The Jamaicans

The Jamaicans
Origin Jamaica
Genres Reggae, ska, rocksteady
Years active 1967–1972
Labels Trojan, Jamaican Gold
Past members Tommy Cowan
Norris Weir
Martin Williams
Derrick Brown

The Jamaicans were a ska/rocksteady trio formed in Jamaica in 1967, consisting of members Tommy Cowan, Norris Weir, Derrick Brown and Martin Williams.

Career

The Jamaicans originally started out as a band known as the Cool Shakes, consisting of Derrick Brown and childhood friend Norris Weir, joined later by Martin Williams. Then Tommy Cowan joined the group to make them a quintet. The group soon changed their name to the Jamaicans, cutting two singles for Duke Reid at Treasure Isle - "Pocket Full of Money" and "Diana". They had their first hit in 1967 with "Things You Say You Love".[1] They would also take first place in the Island's Festival Song Contest in 1967 with the rocksteady classic "Ba Ba Boom" (by this time without Jerry in the group), written by Cowan and Weir about the Jamaica Independence Festival.[2][3] "Ba Ba Boom" was entered in the 1967 Independence Festival Song Competition (now known as the Popular Song Competition), which had been inaugurated by Festival organizers the previous year, and the Jamaicans took home the win that year with their entry, which became their best-known song.[3]

In addition to "Ba Ba Boom", the Jamaicans had another local hit with "Things You Say You Love" and they recorded a cover of the Curtis Mayfield song "Dedicate My Song to You". Another song written and recorded by the trio, "Black Girl", was later covered by the disco group Boney M.[2] The Jamaicans split up in 1972. Cowan went on to become a successful producer.[1][2]

Weir became an ordained minister in 2010, and has recorded ten Gospel albums.[3]

Discography

Compilation albums

Singles

References

  1. 1 2 O'Brien Chang, Kevin & Chen, Wayne (1998) Reggae Routes, Temple University Press, ISBN 978-1566396295, p. 111
  2. 1 2 3 Leggett, Steve "The Jamaicans Biography", Allmusic. Retrieved 2 March 2014
  3. 1 2 3 Campbell, Howard (2016) "Boom times for the Jamaicans", Jamaica Observer, 31 July 2016. Retrieved 4 August 2016


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