Associated Culture Promotions events
Johnny Clarke UK Dates
This will be a real reggae party night - reach!
SUNDAY MAY 14th
Johnny Clarke and Dub Asante Band/Matic Horns
Venue : Jazz Cafe, Parkway, London, NW1
THURSDAY MAY 18th
Johnny Clarke and Michael Prophet in concert with The Dub Asante Band
Venue : The Point, Mount Stuart Square, Cardiff Bay, Wales
FRIDAY MAY 19th
Johnny Clarke live in concert with Dub Asante Band
Venue : Hendre Hall,Talybont, Bangor, Wales
Reggae "Golden era" legendary singer of "None Shall Escape the Judgment "& "African Roots" fame
Between 1974 and 1980 Johnny Clarke was one of reggaes most coveted singers. A forerunner to dancehall crooners like Sugar Minott, Barrington Levy, and Sanchez, Johnnys music ruled Jamaica while Bob Marley and the Wailers took reggae to a wider audience. Timeless masterpieces like None shall escape the judgement, Enter into his gates with Praise, African Roots, and Crazy Baldhead brought Johnny Clarke to be classed as a contemporary of Dennis Brown and Gregory Issacs yet it has always been a mystery why he never quite achieved the same full international recognition. Johnny Clarke will be performing hit after hit form his whole catalogue of cool blended classics on this night of pure roots and culture reggae music.
It will be a night to remember with the Dub Asante band offering the backing and support from the Matic Horn section.
A bit of history:
During the middle of the 1970's Johnny Clarke stood at a Crossroads of Jamaican music, and was the point about which Reggae music turned during the "Golden Era" of 70's Roots Reggae. Briefly there was no more popular act than he in Jamaica, and this in a country where popularity is exceptionally hard won.
He was nominated best vocalist five times in his own country, an indication of the love Jamaicans have for his voice and music. There are many reasons as to why he commands the respect of his countrymen, one is his ability to perform both roots Reggae material and love songs with equal ability and conviction. This dual persona, both as roots 'preacher' and love 'crooner', was one which out of financial necessity many other performers were required to adopt. Dennis Brown, then Johnny's biggest rival, is a fine example in this regard.
For many years Johnny struggled to make his mark, coming up against the common frustrations of manipulative producers, and under investment in his talent. Enduring success really began when Clarke, sometimes nicknamed the 'Studio Idler', was engaged to provide backing vocals for the recording by Earl Zero of ' None Shall Escape The Judgement'. This song had been written by Earl Zero, and yet it would be forever associated with Johnny Clarke.
The story related by producer Bunny Lee, is that for some unexplained reason, when it came to mastering the tune, it was discovered that Earl Zero's lead vocal was missing from the mix. Lee hired Clarke to re-record the song's lead vocal, reasoning that he knew the tune, having backed Zero upon it.
Earl Zero disputes this, and denies that this was ever the 'true' state of events. It is no wonder that Zero remains upset, as the tune went on to become a massive hit, the song that to a large degree launched Johnny Clarke's future career.
If you are looking to understand and absorb the world of Reggae, in particular the 'Golden Era' of the mid 70's, Clarke's music is an ideal vehicle within which to do so.
When Bob Marley was turning himself into the first International Jamaican superstar, Big Youth, Inner Circle and Johnny Clarke ruled the roost back home. They were the acts popular with Jamaicans, in Jamaica.
Indeed Clarke's versions of tunes written by Bob Marley were so popular, that they cut into Marley's market, a fact that has annoyed the Marley clan and set them at odds with him to this day.
In this light, it is of note that Clarke's recording of 'No Woman No Cry' was the only version available on the affordable seven inch single format, and Jamaicans unable to purchase the song they loved on LP, turned to Johnny Clarke's single release .
Clarke went on to become one of the highlights of the dancehall era, re-establishing his reputation as he did so. His style had always been well suited to this new genre, one that coincided with the beginning of the new decade.
He has continued to remain true to his own roots, singing largely of 'cultural' matters and retaining his Rastafarian faith. Touring to this day he spends much of his time in the U.K., and long may we benefit from his beautiful voice.
- Johnny Clarke – Vocals
- Anthony "Drumtan" Ward - Drums
- Diane "D- Bass" White - Bass
- Derek Johnson - Guitar
- Delford "Tawanda" Briscoe – Keyboards
- Matic Horns – Henry "Buttons" Tenuye – Horn section
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