The Ethiopians
The Ethiopians are one of the most influential Jamaican vocal groups. They were not only pioneers in the transition from ska to rock steady to reggae. The strongly influenced by Rastafarianism texts of the lead singer and songwriter Leonard Dillon also paved the way for the socially critical roots reggae era in the seventies. This band is not to be confused with the band The Abyssinians, although the band names are synonyms.
History of the band
Leonard Dillon, the founder of the band, born in 1942 in Jamaica, Port Antonio. How many Jamaican musicians he collects his first musical experiences in the church choir. He moves to the capital Kingston, where he became acquainted with Peter Tosh. Under the pseudonym " Jack Sparrow" and with the Wailers as a background choir, he released two singles in 1965: Ice Water and Suffering on the country. Producer Clement Dodd is.
At this time includes Dillon acquaintance with a singing duo, consisting of singer Stephen Taylor and singer / guitarist Aston Morris, which has won on the road for money. They decide a trio who start " Ethiopians ". 1966, in the late phase of ska, they take at Studio One a series of singles, then leaves Morris, himself a songwriter, the group. As a replacement for him is Albert Griffiths, who later formed the Gladiators. In the new line they make a breakthrough with one of the best known ska hits ever: Train To Skaville, a smash hit in Jamaica, which reaches even the Top 40 in England. The Ethiopians should never get out of their success a lot of money to face.
In 1967, the heyday of Rocksteady, the group is working with producer Sonia Pottinger and also partially with Lee Perry. A great success is The Whip, a song that really stand out for the long brass intro and mixed into the foreground percussion. Another hit is Engine 54
In 1968, the Ethiopians join the producer JJ Johnson, with whom she should have her artistic Perhaps the most prolific phase. For Albert Griffiths Melvin " Mellow " Reid comes into the group, but work in the aftermath Dillon and Taylor also occasionally as a duo. Their first LP " Engine 54 " appears. A huge commercial success is her single Everything Crash. The text is about the economic and political instability that had emerged after the independence of Jamaica from the British colonization. The government had ordered rationing of drinking water. The telephone network was ailing. The police had killed 31 people in one year and was then kicked in the strike itself. Under the working class emerged unrest. Leonard Dillon describes the situation, pointing out that many problems date back to British colonial times:
But the Ethopians can hit even softer tones, such as at Long Time Now, a beautiful love song.
1969 has replaced the Rock Steady, a new style of music, the Ethiopians sing it in Reggae Hit The Town. Her collaboration with Johnson leads to two other great albums: "Reggae Power" and "Woman Capture Man". The Ethiopians begin with a number of other producers to work. Melvin Reid seems less on the plates, and the Ethiopians are working more and more often as a duo. 1974 Reid leaves the group final. Although they continue to make excellent music, but commercial success is not, and Dillon and Taylor must assume " normal" jobs. Taylor works at a gas station, where he is captured and killed in September 1975 by a passing truck. After the tragic loss of his closest friend Dillon pulls back to his hometown of Port Antonio. Only in 1977 it will become active again and published together with the previous Ethiopians member Aston Morris Album "Slave Call". The following year appears under the name Ethiopians Dillon's solo album "Everything Crash" ( under the same name exists, however, a Ethiopians " Best Of" ). From the former Jamaican Prime Minister Edward Seaga he gets the " Certificate for Appreciation for Pop Music Developement " award.
After a few solo activities Dillon formed in the eighties, the Ethiopians with Harold Bishop and Neville Duncan (formerly of Burning Spear ) and completed in this cast some tours. Towards the end of the millennium, the Ethiopians lineup next to Dillon from the background singers Jennifer Lara and Merlene Webber, who, also participate on the album from 1999, " Tuffer Than Stone". Most recently, the group has made a great tour with Max Romeo.