The Viceroys
Encyclopedia
The Viceroys, also known as The Voiceroys, The Interns, The Inturns, The Brothers, and The Hot Tops, are a reggae
vocal group who first recorded in 1967. After releasing several albums in the late 1970s and early 1980s, they split up in the mid-1980s. They reformed and recorded a new album in 2006.
by Wesley Tinglin, along with Daniel Bernard and Bunny Gayle, and after auditioning unsuccessfully for Duke Reid
, the trio made their debut recording for producer Clement "Coxsone" Dodd in the middle of the rocksteady
era in 1967. The group recorded several singles for Dodd's Studio One label, including "Ya Ho", "Fat Fish", and "Love & Unity", and these tracks were collected together by Heartbeat Records
for a 1995 compilation album. They went on to record for several other producers in the late 1960s and 1970s, including Derrick Morgan
, Winston Riley
(who produced their hit "Mission Impossible"), Lee "Scratch" Perry (including "Babylon Deh Pon Fire", which was credited to Truth Fact & Correct), Lloyd Daley
, and Pete Weston. They also returned to record at Studio One in the late 1970s. Gayle left, with Neville Ingram taking his place. In 1980 Bernard also left, with Norris Reid joining (Reid also recorded as a solo artist, releasing Give Jah the Praises in 1979 and Roots & Vine in 1988).
The band's first album release was the Phil Pratt
-produced Consider Yourself (1978), originally credited to their alias The Interns and later released as Ya Ho, credited to The Viceroys. They had a big hit in Jamaica in 1980 with the Sly & Robbie-produced "Heart Made of Stone". Their first album released as the Viceroys was the Linval Thompson
production We Must Unite, released in 1982 by Trojan Records
, and featuring the Roots Radics
. Thompson also produced their 1983 album Brethren and Sistren, and in 1984 they moved on to work again with Winston Riley on the Chancery Lane album, by which time Reid had left to concentrate on his solo career, Chris Wayne taking his place. A further album was started but was not released, the group splitting up before it was finished. It was eventually released in 2004 as Love Is All, with a few new tracks added. Wayne subsequently recorded as a solo artist, releasing three albums in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
After a period of inactivity, Tinglin revived the group with Ingram and new member Michael Gabbidon, and they recorded a new album in 2006, a live recording from Earl "Chinna" Smith's yard in French label Makasound's Inna de Yard series.
Compilations:
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...
vocal group who first recorded in 1967. After releasing several albums in the late 1970s and early 1980s, they split up in the mid-1980s. They reformed and recorded a new album in 2006.
History
The group was formed in Kingston, JamaicaKingston, 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...
by Wesley Tinglin, along with Daniel Bernard and Bunny Gayle, and after auditioning unsuccessfully for 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....
, the trio made their debut recording for producer Clement "Coxsone" Dodd in the middle of the rocksteady
Rocksteady
Rocksteady is a music genre that originated in Jamaica around 1966. A successor to ska and a precursor to reggae, rocksteady was performed by Jamaican vocal harmony groups such as The Gaylads, The Maytals and The Paragons. The term rocksteady comes from a dance style that was mentioned in the Alton...
era in 1967. The group recorded several singles for Dodd's Studio One label, including "Ya Ho", "Fat Fish", and "Love & Unity", and these tracks were collected together by Heartbeat Records
Heartbeat Records
Heartbeat Records is an independent record label based in Burlington , Massachusetts. The label specializes in Jamaican music. Founded by reggae music enthusiasts Bill Nowlin and Duncan Brown, the label's first release was a vinyl LP reissue of Linton Kwesi Johnson's Dread Beat an' Blood...
for a 1995 compilation album. They went on to record for several other producers in the late 1960s and 1970s, including Derrick Morgan
Derrick Morgan
Derrick Morgan is a musical artist popular in the 1960s and 1970s. He worked with Desmond Dekker, Bob Marley, and Jimmy Cliff in the rhythm and blues and ska genres, and he also performed rocksteady and skinhead reggae.-Biography:In 1957 Morgan entered the Vere Johns Opportunity Hour, a talent...
, Winston Riley
Winston Riley
Winston Riley worked as a songwriter and record producer of Jamaican music. According to the Jamaica Gleaner, Riley has a claim to being the most successful reggae producer of all-time.-Biography:...
(who produced their hit "Mission Impossible"), Lee "Scratch" Perry (including "Babylon Deh Pon Fire", which was credited to Truth Fact & Correct), Lloyd Daley
Lloyd Daley
Lloyd Daley also known as Matador is a Jamaican electronic technician, sound system pioneer and reggae producer.-Career:...
, and Pete Weston. They also returned to record at Studio One in the late 1970s. Gayle left, with Neville Ingram taking his place. In 1980 Bernard also left, with Norris Reid joining (Reid also recorded as a solo artist, releasing Give Jah the Praises in 1979 and Roots & Vine in 1988).
The band's first album release was the Phil Pratt
Phil Pratt
Phil Pratt, born George Phillips is a Jamaican reggae singer and record producer.Phil Pratt worked at Studio One for Coxsone Dodd as a box-loader during the rocksteady period when Lee Perry was operating there, before moving to the United Kingdom in the early 1960s...
-produced Consider Yourself (1978), originally credited to their alias The Interns and later released as Ya Ho, credited to The Viceroys. They had a big hit in Jamaica in 1980 with the Sly & Robbie-produced "Heart Made of Stone". Their first album released as the Viceroys was the Linval Thompson
Linval Thompson
Linval Thompson is a Jamaican reggae and dub musician and record producer.-Biography:Thompson was raised in Kingston, Jamaica, but spent time with his mother in Queens, New York, and his recording career began around the age of 20 with the self-released "No Other Woman," recorded in Brooklyn, New...
production We Must Unite, released in 1982 by 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...
, and featuring the Roots Radics
Roots Radics
The Roots Radics Band was formed in 1978 by bass player Errol "Flabba" Holt and guitarist Eric "Bingy Bunny" Lamont. They were joined by many great musicians. As a combined force the Roots Radics became a well-respected studio and stage band, which dominated the sound in the first half of the 1980s...
. Thompson also produced their 1983 album Brethren and Sistren, and in 1984 they moved on to work again with Winston Riley on the Chancery Lane album, by which time Reid had left to concentrate on his solo career, Chris Wayne taking his place. A further album was started but was not released, the group splitting up before it was finished. It was eventually released in 2004 as Love Is All, with a few new tracks added. Wayne subsequently recorded as a solo artist, releasing three albums in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
After a period of inactivity, Tinglin revived the group with Ingram and new member Michael Gabbidon, and they recorded a new album in 2006, a live recording from Earl "Chinna" Smith's yard in French label Makasound's Inna de Yard series.
Discography
- Consider Yourself (1978), Chanan-Jah - originally credited as The Inturns (also issued as Do We Have to Fight), reissued in 1979 as Detour, credited as The Interns, and in 1985 as Ya Ho, credited to The Viceroys
- We Must Unite (1982), 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...
- Brethren and Sistren (1983), CSA
- Chancery Lane (1984), GreensleevesGreensleeves RecordsGreensleeves Records & Publishing is a record label specialising in dancehall and reggae music. The company was founded by Chris Cracknell and Chris Sedgwick and started as a small record store in West Ealing, London, in November 1975 and is based in Britain....
- The Original VoiceRoys Revisited (2000), LGB
- Love Is All (2004), Sankofa
- Inna de Yard (2006), Makasound
Compilations:
- Ya Ho (Viceroys at Studio One) (1995), HeartbeatHeartbeat RecordsHeartbeat Records is an independent record label based in Burlington , Massachusetts. The label specializes in Jamaican music. Founded by reggae music enthusiasts Bill Nowlin and Duncan Brown, the label's first release was a vinyl LP reissue of Linton Kwesi Johnson's Dread Beat an' Blood...
- Slogan on the Wall (2003), Vice Music