finetune artist: Michael Rose

b. Michael Anthony Rose, 11 July 1958, Waterhouse, Jamaica, West Indies. Rose, aka Mykal Rose, is the former vocalist with Black Uhuru, but he left that group shortly after they had received a Grammy award for 1984's Anthem. He took an extended rest from the music business and became a coffee plantation owner. His solo career began with "Demonstration" for his own Grammy Rose label. "Bogus Badge", the follow-up, gained strong reviews, but it was not until he signed with RCA Records that he began to gain serious commercial exposure. However, by this time Rose's music had begun to gravitate to the pop/soul mainstream. A cover version of Paul Simon's early 70s song, "Mother And Child Reunion", was indicative of this, being closer to contemporary hip-hop than the roots sound with which Black Uhuru had been so closely associated. Whatever its style, it was an undeniably effective single that impressed the critics. His singles for Sly And Robbie's Taxi label heralded a return to roots reggae, and "Monkey Business", "Visit Them" and "One A We: To A We" are already regarded as minor classics of contemporary roots music. However, his relationship with RCA soured and it was not until 1995 and his self-titled debut for Heartbeat Records that he recovered the lost ground. This set included excellent singles such as "Short Temper", and paired him with Winston "Niney" Holness. For Be Yourself Rose elected to plot his own destiny, producing the rhythms in association with a select group of collaborators. This included remakes of Black Uhuru classics such as "I Love King Selassie" and "Guess Who's Coming To Dinner", as well as powerful original compositions including "From Babylon To Timbuktu" and "Agony". In 1996 he toured extensively and provided a critically acclaimed performance at the Essential Music Festival and the blighted birthday tribute concert to Bob Marley.

Listen to Michael Rose at Finetune.

(1999) Bonanza

Jah Jah Never Fail I
Brown Eyes
It's Alright
Someone Is Watching
Give A Little