Biography of Black Uhuru

By 1992, Black Uhuru (Black Sounds of Freedom) had gone through six distinct incarnations, the only common factor being Duckie Simpson, their dreadly serious harmonist and sometime composer. Founded in the mid 70s, the group hit its key period in the early 80s with a charismatically scowling lead singer named Michael Rose, who remade his classic "Dreadlocks Coming ..." as "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner." A fearsome prowler onstage with a Far East style of roots warbling, Rose was often touted as the "next Bob Marley," an observation that has ruined the career of many a lesser performer.The militancy of the group was enhanced by an African-American woman with a Master's degree from Columbia University, Puma Jones, whose wavy-armed dancing and high, chromatic harmonies echoed the communal gatherings she had witnessed while working in Mama Africa. Add to this the essential underpinnings of rhythm twins Sly & Robbie, who were considered equal members of the group while Rose was aboard, and you have the quintessential reggae lineup of the post-Marley era and reggae's first-ever Grammy winners. However, internal problems and dissatisfaction with their record label broke up that lineup.But 1986's Brutal, featuring new lead singer Junior Reid, revealed a surprisingly strong resolve to continue. Eventually, visa problems sidelined Reid and Puma died of cancer, and in full circle the three original members came together to take the group to a new level.The current lineup is composed of solo star Don Carlos (whose style is hauntingly similar to Reid's and Rose's), Duckie Simpson, and former Wailing Soul Garth Dennis, showing that the concept could be successfully molded to fit almost anyone willing to give voice to these Black sounds of freedom and righteous indignation. ~ Roger Steffens