Knowledge (band)

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Knowledge
Origin Kingston, Jamaica
Genres Roots reggae
Years active 1974–early 1980s
Labels A&M, Tamoki-Wambesi
Past members Anthony Doyley
Delroy Fawlin
Earl MacFarlane
Michael Smith
Michael Samuels
Paul Freeman

Knowledge were a Jamaican roots reggae group, best known for their work in the late 1970s and early 1980s, which saw them sign to A&M Records.

History

The group formed in the Rema area of Kingston, in 1974, the line-up including Anthony Doyley (lead vocals and main songwriter), Delroy Fowlin (vocals) aka Bronco Knowledge, Earl MacFarlane (vocals), Michael Smith (guitar), and Michael Samuels (vocals).[1] Doyley had previously been a member of The Classics, who had recorded for Lee "Scratch" Perry in the late 1960s.[2] Paul Freeman joined the group later in their career.[3] They recorded for deejay and producer Tapper Zukie, first on the "Make Faith" single, with several releases on his "Stars" label.[2] These led to a major label deal with A&M, who issued the group's debut album, Hail Dread (produced by Zukie), in 1978.[3] The deal with A&M proved to be short-lived, with the group's second album, Judgement, issued on the Roach label in 1980. Samuels subsequently embarked on a solo career, and Freeman set up his own 'Sunshine' label, along with Trevor "Leggo Beast" Douglas.[3]

In the early 1980s, the group worked with producer Roy Cousins, achieving reggae hits with "Na Buy Apartheid", "Chant Rasta Man", and "Fire Burn" on Cousins' Tamoki-Wambesi label.[3] They used musicians including keyboard player Pablove Black, Winston Wright, Leroy "Horsemouth" Wallace, and Sowell Radics. These recordings were collected on the Stumbling Block album in 1982.[3][4]

The group split up, with Doyley emigrating to England.[5] He died on 26 February 2011, aged 55.[2] Delroy Fowlin also emigrated to England in 2001, and released his own albums, Tell Me Something and More Knowledge for the People.

Discography

Albums

  • Hail Dread (1978) A&M, reissued under the title Word, Sound and Power (1978) Tappa
  • Judgement (1980) Roach
  • Stumbling Block (1982) Tamoki-Wambesi (reissued 1995)
Compilations
  • Straight Outta Trenchtown: 1975-1980 (2002) Makasound
  • Kebra-Nagast (2005), Tamoki-Wambesi-Dove
  • Rasta Don't Take Bribe (2006) Tamoki-Wambesi-Dove

References

  1. ↑ Anderson, Rick "Straight Outta Trenchtown: 1975-1980 Review", Allmusic, Macrovision Corporation
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Anthony Doyley has passed away", Reggae-Vibes.com, retrieved 2011-04-03
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Larkin, Colin (1998) "The Virgin Encyclopedia of Reggae", Virgin Books, ISBN 0-7535-0242-9
  4. ↑ Stumbling Block at Roots Archives
  5. ↑ McNair, James (2006) "Knowledge - Stumbling Block", MOJO, Issues 146-8

External links

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