Aswad  

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:''[[Warrior Charge]]'' :''[[Warrior Charge]]''
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 +'''Aswad''' ("Black" in [[Arabic (language)|Arabic]]) is a long-lasting [[United Kingdom|British]] [[reggae]] [[band (music)|group]], that is noted for adding strong [[Rhythm and blues|R&B]] and [[soul music|soul]] influences to the reggae sound. They have been performing since the mid-1970s, having released a total of 21 [[album]]s.
 +
 +==History==
 +As naturalized children of immigrants from the [[Caribbean]], in the aftermath of [[World War II]], the children were moved to [[London]]. They attended a local high school near [[Ladbroke Grove]].
 +
 +The original members of Aswad were [[Brinsley Forde]], George Oban, [[Drummie Zeb|Angus "Drummie Zeb" Gaye]], and Donald Griffiths. Courtney Hemmings was a frequent contributor in the 1970s, including as part of the backing band on Burning Spear's 1977 [[Live (Burning Spear album)|Live]] [[album]], recorded at the Rainbow Theatre in London. Other contributors included [[Vin Gordon]], Bongo Levi, and Karl Pitterson.
 +
 +They became one the UK's top reggae bands with [[song]]s, typical of the time, about the oppression of black youth, such as "Three Babylon" and "It's Not Our Wish", and the powerful [[jazz]]-influenced [[instrumental]] "[[Warrior Charge]]" (full versions of these available on the ''Showcase'' album).
 +
 +Aswad gained a wider audience with the ''New Chapter'' album (1981). "Love Fire" gained wide recognition when it was used as the backing rhythm for [[Dennis Brown]]'s "Promised Land".
 +
 +Among Aswad's catalogue of [[hit single|hit]]s is "[[Don't Turn Around]]", a UK no.1 [[popular music|pop]] hit in 1988. This track was originally a [[A-side and B-side|B-side]] to [[Tina Turner]]'s hit "[[Typical Male]]", which was later [[cover version|covered]] by [[Ace of Base]]; they followed this up with UK #11 hit "Give A Little Love", and a reggae flavoured rendition of "[[Best of My Love]]", first popularized and written by [[The Eagles]]. In 1989, they contributed the single, "Set Them Free" to the ''[[Greenpeace]]'' ''Rainbow Warriors'' album. Their next hit, ''Shine'', was released in 1994. Another track was the upbeat 1998 remake of [[The Police]]'s "[[Invisible Sun]]", performed with [[Sting (musician)|Sting]].
 +
 +The band also hold the distinction of having played with each one of the ex-[[The Wailers (reggae)|Wailers]].
 +
 +==Band members==
 +*[[Martin Augustine]] aka "Tatta" - [[Lead guitar]]
 +*Brinsley Forde aka "Dan" (born [[16 October]] [[1952]], [[Guyana]]) - Vocals, [[Rhythm guitar]]
 +*[[Drummie Zeb]] aka Angus Gaye (born 1959, [[London]], [[United Kingdom]]) - Vocals, [[Drum kit|drums]]
 +*[[Donald Griffiths]] (born 1954, [[Jamaica]])
 +*[[Jimmy Neath]] aka "J-Slice" (born 1964, [[Manchester]], [[United Kingdom]]) - [[Trumpet]]
 +*[[Jimmy Haynes (reggae)|Jimmy Haynes]] aka "Senyah" - [[Lead guitar]], [[Steel-string guitar|Acoustic guitar]]
 +*[[Clifton Morrison]] aka "Bigga" - Vocals, [[keyboard instrument|keyboards]], [[Melodica]]
 +*[[George Oban]] - Left in 1980 - [[Bass guitar]]
 +*[[Tony Gad]] - real name Dennis Anthony Robinson, born [[11 November]] [[1957]], London. Joined in 1980 - Vocals, [[Bass guitar]]
 +
 +==Additional musicians==
 +Keyboard players
 +* Courtney Hemmings
 +* Bubblers
 +* Michael Martin - also performed with the [[Spice Girls]] and [[Vanessa-Mae]]
 +Horn Section
 +* TanTan - Eddie "Papa" Edward Thorton, [[trumpet]].
 +* Brian - [[Saxophone]]
 +* Trevor Jones - [[Trombone]]
 +Drums and percussion
 +* Lion - Prerry Melius - [[drummer]]
 +
 +==Production work==
 +* [[Ace of Base]] remix of "[[Don't Turn Around]]" (#10 hit in the [[UK Singles Chart|UK]])
 +* [[Vanessa Mae]] - "Classical Gas" (Top 30 hit in UK)
 +* [[Janet Kay]] - "Missing You"
 +
 +==Discography==
 +*1976: ''Aswad'' - [[Mango Records]]
 +*1978: ''Hulet'' - [[Mango Records]]
 +*1981: ''[[New Chapter]]'' - [[Columbia Records]]
 +*1981: ''Showcase'' - [[Mango Records]]
 +*1982: ''A New Chapter of Dub'' - [[Mango Records]]
 +*1982: ''Not Satisfied'' - [[Columbia Records]]
 +*1983: ''Live and Direct'' - [[Mango Records]]
 +*1984: ''Rebel Souls'' - [[Mango Records]]
 +*1986: ''To the Top'' - Simba
 +*1988: ''Jah Shaka Meets Aswad in Addis Ababa Studio'' - Jah Shaka
 +*1988: ''Distant Thunder'' - [[Mango Records]]
 +*1988: ''Renaissance - 20 Crucial Tracks'' - Stylus
 +*1989: ''Aswad: Crucial Tracks
 +*1990: ''Next to You'' - Alex
 +*1990: ''Too Wicked'' - [[Mango Records]]
 +*1993: ''Firesticks'' - Alex
 +*1994: ''Rise and Shine'' - [[Rhino Entertainment]]
 +*1995: ''Rise and Shine Again!'' - Mesa
 +*1995: ''Dub: The Next Frontier'' - Mesa
 +*1997: ''Big Up'' - [[Atlantic Records]]
 +*1997: ''The BBC Sessions''
 +*1999: ''Roots Revival'' - Ark 21
 +*2001: ''25 Live: 25th Anniversary''
 +*2002: ''[[Cool Summer Reggae]]''
 +
 +==See also==
 +*[[List of reggae musicians]]
 +*[[John Arnison]]
{{GFDL}} {{GFDL}}

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Aswad ("Black" in Arabic) is a long-lasting British reggae group, that is noted for adding strong R&B and soul influences to the reggae sound. They have been performing since the mid-1970s, having released a total of 21 albums.

Contents

History

As naturalized children of immigrants from the Caribbean, in the aftermath of World War II, the children were moved to London. They attended a local high school near Ladbroke Grove.

The original members of Aswad were Brinsley Forde, George Oban, Angus "Drummie Zeb" Gaye, and Donald Griffiths. Courtney Hemmings was a frequent contributor in the 1970s, including as part of the backing band on Burning Spear's 1977 Live album, recorded at the Rainbow Theatre in London. Other contributors included Vin Gordon, Bongo Levi, and Karl Pitterson.

They became one the UK's top reggae bands with songs, typical of the time, about the oppression of black youth, such as "Three Babylon" and "It's Not Our Wish", and the powerful jazz-influenced instrumental "Warrior Charge" (full versions of these available on the Showcase album).

Aswad gained a wider audience with the New Chapter album (1981). "Love Fire" gained wide recognition when it was used as the backing rhythm for Dennis Brown's "Promised Land".

Among Aswad's catalogue of hits is "Don't Turn Around", a UK no.1 pop hit in 1988. This track was originally a B-side to Tina Turner's hit "Typical Male", which was later covered by Ace of Base; they followed this up with UK #11 hit "Give A Little Love", and a reggae flavoured rendition of "Best of My Love", first popularized and written by The Eagles. In 1989, they contributed the single, "Set Them Free" to the Greenpeace Rainbow Warriors album. Their next hit, Shine, was released in 1994. Another track was the upbeat 1998 remake of The Police's "Invisible Sun", performed with Sting.

The band also hold the distinction of having played with each one of the ex-Wailers.

Band members

Additional musicians

Keyboard players

Horn Section

Drums and percussion

Production work

Discography

See also




Unless indicated otherwise, the text in this article is either based on Wikipedia article "Aswad (band)" or another language Wikipedia page thereof used under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License; or on research by Jahsonic and friends. See Art and Popular Culture's copyright notice.

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