Dennis Seaton
Encyclopedia
Dennis Michael Seaton is a British singer, songwriter, record producer and multi-instrumentalist. He is the lead singer of the Grammy-nominated band, Musical Youth
.
, Patrick Waite, and his younger brother Freddie Waite formed the group in 1979 while at Duddeston Manor School
with Patrick and Freddie's father Frederick, a former member of The Techniques
. They played gigs at local talent show and across England
.
Waite senior was soon replaced by Seaton and the group performed on John Peel
's BBC Radio 1
show, where they performed two of their own songs: "Political" and "Generals". MCA Records
signed them in late 1981
.
In the summer of 1982
, 15-year old Seaton and the group released the hit single, Pass the Dutchie
(a pun on the Mighty Diamonds song, "Pass the Kouchie"), but in this case, the song talked about poor Jamaican people
using it as a cooking pot. The single was successful and peaked at Number 18 on the Billboard Hot 100
, and Number 1 in the UK. The band were the first black artists to be played on MTV
. They followed this up with the debut album, The Youth of Today
, released worldwide on 22 October 1982, the album sold 18 million copies around the U.S.. In 1984, Seaton was nominated for the Best newcomer Grammy Award
with his band Musical Youth, but lost to the Culture Club
.
On 9 September, 1983
, the group released their second and final album, Different Style, with only two singles: "Tell Me Why" and "007", both songs flopped on the Billboard charts. Seaton announced that he was leaving the group and they split up in June 1985, Seaton going on to form his own short lived group XMY. Seaton also converted to Christianity
.
In 1989, Seaton released a solo album, Imagine That, on the Bellaphon label, with songwriting assistance from Stevie Wonder
. His solo career did not take off and he worked as a delivery driver and then in the car rental industry for twelve years, eventually co-owning his own company. He also returned to studying, earning a music degree.
In the winter of 1993, eight years after Seaton left Musical Youth, he rejoined, but on 18 February 1993, his bandmate, Patrick Waite died of natural causes, leaving the group with four members. Another eight years later, in 2001, Musical Youth reformed and came back into the spotlight now as a quintet
. Seaton and Michael Grant still perform as "Musical Youth".
In 2009, he appeared on The Justin Lee Collins Show
, as a blast from the past.
On 28 June 2009 he appeared on Sunday Live with Adam Boulton
on Sky News
talking about the life, death and legacy of Michael Jackson
.
He currently lives in Birmingham with his two sons, Theo and.
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...
.
Biography
Seaton first found fame as a member of Musical Youth; Friends Kelvin Grant, his older brother, Michael GrantMichael Grant
Michael Grant may refer to:* Michael Grant, 12th Baron de Longueuil , nobleman possessing the only French colonial title recognized by the King or Queen of Canada* Michael Grant , American football player...
, Patrick Waite, and his younger brother Freddie Waite formed the group in 1979 while at Duddeston Manor School
Duddeston
Duddeston is an inner-city area of the Nechells ward of Birmingham, England. It was part of the Birmingham Duddeston constituency until that ceased to exist in 1950.-Etymology:...
with Patrick and Freddie's father Frederick, a former member of The Techniques
The Techniques
The Techniques were a Jamaican rocksteady vocal group mainly active in the 1960s.-History:The group was formed by Winston Riley in 1962 while still at school, with the initial line-up also featuring Slim Smith, Franklyn White, and Frederick Waite...
. They played gigs at local talent show and across 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...
.
Waite senior was soon replaced by Seaton and the group performed on John Peel
John Peel
John Robert Parker Ravenscroft, OBE , known professionally as John Peel, was an English disc jockey, radio presenter, record producer and journalist. He was the longest-serving of the original BBC Radio 1 DJs, broadcasting regularly from 1967 until his death in 2004...
's BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
show, where they performed two of their own songs: "Political" and "Generals". MCA Records
MCA Records
MCA Records was an American-based record company owned by MCA Inc., which later gave way to the larger MCA Music Entertainment Group , of which MCA Records was still part. MCA Records was absorbed by Geffen Records in 2003...
signed them in late 1981
1981 in music
See also:* Timeline of musical eventsThis is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1981.-January–April:*January 10 – A revival of the Gilbert and Sullivan operetta The Pirates of Penzance opens at Broadway's Uris Theatre, starring Linda Ronstadt and Rex Smith.*January 24 –...
.
In the summer of 1982
1982 in music
This is a list of notable events in music from 1982. 1982 was a big year in music with Madonna making her debut as well as the year that Michael Jackson released Thriller which became the world's best selling album and it still holds that title today....
, 15-year old Seaton and the group released the hit single, Pass the Dutchie
Pass the Dutchie
"Pass the Dutchie" was a song recorded by the British group Musical Youth from their 1982 album The Youth of Today. It was a major hit, holding the number one position on the UK singles charts for three weeks in September and October 1982.-Background:...
(a pun on the Mighty Diamonds song, "Pass the Kouchie"), but in this case, the song talked about poor Jamaican people
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...
using it as a cooking pot. The single was successful and peaked at Number 18 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...
, and Number 1 in the UK. The band were the first black artists to be played on MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
. They followed this up with the debut album, The Youth of Today
The Youth of Today
The Youth of Today is the first album from the musical group Musical Youth. The album includes the # 1 UK hit "Pass the Dutchie" which also hit number 10 on the US Billboard Hot 100 charts...
, released worldwide on 22 October 1982, the album sold 18 million copies around the U.S.. In 1984, Seaton was nominated for the Best newcomer Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
with his band Musical Youth, but lost to the Culture Club
Culture Club
Culture Club are a British rock band who were part of the 1980s New Romantic movement. The original band consisted of Boy George , Mikey Craig , Roy Hay and Jon Moss...
.
On 9 September, 1983
1983 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1983.-January-April:*January – ZTT Records is founded.*January 8 – The UK singles chart is tabulated from this week forward by The Gallup Organization...
, the group released their second and final album, Different Style, with only two singles: "Tell Me Why" and "007", both songs flopped on the Billboard charts. Seaton announced that he was leaving the group and they split up in June 1985, Seaton going on to form his own short lived group XMY. Seaton also converted to Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
.
In 1989, Seaton released a solo album, Imagine That, on the Bellaphon label, with songwriting assistance from Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder
Stevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist...
. His solo career did not take off and he worked as a delivery driver and then in the car rental industry for twelve years, eventually co-owning his own company. He also returned to studying, earning a music degree.
In the winter of 1993, eight years after Seaton left Musical Youth, he rejoined, but on 18 February 1993, his bandmate, Patrick Waite died of natural causes, leaving the group with four members. Another eight years later, in 2001, Musical Youth reformed and came back into the spotlight now as a quintet
Quintet
A quintet is a group containing five members.It is commonly associated with musical groups, such as a string quintet, or a group of five singers, but can be applied to any situation where five similar or related objects are considered a single unit....
. Seaton and Michael Grant still perform as "Musical Youth".
In 2009, he appeared on The Justin Lee Collins Show
The Justin Lee Collins Show
The Justin Lee Collins Show is a British television talk show recently aired Thursday nights on the digital channel ITV2 starring Justin Lee Collins. Justin has a small band on the show and a continuing theme is to mention Labi Siffre as part of a joke. The series ended after one series after...
, as a blast from the past.
On 28 June 2009 he appeared on Sunday Live with Adam Boulton
Sunday Live with Adam Boulton
Sunday Live with Adam Boulton was a weekend news and political show on Sky News and on Sky News HD, presented by Sky News' Political Editor Adam Boulton. From January 2011, the programme was replaced with Murnaghan, a similar show presented by Dermot Murnaghan...
on Sky News
Sky News
Sky News is a 24-hour British and international satellite television news broadcaster with an emphasis on UK and international news stories.The service places emphasis on rolling news, including the latest breaking news. Sky News also hosts localised versions of the channel in Australia and in New...
talking about the life, death and legacy of Michael Jackson
Death of Michael Jackson
On June 25, 2009, American singer Michael Jackson died of acute propofol intoxication after he suffered a respiratory arrest at his home in the Holmby Hills neighborhood in Los Angeles. His personal physician, Conrad Murray, said he found Jackson in his room, not breathing, but with a faint pulse,...
.
He currently lives in Birmingham with his two sons, Theo and.