More Info on AswadSimilar World MusicSearch Artistopia
Biography
Refimprove|date=July 2008Infobox musical artist | name = Aswad| image = Aswad.jpg| caption = Aswad, 2007| image_size = | background = group_or_band| alias =| origin = London , England | genre = Reggae | years_active = 1975–present| label = Island Records|Island , Grove Music, Sony Music|CBS (UK) , Simba, Mesa, Ark 21 Records|Ark 21 , PROTV | associated_acts =| website =| current_members = Drummie Zeb Tony "Gad" Robinson|past_members = Brinsley Forde Donald Griffiths Jordan Binkley George Oban Jimmy Neath Paul Garred Jimmy Haynes Clifton Morrison Martin Augustine Aswad ("Black" in Arabic (language)|Arabic ) are a long-lasting United Kingdom|British reggae band (music)|group , noted for adding strong Rhythm and blues|R& B and soul music|soul influences to the reggae sound.cite news|title= Reggae--brit Style|publisher= The Los Angeles Times |date=1985-07-14|url= http://articles.latimes.com/1985-07-14/entertainment/ca-6321_1_british-reggae|accessdate=2010-12-30|first=Don|last=Snowden They have been performing since the mid 1970s, having released a total of twenty-one album s.
History
The members of Aswad are UK descendants of immigrants from the Caribbean . They attended a local high school near Ladbroke Grove .
The original members of Aswad were Brinsley Forde , Drummie Zeb|Angus "Drummie Zeb" Gaye , Donald Griffiths, and Jordan Binkley (who was quickly replaced by George Oban).Moskowitz, David V. (2006) Caribbean Popular Music: an Encyclopedia of Reggae, Mento, Ska, Rock Steady, and Dancehall , Greenwood Press, ISBN 0-313-33158-8, p.16 Courtney Hemmings was a frequent contributor in the 1970s, including joining most of the members of Aswad as the backing band of Burning Spear 's 1977 Live (Burning Spear album)|Live album , recorded at the Rainbow Theatre in London. Other contributors included Vin Gordon , Bongo Levi, and Karl Pitterson.Larkin, Colin (1998) "The Virgin Encyclopedia of Reggae", Virgin Books, ISBN 0-7535-0242-9
They became one of the UK's top reggae bands in the 1980s. They were distinctly different from Jamaican reggae acts, in that they wrote song s that dealt with the issues surrounding the experiences of black youths growing-up in the UK; such as "Three Babylon" and "It's Not Our Wish", and the powerful jazz -influenced instrumental "Warrior Charge".
Aswad gained a wider audience with the New Chapter album (1981). "Love Fire" gained wide recognition when it was used as the backing rhythm for Dennis Brown 's "Promised Land".
Among Aswad's catalogue of hit single|hit s is " Don't Turn Around ", a UK no.1 popular music|pop hit in 1988, originally recorded by Tina Turner as a A-side and B-side|B-side to her " Typical Male " single. They followed this up with UK #11 hit "Give A Little Love", and a reggae flavoured rendition of " Best of My Love (Eagles song)|Best of My Love ", first popularized and written by The Eagles . In 1989, they contributed the single, "Set Them Free" to the Greenpeace Rainbow Warriors album. In the same year they performed together with Sir Cliff Richard the song "Share A Dream" recorded the previous year, at Wembley Stadium as part of The Event (16 and 17 June 1989). Their next hit, "Shine", was released in 1994. Another track was the upbeat 1998 remake of The Police 's " Invisible Sun ", performed with Sting (musician)|Sting .
The band also hold the distinction of having played with each one of the ex- The Wailers (1963-1974 band)|Wailers .
The band has toured extensively, playing in diverse locations from London's Royal Albert Hall and Montego Bay's Reggae Sunsplash, to gigs in West Africa, Israel and Japan. http://www.aswadband.com/biography.html Aswadband.com
Aswad released their most recent material in 2009, with the album City Lock . They released singles "What Is Love? " and "Do That Thing" in the same year. http://www.aswadband.com/index.html Aswadband.com/index
Members
Founding members are listed in bold.
Current members
Drummie Zeb (aka Angus Gaye) - Vocals, drums
Tony Gad (aka Dennis Anthony Robinson) - Vocals, bass, keyboards
Ace of Base remix of " Don't Turn Around " (#10 hit in the UK Singles Chart|UK )
Vanessa Mae - "Classical Gas" (Top 30 hit in UK)
Janet Kay - "Missing You"
Discography
Albums
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 UK Albums Chart|UK #50
1983: Live and Direct - Island Records UK #57
1984: Rebel Souls - Island Records UK #48
1986: To the Top - Simba UK #71
1988: Jah Shaka Meets Aswad in Addis Ababa Studio - Jah Shaka
1988: Distant Thunder - Mango Records UK #10
1988: Renaissance - 20 Crucial Tracks - Stylus UK #52
1989: Aswad: Crucial Tracks
1990: Next to You - Alex
1990: Too Wicked - Mango Records UK #51
1993: Firesticks - Alex
1994: Rise and Shine - Bubblin' Records UK #38
1995: Rise and Shine Again! - Mesa
1995: Dub: The Next Frontier - Mesa
1995: Greatest Hits - Bubblin' Records UK #20
1997: Big Up - Atlantic Records
1997: The BBC Sessions
1997: Roots Rocking: Island Anthology (compilation; incl. "Don't Get Weary", prev. unreleased) http://www.discogs.com/Aswad-Roots-Rocking-The-Island-Anthology/release/701583 Roots Rocking Discogs
1999: Roots Revival - Ark 21
2001: 25 Live: 25th Anniversary
2002: Cool Summer Reggae - Universal Music TV UK #54
2009: City Lock - Bubblin' Records UK #63
Singles
1984 (Mar): "Chasing for the Breeze" - Island Records UK Singles Chart|UK #51
1984 (Oct): "54-46 (Was My Number)" - Island Records UK #70
1988 (Feb): " Don't Turn Around " - Mango Records UK #1
1988 (May): "Give a Little Love" - Mango Records UK #11
1988 (Sep): "Set Them Free" - Mango Records UK #70
1989 (Apr): "Beauty's Only Skin Deep" - Mango Records UK #31
1989 (Jul): "On and On" - Mango Records UK #25
1990 (Aug): "Next to You" - Mango Records UK #24
1990 (Nov): "Smile" - Mango Records UK #53
1991 (Mar): "Too Wicked (EP)" - Mango Records UK #61
1993 (Jul): " How Long? |How Long " (with Yazz ) - Mango Records UK #31
1993 (Oct): "Dancehall Mood" - Bubblin' Records UK #48
1994 (Jun): " Shine (Aswad song)|Shine " - Bubblin' Records UK #5
1994 (Sep): "Warriors" - Bubblin' Records UK #33
1995 (Feb): "You're No Good" - Bubblin' Records UK #35
1995 (Aug): "If I Was" - Bubblin' Records UK #58
2002 (Aug): "Shy Guy" - Universal Media Studios|Universal TV UK #62cite book
| first= David | last= Roberts | year= 2006 | title= British Hit Singles & Albums | edition= 19th | publisher= Guinness World Records Limited | location= London | isbn= 1-904994-10-5 | page= 32
See also
List of reggae musicians
John Arnison
References
Reflist|2
External links
http://www.blackworld.com/proffs/artistes/aswad.htm Biography and discography
http://www.bluesandsoul.com/feature/422/aswad_all_about_roots/ Aswad interview by Pete Lewis, 'Blues & Soul' July 2009
http://www.d-z.co.uk/aswad Gallery of Aswad party pictures by dz studios
http://www.myspace.com/aswaduk Myspace profile
http://www.chartstats.com/artistinfo.php? id=4055 ASwad UK chart placings, Chart Stats
DEFAULTSORT:Aswad (Band) Category:Musical groups from London Category:British reggae musical groups
