The Kingstonians were a Jamaican rocksteady/reggae vocal group best known for their late 1960s recordings for producer Derrick Harriott.
The Kingstonians | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Kingston, Jamaica |
| Genres | Rocksteady, reggae |
| Years active | 1966–1970 |
| Past members | Cebert "Jackie" Bernard Lloyd "Footy" Bernard Lloyd Kerr |
History edit
Formed in 1966, the group comprised Cebert "Jackie" Bernard, his brother Lloyd "Footy" Bernard, and Lloyd Kerr.[1] They first recorded for producer J.J. Johnson, and had their first hit with "Winey Winey" in 1967. Between 1968 and 1970 they recorded for producer Derrick Harriott, and had chart-topping singles with "Singer Man" (later covered by Three Dog Night and UB40) and "Sufferer".[2] The group's only album released while they were together, Sufferer, was released in 1970 on Trojan Records, and featured material recorded for Harriott.[1] They went on to record with other producers including Leslie Kong and Rupie Edwards before splitting up in the early 1970s.[1][3]
The group's primary songwriter Jackie Bernard pursued a solo career, with several releases credited to Jackie Bernard & the Kingstonians. He recorded "Economic Crisis" for Lee "Scratch" Perry in the late 1970s under the pseudonym 'Jack Lord'.[4]
Jackie Bernard fell on hard times and became ill with diabetes; Unable to afford medication, a foundation was set up in 2014 to provide him with financial assistance.[5] He died from pneumonia on 14 September 2014, aged 66.[2]
Discography edit
Albums edit
- Sufferer (1970), Trojan - reissued 1991
Singles edit
- "Winey Winey" (1967), Rio
- "Mix It Up" (1968), Trojan
- "Mommy and Daddy" (1968), Doctor Bird
- "Fun Galore" (1968), Doctor Bird
- "Put Down Your Fire" (1968), Doctor Bird
- "Mother Miserable" (1968), Coxsone
- "Make You a Woman", Studio One
- "Nice Nice" (1969), Big Shot
- "Singer Man" (1969), Big Shot
- "The Clip" (1969), Crab
- "I am Just a Minstrel" (1969), Bullet
- "I'm Gonna Make It" (1969), Beverley's
- "Hold Down" (1969), Crab
- "Rumble Rumble" (1970), Song Bird
- "Out There" (1970), Song Bird
- "Love Is the Greatest Science" (2011), Caltone
- "You Don't Remember Me" (2012), Tennors
- Jackie Bernard/Jackie Bernard & the Kingstonians
- "Way Down in the Ghetto" (1973), Leal
- "Jah Children" (1974), Wambesi
- "Never Changing Harmony" (1975), Stun King
- "Original Style" (1975), Tough Jack
References edit
- ^ a b c Leggett, Steve "The Kingstonians Biography", Allmusic. Retrieved 20 September 2014
- ^ a b Campbell, Howard (2014) "Jackie Bernard Is Dead", Jamaica Observer, 19 September 2014. Retrieved 20 September 2014
- ^ Moskowitz, David V. (2006) Caribbean Popular Music: an Encyclopedia of Reggae, Mento, Ska, Rock Steady, and Dancehall, Greenwood Press, ISBN 978-0313331589, p. 169
- ^ Katz, David (2006) People Funny Boy, Omnibus Press, ISBN 978-1846094439, p. 290
- ^ Grizzle, Shereita (2014) "Tough Times for a Kingstonian", Jamaica Gleaner, 2 February 2014. Retrieved 20 September 2014