# Black Uhuru

Black Uhuru is a Jamaican reggae group formed in 1972, initially as Uhuru (Swahili for 'freedom'). The group has undergone several line-up changes over the years, with Derrick "Duckie" Simpson as the mainstay. They had their most successful period in the 1980s, with their album Anthem winning the first ever Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album in 1985.

## History

The group formed in the Waterhouse district of Kingston in 1972, initially called “Uhuru" (the Swahili word for freedom), with a line-up of Garth Dennis, Don Carlos, and Derrick "Duckie" Simpson. Their first release was a cover version of The Impressions' "Romancing to the Folk Song", which was followed by "Time is on Our Side"; Neither song was a success and they split up, with Carlos pursuing a solo career, as did Dennis, before joining The Wailing Souls. Simpson also briefly worked with the Wailing Souls, before forming a new version of Uhuru with Errol Nelson (of The Jayes) and Michael Rose, the group now taking the name Black Sounds Uhuru. Their Prince Jammy-produced debut album, Love Crisis, was released in 1977.
Nelson returned to The Jayes in late 1977, and was replaced the following year by Sandra "Puma" Jones, a social worker from South Carolina, US, who had previously worked as a dancer for Ras Michael & the Sons of Negus, and as a member of the group Mama Africa. The band now took on their most familiar name, Black Uhuru. The group began working extensively with Sly and Robbie, and recorded a string of successful singles, including "General Penitentiary" a re-recording of Rose's solo hit "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner", and "Shine Eye Gal", which featured guest guitarist Keith Richards. The group's second album Showcase drew on these singles, and the band cemented their status with a performance at the 1980 Reggae Sunsplash festival. They planned to record an album with Dennis Brown producing, but this didn't materialise, although two singles, "Wood for My Fire" and "Rent Man", were released. They were signed by Island Records in 1980, who issued the Sinsemilla album to an international audience in 1981. The follow-up, Red reached number 28 in the UK Albums Chart in 1981, Chill Out reached number 38 a year later, and they toured with The Rolling Stones. In 1989, their album Red was ranked No. 23 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the "100 greatest albums of the 1980s." Their next studio album, Anthem, appeared in 1984, and won the first ever Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album the following year.
Despite this success, Rose left the group in 1984 to resume his solo career after falling out with Simpson, and was replaced by Junior Reid. They signed to RAS Records and moved in a different direction with the album Brutal and the single "The Great Train Robbery", the latter recorded with New York dance producer Arthur Baker. Although these alienated much of their roots reggae following, Brutal was nominated for a Grammy and "The Great Train Robbery" gave them their second UK hit single, reaching number 62. The band began to disintegrate; their next album with Jammy was started but never completed, they stopped working with Sly and Robbie, and Jones left the band due to ill health (she died in 1990 from cancer). Her replacement was Janet "Olafunke" Reid, and the group returned in 1987 with the Positive album. Reid was unable to obtain a US visa, and unable to tour, left the band, followed shortly by Olafunke.
Black Uhuru, now reduced to Simpson alone, had been booked to play at an awards ceremony in California, which coincidentally had original Uhuru members Don Carlos and Garth Dennis on the bill, and they took the opportunity to reunite the original line-up for a performance at the event, and decided to continue afterwards. The Now album followed in 1991, and was also nominated for a Grammy. In 1996 the group fragmented again, with Simpson leaving to tour Europe with dub poet Yasus Afari, under the name Black Uhuru, while Carlos and Dennis also toured the US under the same name. A legal battle over the name followed, won by Simpson in 1997. Carlos resumed his solo career, while Simpson formed a new line-up of Black Uhuru with Andrew Bees and Jennifer Connolly . Only one album Unification and then the band interchange in 1999 which introduced Kaye Starh as the new background vocalist at D Bus Negril she was signed exclusively for in studio and live performances. The band went on a European tour Black Uhuru featuring Sly and Robby in the summer of 2000. Black Uhuru with Duckie Simpson, Kaye Starh and Andrew Bees promoted the Unification album and also the tour was an introduction of Kaye Starh to international reggae music scene.
With new songs came into view the Dynasty album was created and was recorded was released with Duckie Simpson , Kaye Starh and Andrew Bees before Bees went back to pursue his solo career in 2003.
In February 2004, it was announced in the Jamaican press that Simpson and Michael Rose had reunited under the name "Black Uhuru feat. Michael Rose". Together with the female background vocalist Kaye Starh they released a single, "Dollars", and performed at several concerts including "Western Consciousness 2004" on 28 April in Jamaica, of which a live video was released shortly thereafter. A new album was reported to be in progress, although it was never released. The group toured throughout Europe in 2006.
In 2008, Simpson took on lead vocal duties with Kaye Starh with interchangeable female vocals as they toured Brazil in 2010. With collaborative efforts from Kaye Starh Duckie Simpson recorded the new album, As the World Turns, with guest appearances from Aterciopelados and Jarabe De Palo, although this was still unreleased a year later due to the mastering files configuration issues . . A 25th Anniversary Edition DVD of their Live in London concert was released in June 2008. Derrick "Duckie" Simpson, Andrew Bees, and Kaye Starh has been touring the US , Europe and North and South America and also the Caribbean performing at Moonsplash in Anguilla.
Andrew Bees returned to the group in 2010 and he along with Duckie Simpson and Kaye Starh performed on a Festival in Puerto Rico, later that year Duckie Simpson , Kaye Starh and Andrew Bees. went on to performed at Bonnaroo in 2011 with a successful East Coast tour sharing stages with the renowned reggae pop star Shaggy. Following the success of the East Coast tour of the following year Black Uhuru featuring Duckie Simpson, Kaye Starh and Andrew Bees went on to do another successful East Coast tour sharing stage with reggae pop star Sean Paul and a West Coast tour with an explosive performance at The BB King Blues Club in New York in 2012 the band closed that tour at Red Lounge in Philadelphia. In 2012 Black Uhuru was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award in music by the IRAMA and also The Key For The City of Las Vegas which made 31 of August officially Black Uhuru Day in Las Vagas. The band, comprised of Duckie Simpson, Kaye Starh and Andrew Bees, was invited to take part in a Red Carpet event representing the continent of the Caribbean in a Broadway Musical dubbed "Loving The Silent Tears". in 2012 which was held at The Shrine Auditorium in LA this event was star studded with Emmy and Grammy Award winners. The band returned to Jamaica then went a European tour in 2013 with many successful many sold out venues. The band performance became electrified as the introduction of Kaye Starh songs into The band set had heightened the audience in a vibrant mode of musical excitement as nothing such as this in the history of Black Uhuru had ever happened before the fans was very receptive and respectfully wanted more of the band performances as they shouted for more. The band returned to East Coast concluding the tour with a successful show in the East Coast.2014 Jojo Mac joined the group, and left in 2016 to continue with her solo career.Black Uhuru undertook a US tour in 2016 with Andrew Bees on lead vocals and Elsa Green on backing vocals. Singer Onesty opened for the band.Black Uhuru undertook a US tour in 2016 with Duckie Simpson, Elsa Green on backing vocals and Andrew Bees as the lead and the singer Onesty opened with her band. Black Uhuru re-recorded the Album As The World’ Turns with collaborative efforts from Kaye Starh was released in September 2018 .

## Selected album discography

* 1980 – Sinsemilla
* 1981 – Red
* 1982 – Chill Out
* 1983 – Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (Black Uhuru re-edition)
* 1983 – Anthem
* 1986 – Brutal
* 1987 – Positive
* 1990 – Now
* 1991 – Iron Storm
* 1993 – Mystical Truth
* 1994 – Strongg
* 2018 – As the World Turns

## Awards and nominations

Black Uhuru has won one Grammy award and were nominated eight times.
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
| 1982 | Reggae Sunsplash '81, A Tribute To Bob Marley | Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Recording | Nominated |
| 1984 | Anthem | Best Reggae Recording | Won |
| 1986 | Brutal | Best Reggae Recording | Nominated |
| 1990 | Now | Best Reggae Recording | Nominated |
| 1991 | Iron Storm | Best Reggae Album | Nominated |
| 1993 | Mystical Truth | Best Reggae Album | Nominated |
| 1994 | Strongg | Best Reggae Album | Nominated |
| 2018 | As the World Turns | Best Reggae Album | Nominated |