The Silvertones
Encyclopedia
The Silvertones were a Jamaica
n reggae
harmony group formed in 1964, best known for their recordings for Lee "Scratch" Perry in the early 1970s.
) and Keith Coley (born 7 March 1944, Saint Elizabeth Parish, Jamaica
), although they expanded to a trio with the addition of Delroy Denton. In 1966 they recorded the singles "True Confession" and "It's Real", both produced by Duke Reid
, and released on the Dr. Bird label, giving them instant success in Jamaica. The following they recorded "Cool Down", also for Reid, and in 1968 they released a cover version
of Wilson Pickett
's "In the Midnight Hour", as well as further singles for Reid's Treasure Isle label including "Old Man River" and "Slow & Easy". They also recorded for Sonia Pottinger
("Guns Fever") and by 1971 they had moved on to record for Clancy Eccles
, releases including "Tear Drops Will Fall". They then recorded for Studio One. Denton emigrated to the United States, to be replaced by Clinton "Tennessee" Brown.
In the late 1960s and early 1970s the band worked with Lee Perry, initially as The Muskyteers, contributing a version of Brook Benton
's "Kiddy-O" to Perry's album The Upsetter. Perry produced their debut album, Silver Bullets, voiced at King Tubby
's studio in one night and released on Perry's Black Art label and on Trojan Records
in the United Kingdom in 1974 in two different mixes. The instrumental tracks were recorded at Perry's partially completed Black Ark
studio. The album included one track, generally regarded as the highlight, "Rejoice Jah Jah Children", which was written by Perry's partner Pauline Morrison. Although the group recorded additional material around that time that was not included on the album, the album's nine tracks were augmented by a Silvertones-free dub of Dave Barker
's "Are You Sure", when Perry realised that the album was too short.
In the late 1970s they had successful singles with "I Want to Be There", "Smile", "Stop Crying", "Have a Little Faith", and "Come Forward" (the latter credited to the Brentford Rockers), the group now working again with Clement "Coxsone" Dodd's Studio One. Their Studio One recordings were collected together along with some of the Duke Reid-produced sides on the Young at Heart album in 1999. Brown died on 17 March 1999.
The group continued to record and perform into the 2000s.
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...
n 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...
harmony group formed in 1964, best known for their recordings for Lee "Scratch" Perry in the early 1970s.
History
The group initially comprised the duo of Carl Grant (aka Gilmore Grant, born 11 July 1943, Saint Mary Parish, JamaicaSaint Mary Parish, Jamaica
Saint Mary is a parish located in the northeast section of Jamaica. With a population of 115,000 it is one of Jamaica's smallest parishes, located in the county of Middlesex. Its chief town and capital is Port Maria, located on the coast. It is also the birthplace of established dancehall reggae...
) and Keith Coley (born 7 March 1944, Saint Elizabeth Parish, Jamaica
Saint Elizabeth Parish, Jamaica
St. Elizabeth, one of Jamaica's largest parishes, is located in the southwest of the island, in the county of Cornwall. Its capital, Black River, is located at the mouth of the Black River, the longest on the island.-History:...
), although they expanded to a trio with the addition of Delroy Denton. In 1966 they recorded the singles "True Confession" and "It's Real", both produced by Duke Reid
Duke Reid
Treasure Isle re-directs here. For the game, see Treasure Isle .Arthur "Duke" Reid, CD was a Jamaican record producer, DJ and label owner....
, and released on the Dr. Bird label, giving them instant success in Jamaica. The following they recorded "Cool Down", also for Reid, and in 1968 they released a cover version
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
of Wilson Pickett
Wilson Pickett
Wilson Pickett was an American R&B/Soul singer and songwriter.A major figure in the development of American soul music, Pickett recorded over 50 songs which made the US R&B charts, and frequently crossed over to the US Billboard Hot 100...
's "In the Midnight Hour", as well as further singles for Reid's Treasure Isle label including "Old Man River" and "Slow & Easy". They also recorded for Sonia Pottinger
Sonia Pottinger
Sonia Eloise Pottinger OD was a Jamaican reggae record producer.The most important Jamaican woman involved in music business, Sonia Pottinger was the first female Jamaican record producer and produced artists from the mid 1960s until the mid 1980s.Married to music producer Lyndon Pottinger, she...
("Guns Fever") and by 1971 they had moved on to record for Clancy Eccles
Clancy Eccles
Clancy Eccles was a Jamaican ska and reggae singer, songwriter, arranger, promoter, record producer and talent scout. Known mostly for his early reggae works, he brought a political dimension to this music...
, releases including "Tear Drops Will Fall". They then recorded for Studio One. Denton emigrated to the United States, to be replaced by Clinton "Tennessee" Brown.
In the late 1960s and early 1970s the band worked with Lee Perry, initially as The Muskyteers, contributing a version of Brook Benton
Brook Benton
Brook Benton was an American singer and songwriter who was popular with rock and roll, rhythm and blues, and pop music audiences during the late 1950s and early 1960s, when he scored hits such as "It's Just A Matter Of Time" and "Endlessly", many of which he co-wrote.He made a comeback in 1970...
's "Kiddy-O" to Perry's album The Upsetter. Perry produced their debut album, Silver Bullets, voiced at King Tubby
King Tubby
King Tubby was a Jamaican electronics and sound engineer, known primarily for his influence on the development of dub in the 1960s and 1970s...
's studio in one night and released on Perry's Black Art label and on 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 the United Kingdom in 1974 in two different mixes. The instrumental tracks were recorded at Perry's partially completed Black Ark
Black Ark
The Black Ark was the recording studio of reggae and dub producer Lee "Scratch" Perry, built in 1973 and located behind his family's home in the Washington Gardens neighborhood of Kingston, Jamaica...
studio. The album included one track, generally regarded as the highlight, "Rejoice Jah Jah Children", which was written by Perry's partner Pauline Morrison. Although the group recorded additional material around that time that was not included on the album, the album's nine tracks were augmented by a Silvertones-free dub of Dave Barker
Dave Barker
Dave Barker is a reggae and rocksteady singer who has made a string of solo albums along with recordings as a member of The Techniques and as half of the duo Dave and Ansell Collins.-Biography:...
's "Are You Sure", when Perry realised that the album was too short.
In the late 1970s they had successful singles with "I Want to Be There", "Smile", "Stop Crying", "Have a Little Faith", and "Come Forward" (the latter credited to the Brentford Rockers), the group now working again with Clement "Coxsone" Dodd's Studio One. Their Studio One recordings were collected together along with some of the Duke Reid-produced sides on the Young at Heart album in 1999. Brown died on 17 March 1999.
The group continued to record and perform into the 2000s.
External links
- The Silvertones at Roots Archives