Don Carlos, a.k.a. Don McCarlos (born Euvin Spencer, 29 June 1952), is a Jamaican

reggae Reggae () is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1960s. The term also denotes the modern popular music of Jamaica and its diaspora. A 1968 single by Toots and the Maytals, " Do the Reggay" was the first popular song to use ...

singer and composer.Thompson, Dave (2002) "Reggae & Caribbean Music", Backbeat Books,

Biography

Don Carlos began singing in 1973 as a member of

Black Uhuru Black Uhuru is a Jamaican reggae group formed in 1972, initially as Uhuru ( Swahili for 'freedom'). The group has undergone several line-up changes over the years, with Derrick "Duckie" Simpson as the mainstay. They had their most successful per ...

. He sang alongside

Garth Dennis Rudolph "Garth" Dennis (2 December 1949 – 9 December 2021) was a Jamaican musician who was a founder member of Black Uhuru, later a member of The Wailing Souls for ten years before returning to Black Uhuru in the mid-1980s, and also recorded ...

and

Derrick Simpson Black Uhuru is a Jamaican reggae group formed in 1972, initially as Uhuru ( Swahili for 'freedom'). The group has undergone several line-up changes over the years, with Derrick "Duckie" Simpson as the mainstay. They had their most successful per ...

, the leader of the trio.Larkin, Colin (1998) ''The Virgin Encyclopedia of Reggae'', Virgin Books, , p. 28-9 In 1988 he recorded "

Jingle Bells "Jingle Bells" is one of the best-known and most commonly sung American songs in the world. It was written by James Lord Pierpont (1822–1893) and published under the title "The One Horse Open Sleigh" in September 1857. It has been claimed t ...

" with Glenice Spenser on ''A Reggae Christmas'' on RAS Records. In 1990 he re-united as the lead vocalist for a Black Uhuru album. Carlos continues to perform all over the world, and has a large fanbase in Africa.Kachingwe, Kevin (2014)
Reggae guru draws masses
", ''

Zambia Daily Mail The ''Zambia Daily Mail'' is an English-language daily broadsheet newspaper published in Zambia. It is one of two state-owned papers of the Zambian government. History and operations The newspaper arose from the ''Central African Mail'', which w ...

'', 6 June 2014. Retrieved 4 July 2014

Africa tour

Carlos performed in

Nairobi Nairobi ( ) is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The name is derived from the Maasai phrase ''Enkare Nairobi'', which translates to "place of cool waters", a reference to the Nairobi River which flows through the city. The city proper h ...

Kenya ) , national_anthem = " Ee Mungu Nguvu Yetu"() , image_map = , map_caption = , image_map2 = , capital = Nairobi , coordinates = , largest_city = Nairobi ...

in 2010 and on June 3, 2017. He performed in the

Zambia Zambia (), officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country at the crossroads of Central, Southern and East Africa, although it is typically referred to as being in Southern Africa at its most central point. Its neighbours are t ...

n cities Lusaka, Kitwe and Livingstone ( Mosi-oa-Tunya) between 6 and 8 June 2014.

Discography

Solo

*''Suffering'' (1981), Negus Roots - also released as ''Prophecy'' *''Day to Day Living'' (1982),

Greensleeves "Greensleeves" is a traditional English folk song. A broadside ballad by the name "A Newe Northen Dittye of ye Ladye Greene Sleves" was registered by Richard Jones at the London Stationer's Company in September 1580,Frank Kidson, ''English Fo ...

*''Harvest Time'' (1982), Negus Roots *''Spread Out'' (1983), Burning Sounds *''Pass the Lazer Beam'' (1983), Jackpot *''Just A Passing Glance'' (1984),

RAS Ras or RAS may refer to: Arts and media * RAS Records Real Authentic Sound, a reggae record label * Rundfunk Anstalt Südtirol, a south Tyrolese public broadcasting service * Rás 1, an Icelandic radio station * Rás 2, an Icelandic radio stati ...

*''Deeply Concerned'' (1987), RAS *''Time Is The Master'' (1992), RAS *''7 Days A Week'' (1998), RAS *''Dub Version'' (2000), Dressed to Kill *''Changes'' (2010), Heartbeat

Don Carlos & Gold

*''Them Never Know Natty Dread Have Him Credential'' (1981), Channel One *''Raving Tonight'' (1983), RAS *''Ghetto Living'' (1983), Tamoki Wambesi *''Never Run Away'' (1984), Kingdom *''Plantation'' (1984), CSA *''Ease Up'' (1994), RAS

Split albums

*''Prison Oval Clash'' (1980), Tamoki Wambesi - split with Earl Cunningham and Charlie Chaplin *''Roots & Culture'' (1982), Jah Guidance - split with

Culture Culture () is an umbrella term which encompasses the social behavior, institutions, and norms found in human societies, as well as the knowledge, beliefs, arts, laws, customs, capabilities, and habits of the individuals in these groups ...

*''Show-Down Vol. 3'' (1984), Empire/Channel One - Don Carlos & Gold/ The Gladiators *''Rasta Brothers'' (1985), Dancefloor - with Anthony Johnson &

Little John Little John is a companion of Robin Hood who serves as his chief lieutenant and second-in-command of the Merry Men. He is one of only a handful of consistently named characters who relate to Robin Hood and one of the two oldest Merry Men, al ...

*''Firehouse Clash'' (1986), Live & Learn - with Junior Reid *''Head 2 Head'' (2001), Attack - Horace Andy & Don Carlos

Guest appearances

Groundation Groundation is an American roots reggae band with jazz and dub influences, from Sonoma County in Northern California. It is named for Rastafarian ceremony of Grounation. History Formed in the fall of 1998 by Harrison Stafford, Marcus ...

- ''Hebron Gate'' (2002), Young Tree *Groundation - ''Dragon War'' (2003), Young Tree *Groundation - ''We Free Again'' (2004), Young Tree *Slightly Stoopid - Top of the World - "Marijuana" (2012), Stoopid *Slightly Stoopid - Live at Roberto's Tri Studios 9.13.11 - "Lazer Beam" (2014) *Tribal Seeds - "Blood Clot" - Representing (2014) *Rebelution - "Roots Reggae Music" - Count Me In (2014) *Simple Creation - "?" - Golden Roots (2017) *Slightly Stoopid - "Everyday Life, Everyday People" - Stay the Same (Prayer for You) (2018) *Slightly Stoopid - "Everyday Life, Everyday People" - Talk Too Much (2018)

Compilations

*''The Mighty Diamonds Meets Don Carlos & Gold at the Channel 1 Studio featuring The Revolutionaries'', Hitbound - the Diamonds ''Right Time'' and Don Carlos & Gold's ''Them Never Know Natty Dread Have Him Credential'' albums combined *''Pure Gold'', Jackpot *''Lazer Beam'' (1995), Culture Press *''Portrait'' (1997), RAS *''Jah Light'' (2002), Black Arrow *''Groove With Me'' (2003), Get Back *''Inna Dub Style - Rare Dubs 1979 - 1980'' (2004), Jamaican Recordings *''Special Edition'' (2004), Jafada Music Productions *''Tribulation'' (2006), Attack *''Tribulation - Don Carlos In Dub'' (2007), Attack *''Kings of Reggae'', Nocturne

DVD

*''Live in San Francisco'' (2003), 2B1 *''Live in Reggae Rising'' (2019)

References

External links

Official websiteDiscography at Discogs
{{DEFAULTSORT:Carlos, Don 1952 births Living people Jamaican reggae musicians Musicians from Kingston, Jamaica Black Uhuru members Greensleeves Records artists