Black Uhuru

小简介
Black Uhuru为音乐届最成功的第二代雷鬼团体,经过了16年,他们的名声及创作品质确依然稳固.因1983年的Anthem专辑让他们成为第一个赢得格莱美奖的雷鬼团体.根据雷鬼的说法,Black Uhuru为1970年代到80年代早期最为鼓动也最为进步的一群人。
Black Uhuru的名字是来自Swahili,为自由的意思,使由Kingston, Waterhouse区的Ervin Spencer, Rudolph Dennis及Derrick Simpson所组成.当团体在签约时遇到了许多困难,Spencer便离开独自开创事业,Dennis则加入了Wailing Soulsd,而剩下Simpson自己来完成Black Uhuru的革命,后来便重新组织团体,Errol Wilson及主唱Michael Rose相继加入.由于有Sly Dunbar的Drums及Robbie Shakspear的Bass,让Black Uhuru创作出了在雷鬼界的新指向.他们的首张专辑Love Crisis于1977年发行,包括了强力卡司‘I Love King Selassie'.3年后,这张专辑被重新混音,并以Black Sounds of Freedom作为专辑名。
后来又加上了歌手Sandra Jones的歌声,使Black Uhuru成为当时最成功的团体(Sandra Jones是个Afro-American女性,毕业于哥伦比亚大学,在1981年曾为Mama Africa女性团体的团员之一).除了在录音室录制了一些另人难忘的专辑-Red及超级兴奋得现场专辑-Tear It Up,团体也在1983发行了Anthem这张High到最高点的作品.重新混音又经过校正后的版本后发行到了美国,不久之后也发布到欧洲地区.虽然这张专辑得到了格莱美奖,但内部的一些问题导致团员的分裂.Rose便被与有相似歌声的Junior Reid多代替.Jones与Reid一起维持这个团体直到1989年.然后Reid因签证的问题被迫离开巡回,Jones后来也因为癌症导致身体的不适而被Olefunke取代,她于1990年1月28日因病去世在南加州的老家.原来的3个团员-Simpson, Spencer及Dennis重组后便在1990年一起发行专辑-Now.后来他们也以这杨的模式继续演出至今。
by Craig Harris
The most successful of the second-generation reggae bands, Black Uhuru maintained their high quality despite numerous personnel changes in their 16-year history. The first reggae band to win a Grammy award, for their 1983 album Anthem, Black Uhuru was, according to Reggae: The Rough Guide, The most dynamic and progressive reggae act of the 1970s and early 80s.
Black Uhuru, whose name comes from the Swahili word meaning freedom, was formed in the Waterhouse district of Kingston by Ervin Don Carlos Spencer, Rudolph Garth Dennis, and Derrick Duckie Simpson. When the group experienced difficulties securing a record contract, Spencer left to pursue a solo career and Dennis joined the Wailing Souls. Simpson, who remained the thread throughout Black Uhurus evolution, reorganized the band with Errol Jay Wilson and quivery-voiced lead vocalist Michael Rose, compared by Trouser Press to a Rasta cantor. Accompanied by the rhythm section of Sly Dunbar on drums and Robbie Shakespear on bass, Black Uhuru created a sound that made them a match for any reggae ensemble. Their debut album, Love Crisis, released in 1977, included the anthemic hit I Love King Selassie. Three years later, the album was remixed and released as Black Sounds of Freedom.
With the addition of harmony singer Sandra Puma Jones, an Afro-American woman who held a masters degree from Columbia University and was a former member of the female group Mama Africa in 1981, Black Uhuru entered their most commercially successful period. In addition to recording a memorable studio album, Red, and an exciting live album, Tear It Up, the group reached its peak with the release of Anthem in 1983. Remixed and revised for release in the United States, the redone version was re-released in Europe shortly afterwards. Although the album received a Grammy, internal problems caused the band to splinter the following year. Rose was replaced by sound-alike Junior Reid. Jones and Reid remained with the band until 1989. Although Reid left when visa problems prevented him from touring, Jones, who was replaced by Olefunke, was forced to step down after being diagnosed with cancer. She died on January 28, 1990, and was buried in her home state of South Carolina. The original three members — Simpson, Spencer and Dennis — reunited to record a trio album, Now, in 1990. Theyve continued to tour and perform in this configuration.