Beshara (band)
Encyclopedia
Beshara were a British
reggae
band from Moseley
, Birmingham
, that formed in 1976. The band are most notable for their 1981 Lovers rock
hit "Men Cry Too", which reached number 6 in the reggae
charts. Although known for their Lovers rock
singles, they were also very capable of recording roots
reggae
. This can be heard in the rare and much sought after recording , "Glory Glory", as well as their cover of The Abyssinians
song, "Satta Massagana".
Over the years the line-up of the band changed along with the roles of various members but as of 1980 the ever-present nucleus that was widely known as Ray Watts (Lead Vocals, Rhythm Guitar), Dixie Pinnock (Drums, Backing Vocals), Michael Nanton (Keyboards, Backing Vocals) and Tony Garfield (Vocals, Bass), remained in their new roles.
Throughout the years Beshara gigged extensively all over the UK in the nation's major colleges, universities and clubs attracting multi cultural audiences. During their active years, Beshara never released (although recorded) an album but released many singles and enjoyed success with early recordings such as "Glory Glory", "Men Cry Too", which reached number 6 in the reggae
charts and "Shadow of Love", which reached number 11 in the reggae
charts. In the late 1980s the band members were headhunted by Ijahman Levi
, to back him on his African and European tour, which saw the band members perform abroad for the first time. Beshara received much acclaim when they toured the UK and played alongside UB40
, The Abyssinians
, Beres Hammond
, Simply Red
, Dennis Brown
, Bad Manners
, Johnny Clarke
, Leroy Smart
, Sugar Minott
, and John Holt
.
The 80’s also saw them achieve well-earned TV exposure by appearing on the "Rockers Roadshow" hosted by Mikey Dread
,"Black on Black", "Here & Now", "Format V" and "Together". Beshara also appeared as a gospel
group in the BBC
Drama “Marjorie And The Preacher Man” starring the acclaimed British
actor John Rhys-Davies
.The BBC
then used a Beshara song named “United” as the theme song for the BBC
documentary, “Handsworth Boxing”. The song would later be covered by Pato Banton
and renamed “United We Stand” while also featuring the vocals of Ray Watts.
In 1992, Beshara were asked by BBC WM
to perform a headline concert in Handsworth, Birmingham
, which was broadcasted on BBC WM
. In the same year, the band decided to part ways only to reunite again in 1998 and they began to record in 1999 what was set to be their debut album. This was also the same year that Beshara shared the stage with Alton Ellis
. Sadly Ray Watts passed away in the year 2000. Due to this the remaining members of the band decided they could no longer stay together without him and went their separate ways. In 2001 the ex band members arranged a memorial tribute concert for Ray Watts at the Irish Centre, Birmingham
, which led to Beshara performing and sharing the stage with Steel Pulse
, along with many other artists from Birmingham
, including Skibu, Reggae Revolution, Jeremiah, Birry The Poet and many more. In the same year, Pato Banton
’s album "Life is Miracle", which featured a song written by Ray Watts named "United We Stand", received a Grammy nomination for Best Reggae Album. The song has also featured on the Pato Banton
albums, “Universal Love” and “Time Come” (Brazil Version).
2005 saw the ex members reunite to perform a one-off show at the "32 Years of Lovers rock
" anniversary concert at the Hackney Empire in London
.
Past members Steve Morrison and Michael Nanton, who began and crafted their musicianship in Beshara, now make up the integral part of the Reggae Revolution band. The Reggae Revolution have backed and toured the world with artists such as, Sting, Pato Banton
, Apache Indian, Musical Youth
, Gregory Isaacs
and many more. They’ve also written or performed on the Grammy nominated albums "Rage & Fury" and "African Holocaust" by Steel Pulse
, as well as "Life Is A Miracle" by Pato Banton
.
In 2010, Beshara were featured in a documentary called Made in Birmingham: Reggae, Punk, Bhangra. The documentary has had numerous screenings internationally and throughout the UK. It was awarded a special commendation from the RTS Midlands.
A non-performance clip of the band, that originates from the 1979 documentary “Format V”, was featured in the 2011 BBC Four
documentary, “Reggae Britannia”.
On the 23rd September 2011, as a tribute to Ray Watts, Tony Garfield performed as Beshara at the "Giants of Lovers Rock Part 3" concert at the indigo2 in London. Tony shared the stage with Janet Kay
, Freddie McGregor
, Susan Cadogan
, Peter Hunnigale
, Carroll Thompson
and many more.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
reggae
Reggae
Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...
band from Moseley
Moseley
Moseley is a suburb of Birmingham, England, two miles south of the city centre. The area is a popular cosmopolitan residential location and leisure destination, with a number of bars and restaurants...
, Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
, that formed in 1976. The band are most notable for their 1981 Lovers rock
Lovers rock
Lovers rock is a style of reggae music noted for its romantic sound and content. While love songs had been an important part of reggae since the late 1960s, the style was given a greater focus and a name in London in the mid 1970s.-History:...
hit "Men Cry Too", which reached number 6 in the reggae
Reggae
Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...
charts. Although known for their Lovers rock
Lovers rock
Lovers rock is a style of reggae music noted for its romantic sound and content. While love songs had been an important part of reggae since the late 1960s, the style was given a greater focus and a name in London in the mid 1970s.-History:...
singles, they were also very capable of recording roots
Roots reggae
Roots reggae is a subgenre of reggae that deals with the everyday lives and aspirations of the artists concerned, including the spiritual side of Rastafari and with the honoring of God, called Jah by rastafarians. It also is identified with the life of the ghetto sufferer, and the rural poor...
reggae
Reggae
Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...
. This can be heard in the rare and much sought after recording , "Glory Glory", as well as their cover of The Abyssinians
The Abyssinians
The Abyssinians are a Jamaican roots reggae group, famous for their close harmonies and promotion of the Rastafari movement in their lyrics.-History:...
song, "Satta Massagana".
History
The original line-up of the band included the late Elias Pharoah (Bass) and the late Ray Watts aka Ray Beshara (Rhythm Guitar), who then recruited Errol Nanton (Lead Vocals), Dixie Pinnock (Drums) and Michael Nanton (Keyboards). They were formerly named Cool Dimension and The Kushites until 1979 when the band settled on the name Beshara meaning ‘surprise’ in Arabic and ‘mystical’ in Swahili.Over the years the line-up of the band changed along with the roles of various members but as of 1980 the ever-present nucleus that was widely known as Ray Watts (Lead Vocals, Rhythm Guitar), Dixie Pinnock (Drums, Backing Vocals), Michael Nanton (Keyboards, Backing Vocals) and Tony Garfield (Vocals, Bass), remained in their new roles.
Throughout the years Beshara gigged extensively all over the UK in the nation's major colleges, universities and clubs attracting multi cultural audiences. During their active years, Beshara never released (although recorded) an album but released many singles and enjoyed success with early recordings such as "Glory Glory", "Men Cry Too", which reached number 6 in the reggae
Reggae
Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...
charts and "Shadow of Love", which reached number 11 in the reggae
Reggae
Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...
charts. In the late 1980s the band members were headhunted by Ijahman Levi
Ijahman Levi
Ijahman Levi on June 21, 1946 is a reggae musician. His first album, Haile I Hymn, was released on Island Records in 1978. He became Ijahman Levi after a religious conversion to the Rastafari movement when he was in prison between 1972 and 1974...
, to back him on his African and European tour, which saw the band members perform abroad for the first time. Beshara received much acclaim when they toured the UK and played alongside UB40
UB40
UB40 are a British reggae/pop band formed in 1978 in Birmingham. The band has placed more than 50 singles in the UK Singles Chart, and has also achieved considerable international success. One of the world's best-selling music artists, UB40 have sold over 70 million records.Their hit singles...
, The Abyssinians
The Abyssinians
The Abyssinians are a Jamaican roots reggae group, famous for their close harmonies and promotion of the Rastafari movement in their lyrics.-History:...
, Beres Hammond
Beres Hammond
Beres Hammond is a reggae singer known in particular for his romantic lovers rock and soulful voice...
, Simply Red
Simply Red
Simply Red were a British soul band that sold more than 50 million albums over a 25-year career. Their style drew influences from blue-eyed soul, new romantic, rock, reggae and jazz...
, Dennis Brown
Dennis Brown
Dennis Emmanuel Brown was a Jamaican reggae singer. During his prolific career, which began in the late 1960s when he was aged eleven, he recorded more than 75 albums and was one of the major stars of lovers rock, a sub-genre of reggae...
, Bad Manners
Bad Manners
Bad Manners are an English 2 Tone ska band. They quickly became the novelty favourites of the UK pop scene through their bald outsized frontman's on-stage antics, earning early exposure through their Top of The Pops exploits and an appearance in the live film documentary, Dance Craze.They were at...
, Johnny Clarke
Johnny Clarke
Johnny Clarke , Whitfield Town, Kingston, Jamaica) is a reggae musician.-Biography:Clarke grew up in the Kingston ghetto of Whitfield Town. In 1971 he won a talent contest in Bull Bay, his prize a meeting with producer Clancy Eccles, with whom he recorded his first song, "God Made the Sea and the...
, Leroy Smart
Leroy Smart
-Biography:Smart was born in 1952 and orphaned aged 2. He was raised at Maxfield Park Children's Home and educated at Alpha Boys School, where he studied singing, drums and dancing....
, Sugar Minott
Sugar Minott
Lincoln Barrington "Sugar" Minott was a Jamaican reggae singer, producer and sound-system operator.-Biography:...
, and John Holt
John Holt (singer)
John Holt is a reggae singer and songwriter.-Biography:Holt was born in Kingston in 1947. By the age of 12, he was a regular entrant in talent contests run at Jamaican theatres by Vere Johns...
.
The 80’s also saw them achieve well-earned TV exposure by appearing on the "Rockers Roadshow" hosted by Mikey Dread
Mikey Dread
Michael George Campbell , better known as Mikey Dread, was a Jamaican singer, producer, and broadcaster. He was one of the most influential performers and innovators in reggae music...
,"Black on Black", "Here & Now", "Format V" and "Together". Beshara also appeared as a gospel
Gospel
A gospel is an account, often written, that describes the life of Jesus of Nazareth. In a more general sense the term "gospel" may refer to the good news message of the New Testament. It is primarily used in reference to the four canonical gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John...
group in the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
Drama “Marjorie And The Preacher Man” starring the acclaimed British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
actor John Rhys-Davies
John Rhys-Davies
John Rhys-Davies is a Welsh actor and voice actor. He is perhaps best known for playing the charismatic Arab excavator Sallah in the Indiana Jones films and the dwarf Gimli in The Lord of the Rings trilogy...
.The BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
then used a Beshara song named “United” as the theme song for the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
documentary, “Handsworth Boxing”. The song would later be covered by Pato Banton
Pato Banton
Pato Banton is a reggae singer and toaster from Birmingham, England. He received the nickname 'Pato' from his stepfather, and 'Banton' from the disc jockey slang for a "heavyweight DJ".-Biography:Born in Birmingham, Banton first came to public attention in the early 1980s when he worked with The...
and renamed “United We Stand” while also featuring the vocals of Ray Watts.
In 1992, Beshara were asked by BBC WM
BBC WM
BBC WM is the BBC Local Radio service for the West Midlands, South Staffordshire, north Worcestershire and north Warwickshire, operated by BBC Birmingham. Launched on 9 November 1970 as BBC Radio Birmingham, it broadcasts from central Birmingham on 95.6 FM, DAB and on the internet...
to perform a headline concert in Handsworth, Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
, which was broadcasted on BBC WM
BBC WM
BBC WM is the BBC Local Radio service for the West Midlands, South Staffordshire, north Worcestershire and north Warwickshire, operated by BBC Birmingham. Launched on 9 November 1970 as BBC Radio Birmingham, it broadcasts from central Birmingham on 95.6 FM, DAB and on the internet...
. In the same year, the band decided to part ways only to reunite again in 1998 and they began to record in 1999 what was set to be their debut album. This was also the same year that Beshara shared the stage with Alton Ellis
Alton Ellis
Alton Nehemiah Ellis, OD, was a Jamaican musician best known as one of the innovators of rocksteady music and was often referred to as the "Godfather of Rocksteady". In 2006, he was inducted into the International Reggae And World Music Awards Hall Of Fame.-Biography:Ellis was born in 1938 and...
. Sadly Ray Watts passed away in the year 2000. Due to this the remaining members of the band decided they could no longer stay together without him and went their separate ways. In 2001 the ex band members arranged a memorial tribute concert for Ray Watts at the Irish Centre, Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
, which led to Beshara performing and sharing the stage with Steel Pulse
Steel Pulse
Steel Pulse is a roots reggae musical band. They originally formed at Handsworth Wood Boys School, in Birmingham, England, composed of David Hinds , Basil Gabbidon , and Ronald McQueen .-History:...
, along with many other artists from Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
, including Skibu, Reggae Revolution, Jeremiah, Birry The Poet and many more. In the same year, Pato Banton
Pato Banton
Pato Banton is a reggae singer and toaster from Birmingham, England. He received the nickname 'Pato' from his stepfather, and 'Banton' from the disc jockey slang for a "heavyweight DJ".-Biography:Born in Birmingham, Banton first came to public attention in the early 1980s when he worked with The...
’s album "Life is Miracle", which featured a song written by Ray Watts named "United We Stand", received a Grammy nomination for Best Reggae Album. The song has also featured on the Pato Banton
Pato Banton
Pato Banton is a reggae singer and toaster from Birmingham, England. He received the nickname 'Pato' from his stepfather, and 'Banton' from the disc jockey slang for a "heavyweight DJ".-Biography:Born in Birmingham, Banton first came to public attention in the early 1980s when he worked with The...
albums, “Universal Love” and “Time Come” (Brazil Version).
2005 saw the ex members reunite to perform a one-off show at the "32 Years of Lovers rock
Lovers rock
Lovers rock is a style of reggae music noted for its romantic sound and content. While love songs had been an important part of reggae since the late 1960s, the style was given a greater focus and a name in London in the mid 1970s.-History:...
" anniversary concert at the Hackney Empire in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
Past members Steve Morrison and Michael Nanton, who began and crafted their musicianship in Beshara, now make up the integral part of the Reggae Revolution band. The Reggae Revolution have backed and toured the world with artists such as, Sting, Pato Banton
Pato Banton
Pato Banton is a reggae singer and toaster from Birmingham, England. He received the nickname 'Pato' from his stepfather, and 'Banton' from the disc jockey slang for a "heavyweight DJ".-Biography:Born in Birmingham, Banton first came to public attention in the early 1980s when he worked with The...
, Apache Indian, Musical Youth
Musical Youth
Musical Youth are a British reggae band. The group originally formed in 1979 at Duddeston Manor School in Birmingham, UK. They are best remembered for their successful 1982 Grammy-nominated single, "Pass the Dutchie". The group featured two sets of brothers, Kelvin and Michael Grant, plus Junior...
, Gregory Isaacs
Gregory Isaacs
Gregory Anthony Isaacs was a Jamaican reggae musician. Milo Miles, writing in the New York Times, described Isaacs as "the most exquisite vocalist in reggae". His nicknames include Cool Ruler and Lonely Lover....
and many more. They’ve also written or performed on the Grammy nominated albums "Rage & Fury" and "African Holocaust" by Steel Pulse
Steel Pulse
Steel Pulse is a roots reggae musical band. They originally formed at Handsworth Wood Boys School, in Birmingham, England, composed of David Hinds , Basil Gabbidon , and Ronald McQueen .-History:...
, as well as "Life Is A Miracle" by Pato Banton
Pato Banton
Pato Banton is a reggae singer and toaster from Birmingham, England. He received the nickname 'Pato' from his stepfather, and 'Banton' from the disc jockey slang for a "heavyweight DJ".-Biography:Born in Birmingham, Banton first came to public attention in the early 1980s when he worked with The...
.
In 2010, Beshara were featured in a documentary called Made in Birmingham: Reggae, Punk, Bhangra. The documentary has had numerous screenings internationally and throughout the UK. It was awarded a special commendation from the RTS Midlands.
A non-performance clip of the band, that originates from the 1979 documentary “Format V”, was featured in the 2011 BBC Four
BBC Four
BBC Four is a British television network operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation and available to digital television viewers on Freeview, IPTV, satellite and cable....
documentary, “Reggae Britannia”.
On the 23rd September 2011, as a tribute to Ray Watts, Tony Garfield performed as Beshara at the "Giants of Lovers Rock Part 3" concert at the indigo2 in London. Tony shared the stage with Janet Kay
Janet Kay
Janet Kay is a British singer of Jamaican parentage best known for her lovers rock songs of the late 1970s - "Silly Games" and a cover of Minnie Riperton's "Lovin' You". She has also had roles as a theatre and television actress...
, Freddie McGregor
Freddie McGregor
Freddie McGregor has been variously a singer, musician and producer. According to Allmusic he is one of reggae's most durable and soulful singers, with a steady career that started in the 1960s, when he was just seven years old.-Biography:In 1963 he joined with Ernest Wilson and Peter Austin to...
, Susan Cadogan
Susan Cadogan
Susan Cadogan is a reggae singer best known for her hit records in the 1970s.-Biography:...
, Peter Hunnigale
Peter Hunnigale
Peter Hunnigale, also known as Mr. Honey Vibes is a British reggae singer best known for his lovers rock releases.-Biography:Hunnigale started his career as bass guitarist with the Vibes Corner Collective...
, Carroll Thompson
Carroll Thompson
Carroll Thompson is an English lovers rock singer, best known for her work in the 1980s.-Biography:Thompson sang in school and church choirs as a girl, but initially studied for a career in pharmacy. In the mid-1970s, she began working as a backing singer at several recording studios after...
and many more.
Television appearances
- "Rockers Roadshow" (1983) Central Independent Television / Channel 4
- "Black on Black" (1985) LWT/ Channel 4
- "Here & Now" (1985) Central Television
- "Format V" (1979) ATV
- "Together" (1983) BBC 1
- "Marjorie and the Preacher Man" (1987) BBC 1
- "Reggae Britannia" (2011) BBC Four
Filmography
- Made in Birmingham: Reggae, Punk, Bhangra (2010) Swish Films / Birmingham Music Archive
Compilations
- Out The Lights Vol.3 (1991) Discotex
- Out The Lights Vol.4 (1992) Discotex
- Relaxin' With Lovers Volume 5 - Santic And More Lovers (2004) Sony Music Entertainment Japan
- Relaxin' With Lovers Volume 9 (2006) Sony Music Entertainment Japan
- The Best Of Original British Lovers Rock Vol. 2 (2008) Jet Star
Singles
- "Africans" (1980) Rising Star
- " When You’re Wrong (Say You’re Wrong / That’s Life" (1980) Voyage
- " Men Cry Too / Man-A-Reason" (1981) Mass Media Music - Reggae Chart # 6
- " Won’t Let You Go / Rising Sun" (1982) Mass Media Music
- " Never Knew A Love Like (This Before)" (1983) Home Spun
- " Glory Glory" (1983) Home Spun
- " Shadow of Love" (1984) Sub Zero Music - Reggae Chart # 11
- " Candi / Satta Massagana" " (1987) C&E
- " I Wanna Be Your Man / You Are Everything" (1989) World Time Music
- " Shadow of Love (92 Mix) / Men Cry Too (92 Mix)" (1992) Klassic Records
- " Glory Glory" (2011 - Reissue) Beshara Music / Onlyroots
External links
- Beshara discography at DiscogsDiscogsDiscogs, short for discographies, is a website and database of information about audio recordings, including commercial releases, promotional releases, and bootleg or off-label releases. The Discogs servers, currently hosted under the domain name discogs.com, are owned by Zink Media, Inc., and are...
- Beshara at Birmingham Music Archive