Bands

Foundational  Boston Bands: 1975-1995
Boston's Reggae scene caught fire at the end of the 70's and early 80's.  This is an attempt at a comprehensive list of all the reggae bands that were based in the Boston area during the '75-'95 period


====== FOUNDATIONAL BAND BIOS =======  

ZION INITATION:

Zion Initation had a spiritual, mystical roots sound that they maintained throughout their time on the scene.  The concept of the band (under a different name) came from Henry "Ipa" Fenton who was in a Caribbean band in 1975 named Soul Vibration and had the idea for a reggae band.  C Jah-Amen Mobley and Ras Ipa were the first members of that early band. The band came together in 1976 or 77 (not sure when they became "Zion Initation") and added Raphael "Ras Jackson/Jah-Jah" Jackson on vocals, Andrew "Iraka" Reid on bass, Frank Native on drums and Ian Wilson on keyboards, along with Danny Tucker on sax and vocals.  Major Jackson and Ras Ipa came up with the name together.


Zion Initation was the first true reggae band out of the City of Boston, being based in Dorchester - they had their practice space near Codman Square.  Their early gigs were often in parks in Dorchester or Mattapan and surrounding neighborhoods, bringing the music "directly to the people".  At least by October of 1979, they were playing clubs (Hartford W.Indian Club, Boston's Bradford Hotel soon after) and were interviewed and played live on thew WERS reggae show Strictly Rockers in that same year (the very first Boston-based reggae band to play live on WERS, a tradition that would continue for the next 3 decades or so).  They were also the first band to have a female singer - Ava Cunningham - who was a beloved singer and an important part of the local community.  Major Jackson took on most of the lead vocals, bringing his haunting, cinnamon-flavored voice to the stage and entrancing the audience at many local venues.


Zion Initation brought the music to the people for more than 10 years and made an indelible mark on the Boston Reggae scene, with musicians like Danny Tucker, Ipa, Iraka, Abdul Baki, and Ketteman continuing on with the local reggae scene for decades afterwards (as well as other members that were with them briefly and continued on in the local reggae scene).  In the early 80's, they toured the West Coast and part of the Mid-West and their last gig was in 1989.

Some cities they also toured were: Utica, Syracuse, Oswego, Rochester, Ithaca, NYC, Philadelphia, Washington DC, Chicago, Seattle Wa., Portland and Eugene Or., San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego Ca., New Orleans, and Kansas City.



STUDIO:

• LP: Showcase (1979)

• 7" single: Complexion Girl/Close Encounters (1983)

• 12" single: Burnin' Fire/Leave It Home/Complexion Drum (1983)

• LP: Jah Light (1985)


Personnel:

Lead Vocals: Major Jackson, Ras Ipa, Danny Tucker, Jah Youth

Drums: Frank Native, Iphus Stilcott, Mwoli, Pablo, Horace Reid, Philippe Simon (just their last '89 gig at the Front)

Bass: Iraka, Ipa

Guitar: Ipa, Edwin, Igene, Rico, Sir Cecil

Keys: Ian Wilson, Abdul Baki, Victor, Igene

Percussion: Jah-Amen, Kette Man 

Horns: Danny Tucker, Richie Montra, Jeff Robinson

THE I-TONES:


The band started when Luke "White Ram" Ehrlich (bass and vocals) pulled in Horace Reid on drums in 1979 and began jamming reggae music in a basement in Cambridge.  Ram soon connected with Abdul Baki who joined on keyboards and Chris "Chris Rockers" Wilson on guitar.  They had their first gig at the Star Loft in Thayer St in November of 1979 and by 1980 were playing gigs all around Boston and Cambridge and Greater Boston.  For some bigger gigs, they often brought in a horn section.  In 1980, Bruce "Jah Shirt" Clarke also joined them as deejay on several songs and soon became a regular member of the band (Evan Barnes also guest-deejayed).  Later, Shirt moved from providing a deejay for Ram or Horace's lead vocals to doing lead vocals of his own.  Chris' brother Tony Wilson did sound for them - Tony was an expert at mixing reggae and the collaboration between Tony and the band on the dub mixes was part of what gave the I-Tones a unique sound.


The I-Tones had a professional, authentic, and original sound and had a huge impact on the local scene with their successful efforts to bring the Jamaican reggae sound to a much wider audience.  They were known for doing extended-length songs live, with complex vocals and dubs.  They were also known for covering the latest and the obscure from Jamaican reggae music.  White Ram was a tireless promoter of the band and of reggae music in general, being part of a local reggae record store, doing a reggae radio show, and spinning reggae at local clubs and events.  He was also instrumental in bringing other local reggae bands to important venues.


The I-Tones were well-managed and so got a lot of gigs and press and high-profile appearances, including appearing on a TV show: Spenser for Hire.  They were interviewed and got their picture in the paper countless times in multiple markets.  In their first year WGBH did a profile of them in a piece on the rise of Reggae.  


By the late 1980's, all but one original member (Chris Wilson) and Jah Shirt had moved on from the band, but new incarnations continued for the next couple of decades


STUDIO:


Personnel:

Lead Vocals: 

1979~1987: Luke "White Ram" Ehrlich, Horace Reid, Jah Shirt 

1987 on: Rocky Tracey, Skiffy Ruglass, Fitzy Niceness

Drums: Horace Reid, Randell Clunes, Jay Hilt, Jah T (subbed)

Bass: Luke "White Ram" Ehrlich, Bob Martino, Leslie Langston

Keys: Abdul Baki, Jon Gorr, Dow Brain

Guitar: Chris Wilson

Percussion: Jah Shirt

LOOSE CABOOSE:

"Caboose began with drummer Jim Cheney and bass guitarist Allyn Dorr, who teamed together at the Cape as Roadhogg around 1973. Allyn's brother, guitarist Jonathan Dorr, later joined the band which became known as Caboose when they added a keyboard player.

 'The keyboard player left a few months later', [Dave] Boatwright related,'But the rest of us soon came along to fill the gap'. They were percussionist Boo Pearson, Boatwright, and Ras Jahn Bullock.

- taken from Sweet Potato magazine April 1979 


Loose Caboose had a relaxed roots sound with beautiful guitar arrangements and haunting lyrics.  They were a tireless reggae band led by the singer/percussionist/keyboarist Ras Jahn.  They regularly made the trip to Boston and Cambridge, starting in the late 70's.  They played Jack's, Jonathan Swift's, the Western Front, and countless other venues.  At Jack's they often did 3 nights in a row.  In those early days, Loose Caboose was the only live reggae to be found in the Boston area.  Their presence and influence in Western Mass. cannot be overstated: they brought reggae to that area and are the seed that led to the growth of dozens of reggae bands over the ensuing decades.


STUDIO:


Personnel:

Lead Vocals: Ras Jah Bullock

Drums: Jim Cheney, Randell Clunes

Bass: Allyn Dorr, Michael Miller

Guitar: Dave Boatwright, Jonathan Dorr

Keys: ??

Percussion: Boo Pearson, Ravin Beepath


==== ALL BANDS ====

1970's

Zion Initation (1976 - 1989)

Lead singers:


The I-Tones (1979 - 1999)

Lead singers:


Loose Caboose (1978 -) 

Lead singer:


Jamaicaway Reggae Band (1976 - 1978) - became Rolly Gray & Sunfire - but they were really a Soca and Calypso band that played some reggae...

Lead singers:


1980's

Lenky Roy & Ethiopian Roots (1980 - 1982, 1985) 

Lead singer:


I-Ses (1980 - 1981)

Lead singer:


Healin’ of the Nations (Feb. 1981 - 1983)

Lead singers:


Magic & the Reggae Stars (1980 - ?)

Lead singer:


Jamontrad (1980 - 1982)

Lead singer:


One People (1981 - 2002)

Lead singers:


Rashante Rub-a-Dub Band (1981)

Lead singer:


Jah-Ma Roots (1982 - 1983)

Lead singer:


Jah Spirit (1982 - present)

Lead singer:


Right Time (1983 - ?)


Radication (1983)

Lead singer:


Kuumba (1984)

Lead singer:


Natural Mystic (1984-1985)


New Lions (1984 - 1986) 

Lead singer:


Prevailing Winds (1985) 

Lead singer:


Afrikan Roots (1985 - 1989)

Lead singer:


Dub Culture (1984 - 1985)

Lead singers:


Mighty Charge (1986 - 1997)

Lead singer:


New Generation Band (1986 - 1991)

Lead singer:


Errol Strength & the Conscious Band (1985 - ?)

Lead singer:


R.D. Riddim (1987 - 1995)


Root Force (1988) 

Lead singer:


High Vibes/I-Vibes (1988 - 1994)

Lead singers:


Arise (l1985 @ W.Front) (were they Boston-based?)


Irie Ites (1985 @ W.Front) (were they Boston-based?)


Ambassa (1989 - 1993)

Lead singers:


Hot Like Fire (1989 - 2015)

Lead singers:


One World (1989 - 1991)

Lead singer:



1990's

New Roots (1990-1991)

Lead singer:


Tribulations (1990 - 1994)


Motion (1990? - 1996?)

Lead singer:


Cool Runnings (1990 - present?)


Reggaematics (1990)

 

Solid Earth (1991 - 1998)

Lead singers:


Danny Tucker Band (1992? - ?)

Lead singer:


Riddim Factory (1991 - 1992)


Noddaclu (1992 - ?)

Lead singer:


Rockers International (1993 - 1994)

Lead singers:


Dub Station (1994 - 2015)

Lead singers:


Chances (1994 - 1995)

Lead singer:




After the Dawn: 1995-present


John Brown’s Body (1995 - 2018)

   (based in Boston and Ithaca)

Lead singer:


Judie Buddha (1996 - 1998)

Lead singers:


Proverbs (1998)

Lead singers:


Vibewise (1998 - ?)

Lead singers:


Height Crew aka Da Hit Skwad (1999 - 2002)

Lead singer:


Dis-N-Dat Band (1999 - present)

Lead singer:


Mighty Mystic (2005 - present)

Lead singer:


DreadRocks (2005 - ?)

Lead singers:


Dub Apocalypse (2007 - present)

Lead singer:


Scotch Bonnet Band (2009 - ?)

Lead singers:


Foundation Rockers (2009 - 2020)

Lead singer:


Duppy Conquerors (2010 - present)

Lead singers:


Jah N I (? - present)

Lead singer:


Ghetto People Band

Lead singers:


Pressure Cooker

Lead singer:


Kings Highway


Niyah Rockers


High Hopes Band


Fear Nuttin Band


GoJam Allstars 


Rudiments


Westbound Train


Natural Mystic


Soul Rebel Project


Long Arm Rex


Dub Boat


The Elovators


Mystic Jammers (pre - 95?)