The Chosen Few (reggae group)
Encyclopedia
The Chosen Few were a reggae
group from Kingston, Jamaica
, formed in 1969 and active until the mid-1980s.
joined by Noel Brown and Richard McDonald. They initially recorded reggae covers of songs by artists such as Blue Mink
and The Delphonics for producer Derrick Harriott
. Scott left the group to embark on a solo career as a deejay
, to be replaced by Busty Brown, formerly of The Messengers. The line-up changed again, with McDonald being replaced by Errol Brown, the group working with producer Lloyd Charmers
and enjoying hits with versions of The Stylistics
' "People Make The World Go Round" among others, followed in 1973 by the album Hit After Hit. This was followed in 1975 by Everybody Plays The Fool and in 1976 by the Miami-recorded Night and Day album (aka The Chosen Few In Miami), mixing reggae on one side with soul
on the other, and featuring guest performances from members of KC and the Sunshine Band
. Their success in the 1970s saw them touring The United States
, Canada
, and England
.
The group continued in the 1980s, with Spence and Brown joined by Michael Deslandes.
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...
group from Kingston, Jamaica
Kingston, Jamaica
Kingston is the capital and largest city of Jamaica, located on the southeastern coast of the island. It faces a natural harbour protected by the Palisadoes, a long sand spit which connects the town of Port Royal and the Norman Manley International Airport to the rest of the island...
, formed in 1969 and active until the mid-1980s.
History
The Chosen Few evolved from The Federals, with the latter's Franklin Spence and David ScottScotty (musician)
Scotty performed as a reggae vocalist and deejay.-Biography:...
joined by Noel Brown and Richard McDonald. They initially recorded reggae covers of songs by artists such as Blue Mink
Blue Mink
Blue Mink was a British five-piece pop group, that existed from 1969 to 1974. Over that period they had six Top 20 hit singles in the UK Singles Chart, and released five studio based albums...
and The Delphonics for producer Derrick Harriott
Derrick Harriott
Derrick Harriott is a singer and record producer. He has produced recordings by Big Youth, Chariot Riders, The Chosen Few, Dennis Brown, The Ethiopians, Keith & Tex, The Kingstonians, Rudy Mills, Scotty, Sly & Revolutionaries, and Winston McAnuff.-Biography:As a student at Excelsior High School,...
. Scott left the group to embark on a solo career as a deejay
Deejay
A deejay is a reggae or dancehall musician who sings and toasts to an instrumental riddim .Deejays are not to be confused with disc jockeys from other music genres like hip-hop, where they select and play music. Dancehall/reggae DJs who select riddims to play are called selectors...
, to be replaced by Busty Brown, formerly of The Messengers. The line-up changed again, with McDonald being replaced by Errol Brown, the group working with producer Lloyd Charmers
Lloyd Charmers
Lloyd Charmers is a ska and reggae singer, keyboard player and record producer.-Career:...
and enjoying hits with versions of The Stylistics
The Stylistics
The Stylistics are a soul music vocal group, and were one of the best-known Philadelphia soul groups of the 1970s. They formed in 1968, and were composed of lead Russell Thompkins, Jr., Herbie Murrell, Airrion Love, James Smith, and James Dunn. All of their US hits were ballads, graced by the...
' "People Make The World Go Round" among others, followed in 1973 by the album Hit After Hit. This was followed in 1975 by Everybody Plays The Fool and in 1976 by the Miami-recorded Night and Day album (aka The Chosen Few In Miami), mixing reggae on one side with 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...
on the other, and featuring guest performances from members of KC and the Sunshine Band
KC and the Sunshine Band
KC and the Sunshine Band is an American musical group. Founded in 1973 in Miami, Florida, their style has included funk, R&B, and disco. Their most well known songs include the disco hits "That's the Way ", " Shake Your Booty", "I'm Your Boogie Man", "Keep It Comin' Love", "Get Down Tonight", "Give...
. Their success in the 1970s saw them touring The United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, and England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
The group continued in the 1980s, with Spence and Brown joined by Michael Deslandes.
Albums
- Hit After Hit (1973) TrojanTrojan RecordsTrojan 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...
- Everybody Plays The Fool (1975) Trojan
- Night and Day aka The Chosen Few In Miami (1976) Trojan