Celebrating over 41 years, the ‘Reggae Ambassadors’, THIRD WORLD is one of the
longest lived Reggae bands of all time, and one of Jamaica's most consistently
popular crossover acts among international audiences. Mixing in elements of R&B,
funk, pop, and rock and, later on, dancehall and rap, Third World’s style has been
described as "reggae-fusion". Singer Bunny Rugs described the band's sound:
"Strictly a reggae band, no. Definitely a reggae band, yes." Guitarist Cat Coore said of
their music: "The hybrid of various types of music is a natural thing because, by
growing up in Jamaica, we know the direct roots of reggae and ska. At the same time
we live in a country where you get to hear Chuck Berry, Fats Domino and all the R &
B artists." Bassist Richard Daley said, "We took roots reggae music and put
branches on top of it".
The genesis of Third World was originally formed in 1973 by guitarist/cellist
Stephen "Cat" Coore, keyboardist Michael “Ibo” Cooper, drummer Carl Barovier and
singer Milton “Prilly” Hamilton all of Inner Circle, along with bassist Colin “Oliver”
Leslie. Tomorrows Children bass guitarist, Richard Daley soon replaced Colin Leslie
and Leslie teamed up with Darren Green to manage and organize the group. After a
few months, Barovier was replaced by Cornell Marshall, and the group made its live
debut that year at Jamaica's Independence celebration. They played in and around
the Kingston club scene and on the hotel scene island wide, making a name for
themselves as one of the few fully self-contained bands around.
In 1974, percussionist Irwin “Carrot” Jarrett joined the group and that same year
they recorded their debut single, "Railroad Track”. In 1975, Third World was eager
to broaden their musical horizons and took a chance by travelling with no tour dates
on the books to England. The trip was fortunate and Third World subsequently
inked a deal with the internationally minded Island label, who sent the young
talented musicians out as the opening act for Bob Marley & the Wailers’ 1975 World
Tour.
Their self-titled debut album, Third World was released on the Island imprint in
1976 and featured a popular cover of the Abyssinians’ the roots classic "Satta
Massagana." The follow-up, 1977's “96° in the Shade”, introduced new drummer
Willie "Roots" Stewart and new lead singer William Clark, aka Bunny Rugs. The LP
was an enormous critical success in the U.K. and Europe, and spawned an all-time
classic single in the title track. That set the stage for the group's commercial
breakthrough album, 1978's Journey to Addis, which featured a funky, discoflavored reggae cover of the O’Jays’ "Now That We’ve Found Love." The song hit the
Top Ten on the American R&B charts in 1979, as well as the British pop Top Ten,
and the LP climbed into the R&B Top 20. The follow-up single, "Cool Meditation,"
made the British Top 20 and Third World emerged as international stars.
The group quickly followed its breakout hit with The Story's Been Told later in
1979, and it charted in the US. In 1980, they issued two albums, Arise In Harmony
and the film soundtrack Prisoner in the Street, which marked the end of their tenure
with Island. Third World next signed with CBS and debuted with 1981's Rock the
World, which gave them another significant crossover hit in "Dancing on the Floor
(Hooked on Love)," a British Top Ten. At the 1981 Reggae Sunsplash Festival, Stevie
Wonder joined Third World on-stage to perform his tribute to Bob Marley, "Master
Blaster (Jammin')"; it went well enough that Wonder wrote and produced two
singles on the group's next album, 1982's You've Got the Power. The first single,
"Try Jah Love," was a funky dance track that became another significant crossover
hit in America, nearly hitting the R&B Top 20. The second single, "You're Playing Us
Too Close," wasn't as commercial, but the musical synergy created in the recording
studio between Wonder & the band was so dynamic that You've Got the Power
became Third World's second album to hit the US R&B Top 20 charts.
The band's success continued on through the '80s, as 1983's All The Way Strong and
1985's Sense of Purpose both made the R&B Top 50. The latter album produced
several crossover hits in the title track, “One To One," and "One More Time," which
sported state-of-the-art, club-friendly dance beats.
In 1987 Third World
collaborated in the studio with songwriters, Gamble and Huff and CBS released,
Hold on to Love, the album went on to be their first of 10 Reggae Grammy
nominations. After their departure from CBS, the band joined the Mercury label and
their 1989 label debut, Serious Business, restored their commercial standing with
American R&B audiences, climbing into the Top 30 on the strength of a third major
crossover hit, "Forbidden Love." One of the first commercially successful fusions of
reggae and rap, "Forbidden Love" featured a guest appearance by Stetsasonic lead
rapper Daddy O, and charted in the R&B Top 20.
Third World's second Mercury album was 1992's dancehall-flavored Committed,
which produced a Top 30 R&B hit in the title cut. Their next release, 1994's Live It
Up, appeared on the band's own label, TWB. In 1997, founding member Michael
"Ibo" Cooper and Willie Stewart both departed, and were replaced by keyboardist
Leroy "Baarbe" Romans and drummer Tony "Ruption" Williams, respectively and
the return of Rupert Bent. This lineup released Generation Coming in 1999, landing
guest spots from Shaggy and Bounty Killer. Afterwards, Romans was replaced by
Herbie Harris, who made his studio debut on 2003's Ain’t Givin’ Up. The same year
Third World celebrated a quarter century of playing music by re-recording their
classics for 25th Anniversary. Two years later they returned with Black, Gold, Green
which included guests Beres Hammond, Wayne Marshall, and Blue Fox.
Their 2011 effort, Patriots, was released under their own label imprint, Third World
Music Group featuring collaborations with Toots Hibbert, Marcia Griffiths, the late
Gregory Isaacs, Sly Dunbar, Robbie Shakespeare, Dean Fraser, Inner Circle, Mykal
Rose, Junior Reid, Capleton, Stephen & Damian Marley, Tarrus Riley and Tessanne
Chin. Single releases from Patriots include the "Spirit Lives ft Junior Reid & Inner
Circle", "By My Side ft Season 5 The Voice winner, Tessanne Chin” and showcased in
Robert Townsend's popular online series "Diary of a Single Mom", “Good Hearted
People ft Capleton”, and a remake of the band’s classic, “96 Degrees In the Shade ft
Stephen and Damian Marley”.
In February 2014, lead singer William “Bunny Rugs” Clarke lost his battle with
cancer. Noted and influential members of the music industry recognized Rugs for
his contribution to the globalization of Reggae Music. At the time of his death, the
group completed a new studio album, “Under The Magic Sun” with Cleopatra
Records, which is livicated to Mr Reggae Ambassador, Bunny Rugs. The album
features covers of pop/rock classic in the signature Third World 4 part harmony and
reggae groove and features the smooth vocals of Third World newest band member,
AJ Brown.
With 10 Grammy nominations and catalogue of charted hits spanning four decades,
Third World accolades include, the 1986 United Nations Peace Medal, 1992 and
1996 Jamaica Music Industry Awards for Best Show Band, New York City
Ambassador Award in November 2009 at Brooklyn Academy of Music ("BAM"),
2011 Excellence in Music at the Atlanta Caribbean Festival, numerous awards and
accolades from Martin’s International Reggae and World Music Awards, in 2012 the
group was awarded the Ambassador at Caribbean American Heritage Awards in
Washington DC, “The Art of Reggae Music” award for 40 years of quality music and
dedication at the 2013 staging of Jamaica Jazz and Blues in Montego Bay, the Keys to
the Cities of Atlanta and Key West, National Black Arts Award of Merit 2013 and
more.
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For more info:
Heather Cameron mgmt@ThirdWorldBand.com
+19543257725