Foundation Artists In Action
Singer-songwriter Willi Williams’ 1979 hit “Armagideon Time” is forever enshrined in the reggae canon. Perhaps the most famous song on Studio One’s immortal Real Rock rhythm, Williams’ original was covered by seminal UK punk band The Clash that same year. Now the foundation singer has teamed up with the godfather of Jamaican deejays, U-Roy, and the Studio One house band the Soul Vendors for a new single “Ms. Cutie Cutie,” released through Williams’ own Drum Street label. This contemporary lovers rock track is a combination version of Williams’ “Natural Beauty,” both of which are available from all major digital distribution services and will be included on a full length release later this year, all backed by the Vendors. “My first recording was ‘Calling’ at Studio One in the late 1960s, and the Soul Vendors were Mr. Dodd’s house band at the time, working with every major act and helping create the Jamaican song book,” Williams explained. “The Vendors played on tracks from my Studio One album Armagideon Time, but this was the first time since then that we got in the studio and really worked together. I’ve been friends with U-Roy since the early 70s but we’ve never recorded together.” Audio After The Jump…“Number one girl in the whole wide world” Run that…
The Soul Vendors in 2016 include founding members Joe Isaacs, drums; Bryan Atkinson, bass; Hux Brown, guitar; Vin Gordon, trombone; with guests Dean Fraser on saxophone and Paul ‘Wrong Move’ Crossdale on keyboards and guitar. The late Deadly Headley Bennet, who passed away this year, was Vin Gordon’s usual partner on Studio One rocksteady and early reggae sessions. Willi Williams performed live with the Soul Vendors at the 2006 Sierra Nevada World Music Festival.
Purchase “Miss Cutie Cutie pon iTunes
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