Truth - Music

Aswad "Black" In Arabic Are A Long-Lasting British Reggae Group Noted For Adding Strong R&B Soul And Soca Influences To The Reggae Sound. They Have Been Performing Since The Early 1970s And Have Released A Total Of Twenty-One Albums. As Naturalised Children Of Immigrants From The Caribbean Part Of The Aftermath Of World War II The Children Were Moved To London. They Attended A Local High School Near Ladbroke Grove And Various Junior Schools As Tan Tan Children Of Immigrants From The Caribbean Around West London In 1975. Vocalist Brinsley Forde Had A Brief Career On Television On The British Children's Television Series "Here Come The Double Deckers" In 1970-71. The Original Members Of Aswad Were Brinsley Forde George Oban Drummie Zeb And Donald Griffiths. Courtney Hemmings Was A Frequent Contributor In The 1970s Including As Part Of The Backing Band On Burning Spear's 1979 Live Album Recorded At The Rainbow Theatre In London. They Became One The U.K.'s Top Reggae Bands With Songs Typical Of The Time About The Oppression Of Black Youth Such As "Three Babylon" And "It's Not Our Wish" And The Powerful Jazz-Influenced Instrumental "Warrior Charge". The Band Gained A Wider Audience With The New Chapter Album 1981 . "Fire" The Opening Track Gained Wide Recognition When It Was Used As The Backing Rhythm For Dennis Brown's "Promised Land." Among Aswad's Catalogue Of Hits Is "Don't Turn Around" A Pop Hit In 1988. This Track Was Originally A B-Side To Tina Turner's Hit "Typical Male" Which Was Later Covered By Ace Of Base And A Reggae Flavoured Rendition Of "Best Of My Love" First Popularised And Written By The Eagles. Their Next Hit Shine Was Released In 1994. Another Track Was The Upbeat 1998 Remake Of The Police's "Invisible Sun" Performed With Sting. The Band Also Hold The Distinction Of Having Played With Each One Of The Ex-Wailers. Band Members * Martin Augustine Aka "Tatta" - Lead Guitar * Brinsley Forde Aka "Dan" Born 16 October 1952 Guyana - Vocals Rhythm Guitar * Drummie Zeb Aka Angus Gaye Born 1959 London United Kingdom - Vocals Drums * Donald Griffiths Born 1954 Jamaica * Jimmy Haynes Aka "Senyah" - Lead Guitar Acoustic Guitar * Clifton Morrison Aka "Bigga" - Vocals Keyboards Melodica * George Oban - Left In 1980 - Bass Guitar * Tony Gad - Real Name Dennis Anthony Robinson Born 11 November 1957 London. Joined In 1980 - Vocals Bass Guitar Discography * 1976 Aswad - Mango Records * 1978 Hulet - Mango Records * 1981 New Chapter - Columbia Records * 1981 Showcase - Mango Records * 1982 A New Chapter Of Dub - Mango Records * 1982 Not Satisfied - Columbia Records * 1983 Live And Direct - Mango Records * 1984 Rebel Souls - Mango Records * 1986 To The Top - Simba * 1988 Jah Shaka Meets Aswad In Addis Ababa Studio - Jah Shaka * 1988 Distant Thunder - Mango Records * 1988 Renaissance - 20 Crucial Tracks - Stylus * 1989 Aswad Crucial Tracks * 1990 Next To You - Alex * 1990 Too Wicked - Mango Records * 1993 Firesticks - Alex * 1994 Rise And Shine - Rhino Entertainment * 1995 Rise And Shine Again! - Mesa * 1995 Dub The Next Frontier - Mesa * 1997 Big Up - Atlantic Records * 1999 Roots Revival - Ark 21 * 2002 Cool Summer Reggae read less