Zap Pow
Encyclopedia
Zap Pow were a Jamaica
n reggae
band, whose members have included guitarist Dwight Pinkney
and singer Beres Hammond
. They existed from 1969 to 1979.
's Caribbeats), Glen DaCosta (tenor saxophone, vocals, flute, a former pupil at Alpha Boys School
), Joe McCormack (trombone), and David Madden (trumpet, vocals, another former pupil at Alpha Boys School, who had previously recorded with Cedric Brooks
under the name 'Im and Dave'). Pinkney and Williams had previously played together in the band Winston Turner & the Untouchables. The band's name came from a phrase seen in a comic by Williams. Several singles were released in 1970-71 including the hit "This is Reggae Music", and in 1971 their debut album, Revolutionary Zap Pow, was released on the Harry J label.
In 1975, Beres Hammond joined as lead singer (other singers with the band included Winston "King" Cole, Milton "Prilly" Hamilton, Bunny Rugs and Jacob Miller
), and their Tommy Cowan
-produced 1976 album, Zap Pow Now topped the reggae chart in the UK. Trojan Records
issued Revolution in the same year. Edwards left in 1977, to be replaced by Cornell Marshall. The band split up in 1979 with Hammond going on to a successful solo career. Pinkney went on to play with Roots Radics
, and Edwards also pursued a solo career. Williams recorded solo as Mikey Zap Pow, later working as a journalist. The horn section of DaCosta, McCormack and Madden were regularly used in recording sessions for other artists including Bob Marley & the Wailers
, and they also recorded prolifically as individual session musician
s, often being used by Lee "Scratch" Perry for sessions at his Black Ark
studio.Katz, David (2000) People Funny Boy: The Genius of Lee "Scratch" Perry, Payback Press, ISBN 0-86241-854-2, p. 294 Madden went on to release solo albums, as did DaCosta.
Williams died in 2005, aged 61.
In 2007 the band were honoured at the Prime Minister's Gala on Jamaican independence day.
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...
band, whose members have included guitarist Dwight Pinkney
Dwight Pinkney
Dwight Pinkney , also known as Brother Dee, is a Jamaican guitarist best known for his work as a session musician and as a member of Zap Pow and the Roots Radics, who since 1999 has recorded as a solo artist.-Biography:...
and singer Beres Hammond
Beres Hammond
Beres Hammond is a reggae singer known in particular for his romantic lovers rock and soulful voice...
. They existed from 1969 to 1979.
History
The band was formed in 1969, by musicians including Dwight Pinkney (guitar, vocals, formerly of The Sharks and guitarist on a 1966 session by The Wailers), Max Edwards (drums), Mike Williams (bass, vocals, formerly drummer of Bobby AitkenBobby Aitken
Bobby Aitken IS a Cuban-born Jamaican guitarist and singer who had a string of hits in Jamaica in the 1960s and led the band The Carib Beats.-Biography:Aitken is the brother of Laurel Aitken, and recorded in the early 1960s for producer King Edwards...
's Caribbeats), Glen DaCosta (tenor saxophone, vocals, flute, a former pupil at Alpha Boys School
Alpha Boys School
Alpha Cottage School is a school on South Camp Road in Kingston, Jamaica, run by Roman Catholic nuns...
), Joe McCormack (trombone), and David Madden (trumpet, vocals, another former pupil at Alpha Boys School, who had previously recorded with Cedric Brooks
Cedric Brooks
Cedric "Im" Brooks, is a Jamaican saxophonist and flautist known for his solo recordings and as a member of The Mystic Revelation of Rastafari, The Light of Saba, and The Skatalites.-Biography:...
under the name 'Im and Dave'). Pinkney and Williams had previously played together in the band Winston Turner & the Untouchables. The band's name came from a phrase seen in a comic by Williams. Several singles were released in 1970-71 including the hit "This is Reggae Music", and in 1971 their debut album, Revolutionary Zap Pow, was released on the Harry J label.
In 1975, Beres Hammond joined as lead singer (other singers with the band included Winston "King" Cole, Milton "Prilly" Hamilton, Bunny Rugs and Jacob Miller
Jacob Miller
Jacob Miller was a Jamaican reggae artist who first recorded with Clement Dodd. While pursuing a prolific solo career, he became the lead singer for reggae group Inner Circle with whom he recorded until his death in a car accident at the age of 27.-Biography:Jacob Miller was born in Mandeville,...
), and their Tommy Cowan
Tommy Cowan
Tommy Cowan is a producer and singer, initially working in reggae but later concentrating on gospel, who has been involved in the music business since the 1960s...
-produced 1976 album, Zap Pow Now topped the reggae chart in the UK. 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...
issued Revolution in the same year. Edwards left in 1977, to be replaced by Cornell Marshall. The band split up in 1979 with Hammond going on to a successful solo career. Pinkney went on to play with 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...
, and Edwards also pursued a solo career. Williams recorded solo as Mikey Zap Pow, later working as a journalist. The horn section of DaCosta, McCormack and Madden were regularly used in recording sessions for other artists including Bob Marley & the Wailers
Bob Marley & The Wailers
Bob Marley & The Wailers were a Jamaican reggae, ska and rocksteady band formed by Bob Marley, Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer in 1963. Additional members were Junior Braithwaite, Beverley Kelso, Cherry Smith and Aston and Carlton Barrett...
, and they also recorded prolifically as individual session musician
Session musician
Session musicians are instrumental and vocal performers, musicians, who are available to work with others at live performances or recording sessions. Usually such musicians are not permanent members of a musical ensemble and often do not achieve fame in their own right as soloists or bandleaders...
s, often being used by Lee "Scratch" Perry for sessions at his 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.Katz, David (2000) People Funny Boy: The Genius of Lee "Scratch" Perry, Payback Press, ISBN 0-86241-854-2, p. 294 Madden went on to release solo albums, as did DaCosta.
Williams died in 2005, aged 61.
In 2007 the band were honoured at the Prime Minister's Gala on Jamaican independence day.
Albums
- Revolutionary Zap Pow (1971), Harry J
- Zap Pow Now (1976), Vulcan
- Revolution (1976), 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...
- Zap Pow (1978), IslandIsland RecordsIsland Records is a record label that was founded by Chris Blackwell in Jamaica. It was based in the United Kingdom for many years and is now owned by Universal Music Group...
Compilation albums
- Beres Hammond Meets Zappow in Jamaica, Rhino
- Jungle Beat, Lagoon
- Love Hits, LMS
- Reggae Rules, Rhino
- Revolution (the best of) (2007), Trojan
External links
- Zap Pow at Roots Archives