The Mighty Diamonds were a Jamaican harmony trio, recording

roots reggae Roots reggae is a subgenre of reggae that deals with the everyday lives and aspirations of Africans and those in the African Diaspora, including the spiritual side of Rastafari, black liberation, revolution and the honoring of God, called Jah ...

with a strong Rastafarian influence. The group was formed in 1969 and were best known for their 1976 debut album, ''

Right Time ''Right Time'' is the 1976 studio album debut of influential reggae band the Mighty Diamonds. The album, released by Virgin Records after they signed the Mighty Diamonds following a search for talent in Jamaica, is critically regarded as a regg ...

'', produced by

Joseph Hoo Kim Joseph "Jo Jo" Hoo Kim (10 December 1942 – 20 September 2018) was a Jamaican reggae record producer best known for his productions in the 1970s at his Channel One Studios. Career Born to parents of Chinese heritage, Joseph Hoo Kim grew up in ...

, and the 1979 release, ''Deeper Roots''. On March 29, 2022, their lead singer, Donald "Tabby" Shaw, was shot dead in a drive-by shooting. On April 1, 2022, Fitzroy "Bunny" Simpson died.

History

Formed in 1969 in the

Trenchtown Trench Town (also Trenchtown) is a neighbourhood located in the parish of St. Andrew, part of which is in Kingston, the capital and largest city of Jamaica. In the 1960s, Trench Town was known as the Hollywood of Jamaica. Today Trench Town is t ...

area of Kingston, the group comprised lead vocalist Donald "Tabby" Shaw, and harmony vocalists Fitzroy "Bunny" Simpson and Lloyd "Judge" Ferguson.Larkin, Colin (1998) ''The Virgin Encyclopedia of Reggae'', Virgin Books, , p. 196-7Huey, Steve
The Mighty Diamonds Biography
, ''

AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...

'', retrieved 17 September 2012 They had become friends at school in the mid-1960s, and were originally called The Limelight, adopting 'Mighty Diamonds' after Shaw's mother started referring to them as "the diamonds".Kenner, Rob (1995)
Boomshots
, ''

Vibe ''Vibe'' is an American music and entertainment magazine founded by producers David Salzman and Quincy Jones. The publication predominantly features R&B and hip hop music artists, actors and other entertainers. After shutting down producti ...

'', March 1995, p. 100, retrieved 17 September 2012Taylor, Lewis (2002)
Mighty Diamonds 'Rise Up' and Shine
, '' Eugene Register-Guard'', 3 May 2002, p. 5, retrieved 17 September 2012 Their smooth harmonies and choreographed stage show were inspired by

Motown Motown Records is an American record label owned by the Universal Music Group. It was founded by Berry Gordy Jr. as Tamla Records on June 7, 1958, and incorporated as Motown Record Corporation on April 14, 1960. Its name, a portmanteau of ''moto ...

vocal groups of the 1960s, with Shaw listing

The Temptations The Temptations are an American vocal group from Detroit, Michigan, who released a series of successful singles and albums with Motown Records during the 1960s and 1970s. The group's work with producer Norman Whitfield, beginning with the Top ...

The Stylistics The Stylistics are an American, Philadelphia soul group that achieved their greatest chart success in the 1970s. They formed in 1968, with a lineup of singers Russell Thompkins Jr., Herb Murrell, Airrion Love, James Smith and James Dunn. All of ...

The Impressions The Impressions were an American music group originally formed in 1958. Their repertoire includes gospel, doo-wop, R&B, and soul. The group was founded as the Roosters by Chattanooga, Tennessee natives Sam Gooden, Richard Brooks and Arthur Bro ...

, and

The Delfonics The Delfonics were an American R&B/soul vocal group from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Delfonics were most popular in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Their most notable hits include "La-La (Means I Love You)", "Didn't I (Blow Your Mind This ...

as influences as well as Jamaican

rocksteady Rocksteady is a music genre that originated in Jamaica around 1966. A successor of ska and a precursor to reggae, rocksteady was the dominant style of music in Jamaica for nearly two years, performed by many of the artists who helped establish ...

artists such as John Holt and

Ken Boothe Kenneth George Boothe OD (born 22 March 1948) is a Jamaican vocalist known for his distinctive vibrato and timbre. Boothe achieved an international reputation as one of Jamaica's finest vocalists through a series of crossover hits that appeal ...

. Their early recordings were produced by Pat Francis, Stranger Cole ("Girl You Are Too Young" (1970), "Oh No Baby"),

Derrick Harriott Derrick Clifton Harriott Order of Distinction, OD (born 10 February 1942) is a Jamaican singer and record producer. He was a member of the Jiving Juniors with Herman Sang before embarking on a solo career. He has produced sound recording and re ...

("Mash Up"),

Bunny Lee Edward O'Sullivan Lee OD (23 August 1941 – 6 October 2020), better known as Bunny "Striker" Lee, was a Jamaican record producer. He was known as a pioneer of the United Kingdom reggae market, licensing his productions to Trojan Records i ...

("Jah Jah Bless the Dreadlocks", "Carefree Girl"),

Lee "Scratch" Perry Lee "Scratch" Perry (born Rainford Hugh Perry; 20 March 1936 – 29 August 2021) was a Jamaican record producer, composer and singer noted for his innovative studio techniques and production style. Perry was a pioneer in the 1970s development o ...

("Talk About It"), and

Rupie Edwards Rupert Lloyd Edwards (born 4 July 1945) is a Jamaican reggae singer and record producer. Biography Rupie Edwards was born in Goshen, in Saint Ann Parish.Thompson, Dave (2002) ''Reggae & Caribbean Music'', Backbeat Books, , pp. 103–105 The fam ...

, but it was in 1973 that they had their first hit single with the Francis-produced "Shame and Pride", recorded at the Dynamic Sounds studio.Barrow, Steve & Dalton, Peter (1999) ''Reggae – 100 Essential CDs: The Rough Guide'', Rough Guides, , p. 107-8 It was their mid-1970s work with producer

that gave them their real breakthrough. "Country Living" and "Hey Girl" were recorded and released by the Channel One label. "Right Time" followed, on Hoo Kim's Well Charge label, and cemented their status as one of the top Jamaican groups of the time.

Virgin Records Virgin Records is a record label owned by Universal Music Group. It originally founded as a British independent record label in 1972 by entrepreneurs Richard Branson, Simon Draper, Nik Powell, and musician Tom Newman. It grew to be a worldwid ...

signed them and the group's début album, ''Right Time'', was released in 1976, including most of their early Channel One hits.Barrow, Steve & Dalton, Peter (2004) ''The Rough Guide to Reggae, 3rd edn.'', Rough Guides, , pp. 151, 157, 160, 203 The album was an international success and for the follow-up, Virgin sent them to work with

Allen Toussaint Allen Richard Toussaint (; January 14, 1938 – November 10, 2015) was an American musician, songwriter, arranger and record producer. He was an influential figure in New Orleans rhythm and blues from the 1950s to the end of the century, descri ...

New Orleans New Orleans ( , ,New Orleans
Merriam-Webster. ; french: La Nouvelle-Orléans , es, Nuev ...

, with local musicians providing the backing.Anderson, Rick
''Ice on Fire'' Review
, ''

'', retrieved 17 September 2012 The resulting ''Ice on Fire'' album sold poorly, the production not appealing to reggae fans, and the album later described as "an attempt by New Orleans soul musicians to play reggae".Mighty Diamonds "Ice on Fire"
(review syndicated from ''

Rolling Stone ''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner, and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. It was first kno ...

''), ''

The Tuscaloosa News The '' Tuscaloosa News '' is a daily newspaper serving Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States, and the surrounding area in west central Alabama. In 2012, Halifax Media Group acquired the ''Tuscaloosa News''. Prior to that, the paper's owner was Th ...

'', 3 June 1977, p. 15, retrieved 17 September 2012 Back in Jamaica, they continued to record for Channel One, with the ''Stand Up to Your Judgment'' album released in 1978, and continued to produce a string of hit singles. They also released records on their own 'Bad Gong' label. The group's ''Deeper Roots'', released in 1979, was their next big album success, again released by Virgin, on its

Front Line A front line (alternatively front-line or frontline) in military terminology is the position(s) closest to the area of conflict of an armed force's personnel and equipment, usually referring to land forces. When a front (an intentional or uninte ...

label. In the early 1980s, they recorded with producer Gussie Clarke, largely using old Studio One tracks as the basis for their recordings, and

dubplates A dubplate is an acetate disc usually of 10 inches diameter, traditionally used by studios to test recordings prior to mastering for the subsequent pressing of a vinyl record, but pioneered by reggae sound systems as a way to play exclusive music ...

of these sessions became popular on

sound systems In physics, sound is a vibration that propagates as an acoustic wave, through a transmission medium such as a gas, liquid or solid. In human physiology and psychology, sound is the ''reception'' of such waves and their ''perception'' by the ...

in Jamaica, New York, and London, particularly "Pass the Kouchie", recorded on the "Full Up"

riddim Riddim is the Jamaican Patois pronunciation of the English word "rhythm". In the context of reggae and dancehall, it refers to the instrumental accompaniment to a song and is synonymous with the rhythm section. Jamaican music genres that use the ...

. Their work with Clarke produced the 1981 album ''Changes''. "

Pass the Kouchie "Pass the Kouchie" is a 1981 Jamaican reggae song by the Mighty Diamonds. The song is based around Rastafarian use of cannabis via cannabis pipes. It was later adapted by the British-Jamaican group Musical Youth as "Pass the Dutchie". History " ...

", written by Ferguson and Simpson, became an international hit twice, when first released (on their 1982 album ''Changes'') and again when it was covered by

Musical Youth Musical Youth are a British-Jamaican reggae band formed in 1979 in Birmingham, England. They are best remembered for their 1982 single " Pass the Dutchie", which was a number 1 in multiple charts around the world. Their other hits include "Yout ...

with altered lyric to remove the drug references, and released as "

Pass the Dutchie "Pass the Dutchie" is a 1982 song performed by British-Jamaican band Musical Youth, taken from their debut studio album, '' The Youth of Today''. It was produced by Toney Owens from Kingston, Jamaica. The song was a major hit, hitting number on ...

" (1982). Their performance at

Reggae Sunsplash Reggae Sunsplash is a reggae music festival first staged in 1978 in the northern part of Jamaica. In 1985 it expanded with the addition of an international touring festival. The festival ran annually until 1996, with a final event in 1998, befo ...

in 1982 was released on an album later that year, paired with the performance from

Mutabaruka Allan Hope (born 1952), better known as Mutabaruka, is a Jamaican Rastafari dub poet, musician, actor, educator, and talk-show host, who developed two of Jamaica's most popular radio programmes, ''The Cutting Edge'' and ''Steppin' Razor''. His ...

.Leggett, Steve
''Live at Reggae Sunsplash'' Review
, ''

'', retrieved 17 September 2012 The group continued to release albums regularly, adapting successfully to the prevailing digital rhythms of the 1980s and beyond.Greene, Jo-Ann
''Get Ready'' Review
, ''

'', retrieved 17 September 2012 Tabby, Bunny and Judge issued over forty albums in their long career. In 2021, the group was honoured with the

Order of Distinction The Order of Distinction is a national order in the Jamaican honours system. It is the sixth in order of precedence of the Orders of Societies of Honour, which were instituted by an Act of Parliament (''The National Honours and Awards Act'') i ...

(Officer Class) in the National Honours and Awards, on the occasion of Jamaica’s 59th Anniversary of Independence.

Discography

Studio albums

* ''

'' (1976), Well Charge/Virgin – also issued under the title ''When the Right Time Come (I Need a Roof)'' * ''Ice on Fire'' (1977), Virgin * ''Planet Mars Dub'' (1978), Front Line – The Icebreakers and the Diamonds, dub version of ''Planet Earth'' * ''Stand Up to Your Judgment'' (1978), Channel One * ''Tell Me What's Wrong'' (1978), Hit Bound * ''Planet Earth'' (1978), Virgin * ''Deeper Roots'' (1979), Front Line * ''Deeper Roots Dub'' (1979) * ''Changes'' (1981), Music Works * ''Dubwise'' (1981), Music Works – six dub versions from ''Changes'' and four other dubs * ''Reggae Street'' (1981), Shanachie * ''The Roots Is There'' (1982), Music Works/Shanachie * ''Indestructible'' (1982), Alligator (similar to the album ''Changes'' with two extra songs) * ''Heads of Government'' (1982), Jah Guidance * ''Leaders of Black Countries (Showcase Album)'' (1983), Mobiliser * ''Backstage'' (1983), Music Works * ''Kouchie Vibes'' (1984), Burning Sounds * ''Diamonds Are Forever'' (1984), Woorell Japan – Eight songs exclusive to Japan plus two singles * ''

'' (1985), Bad Gong – singles issued on Bad Gong records in the early 1980s plus new material * ''Struggling'' (1985), Live & Learn * ''If You Looking for Trouble'' (1986), Live & Learn * ''The Real Enemy'' (1987), Greensleeves * ''Never Get Weary'' (1988), Live & Learn * ''Get Ready'' (1988), Rohit International/Greensleeves * ''Ready for the World'' (1989), Overheat Japan – Eight songs exclusive to Japan plus two singles * ''Jam Session'' (1990), Live & Learn * ''Tour the World'' (1991) – contains five new songs and five old songs * ''Patience'' (1991), Tassa * ''The Moment of Truth'' (1992), Mango * ''Bust Out'' (1993), Greensleeves/VP * ''Paint It Red'' (1993), RAS * ''Speak the Truth'' (1994), RAS * ''Stand Up'' (1998), Gone Clear * ''Rise Up '' (2001), Charm * ''Thugs in the Streets'' (2006), Nocturne * ''Inna De Yard'' (2008), Makasound – acoustic versions of classic songs performed with nyabinghi drums

Collaborations and split albums

* ''Vital Dub Strictly Rockers'' (aka: ''Vital Dub – Well Charged'') (1976) – includes five dub versions from the ''Right Time'' album * ''Trinity Meet the Mighty Diamonds'' (1979), Gorgon * ''Disco Showcase'' (1979), Gussie Roots Sounds –

Leroy Smart Leroy Smart (born 1952), is a reggae singer-songwriter and record producer from Kingston, Jamaica. Biography Smart was born in 1952 and orphaned at the age of two. He was raised at Maxfield Park Children's Home and educated at Alpha Boys Scho ...

feat. The Mighty Diamonds * ''Right Time Rockers (The Lost Album)'' (1998) – recorded in 1976,

U-Roy Ewart Beckford OD (21 September 1942 – 17 February 2021), known by the stage name U-Roy, was a Jamaican vocalist and pioneer of toasting.Jo-Ann GreeneU-Roy Biography, AllMusic. Retrieved 11 April 2013. U-Roy was known for a melodic style ...

deejaying on the riddims from the ''Right Time'' album

Compilations

* ''Vital Selection'' (1981), Virgin – 1976–1979 Joseph Hoo Kim produced material * ''Ebony and Ivory'' (1983), Woorell – Japanese compilation of Augustus Clark productions * ''Go Seek Your Rights'' (1990), Front Line – 1976–1979 Joseph Hoo Kim produced material * ''Mighty Diamonds Meet Don Carlos & Gold at Channel One Studios'' (1993), Channel One – includes the complete ''Right Time'' album * ''Paint It Red'' (1993), RAS – compilation of singles from 1985–1990, overdubbed with new instruments * ''Works'' (1994), JVC/Victor – 1981–1988 Augustus Clarke material * ''From the Foundation'' (1996), Gone Clear – The Mighty Diamonds & The Tamlins, 1978–1981 Augustus Clarke material * ''Heads of Government'' (1996), Germain – Donovan Germain-produced material, different from the 1983 album * ''Maximum Replay'' (1997) – 1981–1988 Augustus Clarke material * ''The Best of the Mighty Diamonds: 20 Hits'' (1997) – contains two full albums: ''Stand Up to Your Judgment'' and ''Tell Me What's Wrong'' * ''RAS Portrait'' (1997), RAS – recordings from 1993–1994 * ''Right Time Come'' (1998) – includes the complete ''Right Time'' album and nine songs from 1978 * ''Indestructible: Anthology Volume 1'' (1999) * ''Natural Natty Reggae'' (2000), Simon – compilation of singles produced by Bunny Diamonds between 1976 and 1997 * ''The Classics Recordings of Jamaica's Finest Vocal Trio'' (2000), Music Club * ''Gold Collection'' (2000), Grayland * ''Everlasting: 30th Anniversary'' (2000), D-3 * ''Rise Up'' (2001), Jet Star * ''Unconquerable'' (2003), Reggae Road * ''Revolution'' (2003), NYC Music * ''The Best of the Mighty Diamonds'' (2004), Seymour – features two albums: ''Pass the Kouchie'' and ''Tour the World'' * ''Back2Back: Tamlins & Mighty Diamonds'' (2007) * ''Reggae Legends'' (2008), VP – 4-CD boxset that contains the four albums issued on Greensleeves: ''The Real Enemy'', ''Get Ready'', ''Live in Europe'' and ''Bust Out'' * ''Kings of Reggae'' (2009), Nocturne – material issued on RAS records in 1993–1994 * ''Leaders of Black Countries'' (2011), Kingston Sounds

Live albums

* ''Live in Tokyo'' (1985) * ''Live in Europe'' (1989) * ''Live at Reggae Sunsplash'' (1992), Genes – recorded in August 1982, eight songs from Mighty Diamonds and seven songs from

* ''The Best of Reggae Live'' (2001) –

Frankie Paul Paul Blake (19 October 1965 – 18 May 2017), better known as Frankie Paul, was a Jamaican dancehall reggae artist. Born blind, he has been dubbed by some 'The Jamaican Stevie Wonder'. Biography Born in Jamaica in 1965, Blake was born blind bu ...

& Mighty Diamonds * ''Live in Europe: Nice, France'' (2002) – recorded in 1997

References

External links

Detailed discography on NiceUp.com
– singles and more
Discography
at

Discogs Discogs (short for discographies) is a database of information about audio recordings, including commercial releases, promotional releases, and bootleg or off-label releases. While the site was originally created with a goal of becoming the la ...

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Mighty Diamonds Jamaican reggae musical groups Musical groups established in 1969 Musical groups disestablished in 2022 VP Records artists Shanachie Records artists Virgin Records artists 1969 establishments in Jamaica 2022 disestablishments in Jamaica