Light of the World are a British
jazz-funk
Jazz-funk is a subgenre of jazz music characterized by a strong back beat (groove), electrified sounds, and an early prevalence of analog synthesizers. The integration of funk, soul, and R&B music and styles into jazz resulted in the creati ...
band.
Biography
The band was formed in London in 1978.
They were originally a forerunner of the late 1970s/early 1980s
British jazz-funk movement. The band's name is taken from the 1974
Kool and the Gang
Kool & the Gang is an American R&B/ soul/funk band formed in Jersey City, New Jersey, in 1964 by brothers Robert "Kool" Bell and Ronald Bell, with Dennis "Dee Tee" Thomas, Robert "Spike" Mickens, Charles Smith, George Brown, and Ricky West ...
album, ''
Light of Worlds''.
The original line-up consisted of Jean-Paul Maunick, drummer Everton McCalla, bassist Paul Williams, guitarist Neville McKreith, percussionist Chris Etienne, keyboardist Peter Hinds, trumpet player Kenny Wellington and saxophonist David Baptiste.
The band's debut single "Swingin'", peaked at No. 45 in the UK Singles Chart. This was later followed up by two top 40 hits: a cover of the
Bob Marley and the Wailers
Bob Marley and the Wailers (previously known as The Wailers, and prior to that The Wailing Rudeboys, The Wailing Wailers and The Teenagers) were a Jamaican ska, rocksteady and reggae band. The founding members, in 1963, were Bob Marley (Rober ...
song "
I Shot the Sheriff
"I Shot the Sheriff" is a song written by Jamaican reggae musician Bob Marley and released in 1973 with his band Bob Marley and the Wailers.
Bob Marley and the Wailers version
The song was first released in 1973 on The Wailers' album '' Burn ...
" (#40), and the double A-side single "I'm So Happy" / "Time" (#35).
Their debut album was released in 1979 on
Ensign Records
Ensign Records was a record label started in 1976 by London-born Nigel Grainge, elder brother of UMG Chairman Sir Lucian Grainge.
History
Nigel Grainge began his career in the record business as a sales office assistant at Phonogram UK in ...
. Their second album ''Round Trip'' was released in late 1980 and peaked at No. 73 in the UK Albums Chart.
In 1981 Baptiste, Wellington, and McKreith left the group to form
Beggar & Co.
In 1982, the band released a third album titled ''Check Us Out''.
A greatest hits album was issued by Ensign Records in 1985.
In 1999 Light of the World briefly reunited and recorded an album titled ''Inner Voices'' with Richard Bull as producer and Kenny Wellington as co-producer.
Discography
Studio albums
Compilation album
* ''The Best of Light of the World'' (Ensign, 1985)
Singles
References
External links
*
{{Authority control
Funk musicians
British funk musical groups
Black British musical groups
Jazz fusion ensembles