dub-u | Musicosity

The Rootsman

The Rootsman is a musician and DJ based in Bradford, England. His musical career began when he was living in Edinburgh, Scotland and taught himself to play guitar in 1978 at the age of 13 and formed his first punk band. With his group "State Oppression" he made his debut gig in 1981, supporting the Angelic Upstarts. After 3 concerts, he decided that being a guitarist in a band was not for him and he retired from that aspect of the music business.

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Smiley Culture

Smiley Culture (real name David Emmanuel) was a British reggae singer and DJ. Although his period of fame and success was brief, he did produce two of the most critically acclaimed reggae singles of the 1980s. Emmanuel, born and raised in South London, is the son of a Jamaican father and South American mother. He was educated at Tulse Hill School. Prior to his recording career he worked as a DJ with the Saxon Studio International reggae soundsystem, where he met and worked with a number of other reggae artists, including Maxi Priest, Papa Levi and Tippa Irie.

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Skip McDonald

SKIP MCDONALD IS LITTLE AXE skip 'little axe' mcdonaldProviding guitars, bass, keyboards, and vocals, Little Axe is the return to the blues that Skip grew up with and learned from his father. Born Bernard Alexander on 1 September 1949, Dayton, Ohio in the USA. Skip McDonald learned to play the blues on his father's guitar from the age of 8, although by the time he was 12 years old he had opted to perform doo-wop.

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Kanka

Influenced by UK and Jamaican dub, Kanka's sound is steppa
WARRIOR STYLE!
His compositions are based on a strong bass & drums section. Though the reggae riddim often be heard, it sounds of today: tempos are particulary high for this kind of music, and the heavy bass line combines with a dynamic drum style and electro soundz. His first album "Don't stop dub" was released on Hammerbass Records in March 2005. Acclaimed by all the actors of the international dub scene and played by respected sound systems, this album gave him the opportunity to make himself known to worldwide dub addicts.

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Skip 'little Axe' Mcdonald

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Black Uhuru

Black Uhuru is a Jamaican reggae band probably best known for their hits "Shine Eye Gal", "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner," "Sinsemilla," "Solidarity," and "What Is Life?". They were the first group to win a Grammy in the reggae category when it was introduced in 1985. They originally formed as 'Black Sounds Uhuru' (the Kiswahili word for freedom). The first line-up of the group was Garth Dennis, Don Carlos, and Derrick "Duckie" Simpson.

Niney The Observer

Born in 1951, Montego Bay, Jamaica, Winston "Niney" Holness, or "Niney the Observer," was one of the premiere Jamaican producers of the 1970s. Under the tutelage of producer Bunny Lee, and later Lee "Scratch" Perry, Niney crafted what would become his signature "Observer" sound. His studio band, The Observers, furnished a raw, yet robust sound that often featured plucky guitar riffs. He shaped the reggae soundscape of the 70s working with artists like Dennis Brown, Gregory Isaacs, Dillinger, Leroy Smart, Max Romeo, the Heptones, the Mighty Diamonds, and Tommy McCook (to name a few).

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Aba Shanti

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Rico Rodriguez

Emmanuel Rodriguez (Rico, Reco, El Reco) (b. 1934) is a Jamaican trombonist. Born on 17th October 1934 in Kingston, Jamaica, by the age of ten he had learnt to play the trombone from strict nuns. In the 1950s, Rodriguez became a Rasta, and became closely musically related to Rasta drummer Count Ossie. He recorded with many producers, including Prince Buster and Lloyd 'Matador' Daley. In 1961, Rodriguez moved to Eng;and, where he continued to play in reggae bands.

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Half Pint

Half Pint (born Lindon Roberts) is a Jamaican dancehall, ragga, and reggae singer. He was born in the West Kingston enclave of Rose Lane. He was nicknamed "Half Pint" by a Mr. Brown, who was the father of one of his mother's friends in nearby Waterhouse. Half Pint also refers to a Miami Bass rap artist. Pint's first single, Sally, was released in 1983 followed by Winsome, which went on to be covered by The Rolling Stones in 1987. Other singles by Pint include Mr. Landlord, Level The Vibes, Substitute Lover, and the hit single, Victory.