• Source: Mighty Diamonds

The Mighty Diamonds were a Jamaican harmony trio, recording roots reggae with a strong Rastafarian influence. The group was formed in 1969 and were best known for their 1976 debut album, Right Time, produced by Joseph Hoo Kim, and the 1979 release, Deeper Roots.
On March 29, 2022, their lead singer, Donald "Tabby" Shaw, was shot dead in a drive-by shooting. On April 1, 2022, Fitzroy "Bunny" Simpson died. They disbanded shortly afterwards.




History


Formed in 1969 in the Trenchtown area of Kingston, the group comprised lead vocalist Donald "Tabby" Shaw, and harmony vocalists Fitzroy "Bunny" Simpson and Lloyd "Judge" Ferguson. They had become friends at school in the mid-1960s, and were originally called The Limelight, adopting 'Mighty Diamonds' after Shaw's mother started referring to them as "the diamonds". Their smooth harmonies and choreographed stage show were inspired by Motown vocal groups of the 1960s, with Shaw listing The Temptations, The Stylistics, The Impressions, and The Delfonics as influences as well as Jamaican rocksteady artists such as John Holt and Ken Boothe.
Their early recordings were produced by Pat Francis, Stranger Cole ("Girl You Are Too Young" (1970), "Oh No Baby"), Derrick Harriott ("Mash Up"), Bunny Lee ("Jah Jah Bless the Dreadlocks", "Carefree Girl"), Lee "Scratch" Perry ("Talk About It"), and Rupie Edwards, but it was in 1973 that they had their first hit single with the Francis-produced "Shame and Pride", recorded at the Dynamic Sounds studio. It was their mid-1970s work with producer Joseph Hoo Kim that gave them their real breakthrough. "Country Living" and "Hey Girl" were recorded and released by the Channel One label. "Right Time" followed, on Hoo Kim's Well Charge label, and cemented their status as one of the top Jamaican groups of the time.
Virgin Records signed them and the group's début album, Right Time, was released in 1976, including most of their early Channel One hits. The album was an international success and for the follow-up, Virgin sent them to work with Allen Toussaint in New Orleans, with local musicians providing the backing. The resulting Ice on Fire album sold poorly, the production not appealing to reggae fans, and the album later described as "an attempt by New Orleans soul musicians to play reggae".
Back in Jamaica, they continued to record for Channel One, with the Stand Up to Your Judgment album released in 1978, and continued to produce a string of hit singles. They also released records on their own 'Bad Gong' label. The group's Deeper Roots, released in 1979, was their next big album success, again released by Virgin, on its Front Line label.
In 1978, The Mighty Diamonds made a brief cameo in the film Rockers, directed by Ted Bafaloukos.
In the early 1980s, they recorded with producer Gussie Clarke, largely using old Studio One tracks as the basis for their recordings, and dubplates of these sessions became popular on sound systems in Jamaica, New York, and London, particularly "Pass the Kouchie", recorded on the "Full Up" riddim. Their work with Clarke produced the 1981 album Changes.
"Pass the Kouchie", written by Ferguson and Simpson, became an international hit twice, when first released (on their 1982 album Changes) and again when it was covered by Musical Youth with altered lyric to remove the drug references, and released as "Pass the Dutchie" (1982).
Their performance at Reggae Sunsplash in 1982 was released on an album later that year, paired with the performance from Mutabaruka.
The group continued to release albums regularly, adapting successfully to the prevailing digital rhythms of the 1980s and beyond. Tabby, Bunny and Judge issued over forty albums in their long career.
In 2021, the group was honoured with the Order of Distinction (Officer Class) in the National Honours and Awards, on the occasion of Jamaica’s 59th Anniversary of Independence.
On 29 March 2022, Donald “Tabby” Shaw was shot dead, along with one other person, on McKinley Crescent in St Andrew, Kingston, Jamaica. Three others were injured in the shooting. The following Friday, 1 April, co-singer with the group, Fitzroy "Bunny" Simpson died whilst in an undisclosed Kingston hospital.




Discography






= Studio albums

=
Right Time (1976), Free World Music
Ice on Fire (1977), Free World Music
Planet Mars Dub (1978), Front Line – The Icebreakers and the Diamonds, dub version of Planet Earth
Stand Up to Your Judgment (1978), Channel One
Tell Me What's Wrong (1978), Hit Bound
Planet Earth (1978), Virgin
Deeper Roots (1979), Free World Music
Deeper Roots Dub (1979)
Changes (1981), Music Works
Dubwise (1981), Music Works – six dub versions from Changes and four other dubs
Reggae Street (1981), Free World Music
The Roots Is There (1982), Music Works/Shanachie
Indestructible (1982), Alligator (similar to the album Changes with two extra songs)
Heads of Government (1982), Jah Guidance
Leaders of Black Countries (Showcase Album) (1983), Mobiliser
Backstage (1983), Music Works
Kouchie Vibes (1984), Burning Sounds
Diamonds Are Forever (1984), Woorell Japan – Eight songs exclusive to Japan plus two singles
Pass the Kouchie (1985), Free World Music
Struggling (1985), Free World Music
If You Looking for Trouble (1986), Live & Learn
The Real Enemy (1987), Greensleeves
Never Get Weary (1988), Live & Learn
Get Ready (1988), Rohit International/Greensleeves
Ready for the World (1989), Overheat Japan – Eight songs exclusive to Japan plus two singles
Jam Session (Remastered), Free World Music
Tour the World (1991) – contains five new songs and five old songs
Patience (1991), Free World Music
The Moment of Truth (1992), Free World Music
Bust Out (1993), Free World Music
Paint It Red (1993), Free World Music
Speak the Truth (1994), Free World Music
Stand Up (1998), Gone Clear
Rise Up (2001), Free World Music
Thugs in the Streets (2006), Nocturne
Inna De Yard (2008), Makasound – acoustic versions of classic songs performed with nyabinghi drums




= Collaborations and split albums

=
Vital Dub Strictly Rockers (aka: Vital Dub – Well Charged) (1976) – includes five dub versions from the Right Time album
Trinity Meet the Mighty Diamonds (1979), Gorgon
Disco Showcase (1979), Gussie Roots Sounds – Leroy Smart feat. The Mighty Diamonds
Right Time Rockers (The Lost Album) (1998) – recorded in 1976, U-Roy deejaying on the riddims from the Right Time album




= Compilations

=
Vital Selection (1981), Virgin – 1976–1979 Joseph Hoo Kim produced material
Ebony and Ivory (1983), Woorell – Japanese compilation of Augustus Clark productions
Go Seek Your Rights (1990), Front Line – 1976–1979 Joseph Hoo Kim produced material
Mighty Diamonds Meet Don Carlos & Gold at Channel One Studios (1993), Channel One – includes the complete Right Time album
Paint It Red (1993), RAS – compilation of singles from 1985–1990, overdubbed with new instruments
Works (1994), JVC/Victor – 1981–1988 Augustus Clarke material
From the Foundation (1996), Gone Clear – The Mighty Diamonds & The Tamlins, 1978–1981 Augustus Clarke material
Heads of Government (1996), Germain – Donovan Germain-produced material, different from the 1983 album
Maximum Replay (1997) – 1981–1988 Augustus Clarke material
The Best of the Mighty Diamonds: 20 Hits (1997) – contains two full albums: Stand Up to Your Judgment and Tell Me What's Wrong
RAS Portrait (1997), RAS – recordings from 1993–1994
Right Time Come (1998) – includes the complete Right Time album and nine songs from 1978
Indestructible: Anthology Volume 1 (1999)
Natural Natty Reggae (2000), Simon – compilation of singles produced by Bunny Diamonds between 1976 and 1997
The Classics Recordings of Jamaica's Finest Vocal Trio (2000), Music Club
Gold Collection (2000), Grayland
Everlasting: 30th Anniversary (2000), D-3
Rise Up (2001), Jet Star
Unconquerable (2003), Reggae Road
Revolution (2003), NYC Music
The Best of the Mighty Diamonds (2004), Seymour – features two albums: Pass the Kouchie and Tour the World
Back2Back: Tamlins & Mighty Diamonds (2007)
Reggae Legends (2008), VP – 4-CD boxset that contains the four albums issued on Greensleeves: The Real Enemy, Get Ready, Live in Europe and Bust Out
Kings of Reggae (2009), Nocturne – material issued on RAS records in 1993–1994
Leaders of Black Countries (2011), Kingston Sounds




= Live albums

=
Live in Tokyo (1985)
Live in Europe (1989)
Live at Reggae Sunsplash (1992), Genes – recorded in August 1982, eight songs from Mighty Diamonds and seven songs from Mutabaruka
The Best of Reggae Live (2001) – Frankie Paul & Mighty Diamonds
Live in Europe: Nice, France (2002) – recorded in 1997




References






External links


Detailed discography on NiceUp.com
Mighty Diamonds discography Archived 16 March 2021 at the Wayback Machine – singles and more
Discography at Discogs
Mighty Diamonds at IMDb

Kata Kunci Pencarian:

• Rough Trade Records
• Jack Nelson (pemeran)
• Daftar film terlaris
• Grup vokal pria
• George MacQuarrie
• MTV Video Music Awards Jepang 2006
• Daftar klub sepak bola divisi tertinggi di negara anggota AFC
• Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet
• Festival Glastonbury 2010
• Eddy Chandler
• Mighty Diamonds
• Pass the Kouchie
• Order of Distinction
• Sly and Robbie discography
• Gussie Clarke
• The Right Time
• Right Time
• Addis Pablo
• Reggae Sumfest
• Sly and Robbie