Mighty Diamonds
One of the most famous Jamaican vocal groups of the 70s and 80s, the Mighty Diamonds was formed in 1969 by lead vocalist Donald "Tabby" Shaw with Fitzroy "Bunny" Simpson and Lloyd "Judge" Ferguson providing the harmonies and occasional lead. They recorded unsuccessfully for Stranger Cole and Rupie Edwards, among others, before their breakthrough in 1975 with Joseph "Joe Joe" Hookim's Channel One studio. "Hey Girl" and "Country Living" were big reggae hits, but their next release, "Right Time', on Hookim's Well Charge label, consolidated that success. The Mighty Diamonds" initial popularity was boosted by a number of factors: the influence of Burning Spear's championing of Jamaican national hero, Marcus Garvey; the definitive three-part rocksteady harmonies of the Heptones, together with Sly Dunbar's militant rockers style of drumming on "do-overs" of timeless Studio One rhythms; and, of course, their own superb songwriting, vocal abilities and the odd knack of somehow managing to sound urgent and relaxed at the same time. Jamaica erupted into Mighty Diamonds-mania, while the Channel One "rockers" sound they had brought to prominence was to dominate reggae music for the next few years, with every drummer in the business developing his very own Sly Dunbar impersonation.
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Albums
- (2006) Right Time
Top Tracks
- I Shall Be Released
- Right Time (2001 Digital Remaster)
- Have Mercy (2001 Digital Remaster)
- Shame And Pride (2001 Digital Remaster)
- Touch of Grey
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