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With the classic
recordings “Baby Why” and “What
Kind of World” the legendary
Jamaican harmony vocal group The
Cables secured their place in
music history. The Cables burst
on the scene in 1965, when Ska
was the rage. Founded by lead
vocalist Keble Drummond, along
with harmony singers, Vince
Stoddart, tenor, and Elbert
“Stewie” Stewart, baritone, The
Cables released “Ska Days” in
1966. But it was in 1968 when
the group rocketed to stardom
when Clement “Sir Coxsone” Dodd
took them into Studio One
recording studios. The Cables
brought with them the lyrics and
the upbeat, lilting melody of
“Baby Why”.
Then it was the
musicians Coxsone had gathered
in the studio that created what
arguable is the first reggae
recording. The up tempo,
bubbling shuffle beat that an
inspired Jackie Mittoo created
on keyboards to fit the tune was
to become the foundation for the
reggae rhythm. The tune was a
sensation on the Jamaican sound
system circuit before being
released on Coxsone’s Studio One
label where it soon established
itself as the number one hit on
all charts for four weeks. Also
recorded on the same session was
“What Kind of World,” a Vince
Stoddart composition. After the
dust settled following the
success of “Baby Why”, Coxsone
released “What Kind of World”,
with the rock steady beat
popular at the time, and the
track held the number two spot
on the charts for six weeks.
Coxsone continued
as The Cables’ producer, and the
result was a long string of
consistently strong tracks. The
Cables first LP, “What Kind of
World”, released in 1970, is a
compilation of their Studio One
achievements. Since then the
album was re-released on
Heartbeat Records in 1987 and is
now a steady international
seller in CD format. “Baby Why”
is the first track on
Heartbeat’s sought after “Best
of Studio One” disk, and “What
Kind of World” is featured on
Heartbeat’s “Full Up, More Hits
From Studio One”.
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The tunes are entrenched in
Jamaican music consciousness as
the rhythm tracks have been
revitalized by dee jays such as
Dennis Alcapone and Prince
Jazzbo, as well as other vocal
groups and singers, including
the Gladiators, The Mighty
Diamonds, Freddie MacGregor,
Sanchez, Morgan Heritage and
Barrington Levy.
The Cables left Coxsone in 1970
to record for notable JA
producers J. J. Johnson, Harry
J. and Bunny Lee. Competing in
the Festival Song Writing
Contest, “Feel Alright” placed
fourth in 1971 and “Jamaica”
placed second in 1977.
Over the years persistent demand
for the group has resulted in
The Cables reuniting for
numerous international
festivals, such as Reggae
Sunsplash and Heineken Startime.
Today, the group is a quartet,
consisting of original members
Drummond, Stoddart and Stewart,
as well as Owen “Bobby” Dockery,
tenor, who joined the group in
1971 when Stoddart temporarily
left the group, emigrating to
the US.
The Cables are currently based
in the United States and are in
the studio working on their soon
to be released, yet untitled CD.
Also, “The Cables Collection”,
comprising of a wider
perspective of their memorable
songs, plus additional new
recordings, is in the works.
The Cables warm, uplifting vocal
stylings stand out among the
classic, all time great Jamaican
vocal groups and will live on in
the hearts of music lovers
forever.
Listen to Music From The Cables
The Cables Links:
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