Suburbia
- 1998 Eastern Standard Time - Second Hand
- 1998 Metro Stylee- Soul Garage Ska
- 1996 Pilfers - Rude by Association (self released 5 song demo tape)
- 1996 The Pietasters - Comply
- 1996 The Toasters - Two Tone Army
- 1994 The Toasters - Dub 56
- 1993 The Toasters - Live in L.A.
