Joseph
Benjamin Higgs was born in Kingston, Jamaica in 1940.
Joe Higgs started out in a singing partnership with Roy
Wilson as Higgs and Wilson. This lasted up
until 1964. They recorded There's A Reward on
Wincox records with the Mighty Vikings. He
then concentrated on a solo career and also worked with Carlos
Malcolm and the Afro-Jamaican Rhythms, before joining
The Soul Brothers as lead vocalist.
Change Of Plan was issued on
Studio One in the UK in 1967. It was the B side of the Soul Vendors
instrumental
Rocking Sweet Pea.
Joe Higgs worked with Bob Marley and
introduced the Wailers to Clemont
'Coxsone' Dodd in the early Sixties. Made many recordings in the
seventies and later moved to Los Angeles, California where he died in
1999, he was 59 years old.
Ernest Wilson born Fitzroy Wilson in Clarendon Parish, Jamaica, is a reggae singer who found fame as a member of the Clarendonians before working as a solo artist. Wilson formed the Clarendonians in 1963 with Peter Austin, the duo going on to become one of the most popular groups of the ska and rocksteady era, and having several Jamaican number one hits. Ernest Wilson embarked on a solo career in 1967, releasing the Money Worries single on Studio One. Further singles followed, with Undying Love and If I Were a Carpenter in 1968 all produced by Coxsone Dodd. He also recorded Private Number for Joe Gibbs, and Freedom Train for Lee "Scratch" Perry - one of the first Jamaican singles ever to be released in stereo in 1969. Wilson has continued to record as a solo artist to this day.
Ken
Boothe was born in Denham Town, Kingston in 1948. Sang in the
duo Stranger & Ken, with the first track released by
them being Hush Baby with Stranger
Cole on Island Records. Boothe also recorded
as a duo with Roy Shirley (as Roy & Ken), which
resulted in the release of the single Paradise
in 1966. Having signed with Studio One and
Clement 'Coxsone' Dodd in 1966. The rocksteady classic
Moving Away was released on Studio One
in 1968. Boothe continued to record for Dodd
until 1970, when he switched to producer Leslie Kong's
Beverley's Records and reggae, where his success continued with hits
such as Freedom Street and Why
Baby Why. With record producer Lloyd Charmers,
Boothe released Everything I Own
on Trojan Records, which reached Number One in the UK
Singles Chart in 1974. Boothe had one more hit in the
UK Singles Chart during the 1970s, Crying Over You,
which made No. 11, when Trojan Records collapse he
split with Lloyd Charmers. Boothe recorded a
reggae version of the standard When I Fall In Love which was
released in 1974 on the Studio One label. Ken
Boothe was awarded the Order of Distinction
for his contribution to Jamaican music by the Jamaican government in
2003.The Minstrels version of the Impressions People Get Ready is an accomplished rock steady track. The three young singers were Geoffrey Chung and his brother Mikey and Lenox Robinson. They recorded maybe five tracks for Studio One but only two were released the other being Yours Until Tomorrow.
The LP Rock Steady - Various Artists SOL 9000 is the only Studio One LP not to have been reissued or been put onto CD. It is highly collectable and recently sold for £400.
There are many collectors items including: Soul Vendors / Rocking Sweet Pea, Cool Shade, Just A Bit Of Soul, Psychadelic Rock, Happy Organ, Drum Song, Joe Higgs / Change Of Plan, Norma Frazer / Come By Here, Ernest Wilson / Money Worries, If I Were A Carpenter, Dawn Penn / You Don't Love Me, The Minstrels / People Get Ready, Yours Until Tomorrow, Ken Boothe / Moving Away, Dobby Dobson / Walking In The Footsteps, Heptones / Mama, Party Time, Delroy Wilson / Never Conqueor, Jeff Dixon / Tickle Me, Jackie Mittoo / Race Track, Hi Jack, Keith Balfour / Tired Of Waiting, The Viceroys / Last Night, Carlton And His Shoes / You And Me, Cables / Baby Why, Bases / I Don't Mind, Bob Andy / Experience
Studio One Records Label 45 Listing
Clemont 'Coxsone' Dodd Bio
