Inner Circle
Encyclopedia
Inner Circle is a Jamaican reggae
and alternative hip hop
group
. The group was formed in 1968 by the brothers
Ian and Roger Lewis in Jamaica
. With Jacob Miller
as their front-man and lead singer the band was one of the most popular in Jamaica during the 1970s, and one of few reggae bands that performed live. They are responsible for the 1987 song
"Bad Boys
", which serves as the theme song for Fox Network's long-running television program
COPS
. However, at first they covered soul
and R&B hits from the United States
, and then also a few reggae songs, predominantly from Bob Marley
.
, and Leighton Johnson on trumpet
; both were former members of the Excelsior High School band. During that time the band toured extensively in North America
and Bermuda
.
In 1973 Cooper and Coore started their own band, Third World
, whose hits included, "Now That We Found Love" and "Ninety Six Degrees in the Shade". Cooper, Coore, and Brown were then students of the University of the West Indies, studying for various degrees.
Inner Circle released its debut album in 1974 on the record label
, Trojan Records
. In 1976 under the same management as the group Journey, the band signed a deal with Capitol/EMI Records which produced 2 albums "Reggae Thing and Ready For The World. They later signed in 1979 to Island Records
, where the international
ly successful album
Everything Is Great originated. Two singles from this album reached Top 50 in the UK
, and preceded their other chart
success by some years.
The band were joined by New York session guitarist Joe Ortiz, dubbed Gitzy by the band, who added the first touches of hard rock, jazz, and blues to the group. Ortize recorded at Compass Point Studios
for the Eveything Is Great album on Island Records, and later joined the group for their European tour in 1978-1980. Lester Adderley joined the group for the New Age Music album on guitar. The band appeared in the reggae cult film, Rockers in 1978.
Jacob Miller
, their frontman and lead singer, was killed in a car crash on March 23, 1980. After the loss of Miller, Inner Circle release another album in 1982 called Something So Good. In 1986, the group met the singer Calton Coffie, and the band experienced a resurgence with the album Black Roses.
In 1987, Inner Circle released the song "Bad Boys". California guitarist, Dave Gonzales, joined the band for a tour in 1989. They had another hit with the 1992 song "Sweat (A La La La La Long)
", which was a #3 hit in the UK Singles Chart
while "Bad Boys" peaked at #52. It was their second (and last) American hit, reaching #16 on the Billboard Hot 100
.
The lead singer Calton Coffie was ill for a long period in 1995, and decided after his recuperation to start a solo career. He was later replaced by Kris Bentley. In 2008, Junior Jazz became lead singer.
Today, members of the group run Circle House Studios, one of the most popular and respected recording facility in Miami.
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...
and alternative hip hop
Alternative hip hop
Alternative hip hop is a sub-genre of hip hop music. Allmusic defines it as follows: -Origin:...
group
Band (music)
In music, a musical ensemble or band is a group of musicians that works together to perform music. The following articles concern types of musical bands:* All-female band* Big band* Boy band* Christian band* Church band* Concert band* Cover band...
. The group was formed in 1968 by the brothers
Sibling
Siblings are people who share at least one parent. A male sibling is called a brother; and a female sibling is called a sister. In most societies throughout the world, siblings usually grow up together and spend a good deal of their childhood socializing with one another...
Ian and Roger Lewis in Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
. With Jacob Miller
Jacob Miller
Jacob Miller was a Jamaican reggae artist who first recorded with Clement Dodd. While pursuing a prolific solo career, he became the lead singer for reggae group Inner Circle with whom he recorded until his death in a car accident at the age of 27.-Biography:Jacob Miller was born in Mandeville,...
as their front-man and lead singer the band was one of the most popular in Jamaica during the 1970s, and one of few reggae bands that performed live. They are responsible for the 1987 song
Song
In music, a song is a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing.A song may be accompanied by musical instruments, or it may be unaccompanied, as in the case of a cappella songs...
"Bad Boys
Bad Boys (Inner Circle song)
"Bad Boys" is the title of a song by the reggae band Inner Circle, made popular by the television program COPS, where it is played during the opening title sequence. It was Originally Recorded By Inner Circle...
", which serves as the theme song for Fox Network's long-running television program
Television program
A television program , also called television show, is a segment of content which is intended to be broadcast on television. It may be a one-time production or part of a periodically recurring series...
COPS
COPS (TV series)
Cops is an American documentary/reality television series that follows police officers, constables, and sheriff's deputies during patrols and other police activities...
. However, at first they covered soul
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
and R&B hits from the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and then also a few reggae songs, predominantly from Bob Marley
Bob Marley
Robert Nesta "Bob" Marley, OM was a Jamaican singer-songwriter and musician. He was the rhythm guitarist and lead singer for the ska, rocksteady and reggae band Bob Marley & The Wailers...
.
Career
The original Inner Circle included Ibo Cooper (keyboards), Stephen Cat Coore (guitar), Funky Brown (vocals), Prilly (vocals), Ian and Roger Lewis. The band's residence was originally on Holborn Road in New Kingston. In latter years they had a horn section that included Douglas Gutherie on alto saxophoneAlto saxophone
The alto saxophone is a member of the saxophone family of woodwind instruments invented by Belgian instrument designer Adolphe Sax in 1841. It is smaller than the tenor but larger than the soprano, and is the type most used in classical compositions...
, and Leighton Johnson on trumpet
Trumpet
The trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
; both were former members of the Excelsior High School band. During that time the band toured extensively in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
and Bermuda
Bermuda
Bermuda is a British overseas territory in the North Atlantic Ocean. Located off the east coast of the United States, its nearest landmass is Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, about to the west-northwest. It is about south of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, and northeast of Miami, Florida...
.
In 1973 Cooper and Coore started their own band, Third World
Third World (band)
Third World is a Jamaican reggae band formed in 1973. Their sound is influenced by soul, funk and disco.-History:Third World started when keyboard player Michael "Ibo" Cooper and guitarist Stephen "Cat" Coore, who had originally played in The Alley Cats then Inner Circle, subsequently left to form...
, whose hits included, "Now That We Found Love" and "Ninety Six Degrees in the Shade". Cooper, Coore, and Brown were then students of the University of the West Indies, studying for various degrees.
Inner Circle released its debut album in 1974 on the record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
, Trojan Records
Trojan Records
Trojan Records is a British record label founded in 1968. It specialises in ska, rocksteady, reggae and dub music. The label currently operates under the Sanctuary Records Group. The name Trojan comes from the Croydon-built Trojan truck that was used as Duke Reid's sound system in Jamaica...
. In 1976 under the same management as the group Journey, the band signed a deal with Capitol/EMI Records which produced 2 albums "Reggae Thing and Ready For The World. They later signed in 1979 to Island Records
Island Records
Island Records is a record label that was founded by Chris Blackwell in Jamaica. It was based in the United Kingdom for many years and is now owned by Universal Music Group...
, where the international
International
----International mostly means something that involves more than one country. The term international as a word means involvement of, interaction between or encompassing more than one nation, or generally beyond national boundaries...
ly successful album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
Everything Is Great originated. Two singles from this album reached Top 50 in the UK
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...
, and preceded their other chart
Record chart
A record chart is a ranking of recorded music according to popularity during a given period of time. Examples of music charts are the Hit parade, Hot 100 or Top 40....
success by some years.
The band were joined by New York session guitarist Joe Ortiz, dubbed Gitzy by the band, who added the first touches of hard rock, jazz, and blues to the group. Ortize recorded at Compass Point Studios
Compass Point Studios
Compass Point Studios were founded in 1977 by Chris Blackwell, the owner of Island Records.In the late 1970s and mid-1980s, many musical artists from across the world came to the Bahamas to record music at its facilities. Many producers, including Chris Blackwell himself, used the studio to produce...
for the Eveything Is Great album on Island Records, and later joined the group for their European tour in 1978-1980. Lester Adderley joined the group for the New Age Music album on guitar. The band appeared in the reggae cult film, Rockers in 1978.
Jacob Miller
Jacob Miller
Jacob Miller was a Jamaican reggae artist who first recorded with Clement Dodd. While pursuing a prolific solo career, he became the lead singer for reggae group Inner Circle with whom he recorded until his death in a car accident at the age of 27.-Biography:Jacob Miller was born in Mandeville,...
, their frontman and lead singer, was killed in a car crash on March 23, 1980. After the loss of Miller, Inner Circle release another album in 1982 called Something So Good. In 1986, the group met the singer Calton Coffie, and the band experienced a resurgence with the album Black Roses.
In 1987, Inner Circle released the song "Bad Boys". California guitarist, Dave Gonzales, joined the band for a tour in 1989. They had another hit with the 1992 song "Sweat (A La La La La Long)
Sweat (A La La La La Long)
"Sweat " is a 1992 song recorded by the band Inner Circle.The song achieved a great success particularly in Europe, where it was a top ten hit in many countries, including Austria, Ireland, Norway and Sweden. It topped the charts of Switzerland and Germany respectively for six and twelve weeks...
", which was a #3 hit in the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
while "Bad Boys" peaked at #52. It was their second (and last) American hit, reaching #16 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
.
The lead singer Calton Coffie was ill for a long period in 1995, and decided after his recuperation to start a solo career. He was later replaced by Kris Bentley. In 2008, Junior Jazz became lead singer.
Today, members of the group run Circle House Studios, one of the most popular and respected recording facility in Miami.
Present day band members
Inner Circle currently consists of the following members:- Ian Lewis (born — Bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, vocals) - Jr. Jazz (Vocals, guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
) - Bernard (Touter) Harvey (born — KeyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, vocals) - Lancelot Hall (born — Drums, percussion)
- Roger Lewis (born — GuitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, vocals)
Past band members
- Jacob MillerJacob MillerJacob Miller was a Jamaican reggae artist who first recorded with Clement Dodd. While pursuing a prolific solo career, he became the lead singer for reggae group Inner Circle with whom he recorded until his death in a car accident at the age of 27.-Biography:Jacob Miller was born in Mandeville,...
(vocals) - Calton Coffie (vocals)
- Kris Bentley (vocals)
- Michael SterlingMichael Sterling (entertainer)Michael Sterling is an American composer and musician from Miami, Florida-History:His musical career started in his teens when he played bass guitar for popular Latino recording artist Ray Fernandez. Soon afterwards, Sterling and two childhood friends formed the group Silver Platinum, who quickly...
(lead guitar/vocals) - RJ RonquilloRJ RonquilloRJ Ronquillo is a professional studio and touring guitarist based in Los Angeles, CA. Originally from Grosse Pointe , MI, Ronquillo graduated from The University of Miami School of Music, and has since toured worldwide with such artists as: Ricky Martin, Chayanne, The Chelsea Smiles, Soraya, and...
(guitar)
Studio albums
- Rock The Boat (1974)
- Blame It To The Sun (1975)
- Reggae Thing (1976)
- Ready For The World (1977)
- Heavyweight Dub (1978)
- Killer Dub (1978)
- Everything Is Great (1979)
- New Age Music (1980)
- Something So Good (1982)
- Black Roses (1986)
- One Way (1987)
- Rewind!, Pt.2: The Singers (1990)
- Identified (1991)
- Bad To The Bone (1992)
- Bad Boys (1993)
- Reggae Dancer (1994)
- Da Bomb (1996)
- Speak My Language (1998)
- Jamaika Me Crazy (1999)
- Big Tings (2000)
- Jah Jah People (2001)
- Barefoot In Negril (2001)
- Kool Operator (2002)
- This Is Crucial Reggae (2004)
- State Of Da World (2009)
Live albums
- Forward Jah-Jah People (1999 - highlights from the ninth Cartagena Festival, 1990)
Singles
| Year | Song | U.S. Hot 100 Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
U.S. R&B Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,... |
UK Singles UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
Album |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | "Everything Is Great" | - | - | 37 | Everything Is Great |
| "Stop Breaking My Heart" | - | - | 50 | ||
| 1982 | "Something So Good" | - | - | - | |
| 1987 | "Bad Boys Bad Boys (Inner Circle song) "Bad Boys" is the title of a song by the reggae band Inner Circle, made popular by the television program COPS, where it is played during the opening title sequence. It was Originally Recorded By Inner Circle... " |
8 | 58 | 52 | One Way |
| 1992 | "Sweat (A La La La La Long) Sweat (A La La La La Long) "Sweat " is a 1992 song recorded by the band Inner Circle.The song achieved a great success particularly in Europe, where it was a top ten hit in many countries, including Austria, Ireland, Norway and Sweden. It topped the charts of Switzerland and Germany respectively for six and twelve weeks... " |
16 | 73 | 3 | Bad Boys |
| 1993 | "Rock With You" | 98 | - | - | |
| 1994 | "Games People Play" | 84 | - | 67 | Reggae Dancer |
| 1998 | "Not About Romance" | 92 | - | - | Speak My Language |
| 2010 | "Candy Girl"(featuring Flo Rida Flo Rida Tramar Dillard , better known by his stage name Flo Rida , is an American rapper and singer-songwriter. He released his debut album, Mail on Sunday, in March 2008. His debut single "Low", featuring T-Pain, was a #1 hit for ten weeks in United States in early 2008. Two other singles resulted from... ) |
- | - | - | State of da World |