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Third World is a
Jamaican reggae band formed in
1973. Their sound is influenced
by soul, funk and disco. The
band started when keyboard
player Michael "Ibo" Cooper and
guitarist (and cellist) Stephen
"Cat" Coore, who had originally
played in The Alley Cats then
Inner Circle, subsequently left
to form their own band. The
original drummer, Cornel
Marshall, arrived via one of
Jamaica's most renowned groups
of the sixties, Tomorrow's
Children. The lineup for their
first album as Third World also
included a singer named "Prilly"
and percussionist Irving
"Carrot" Jarrett. The album
included a cover of Satta
Massagana, originally performed
by The Abyssinians, which became
a local hit.
Their second album, 96 Degrees
in the Shade (1977), had several
local hits and featured the
band's classic lineup. "Prilly"
was replaced by the distinctive
vocalist "Bunny Rugs" Clarke and
an all-new rhythm section:
Ritchie Daley on bass and former
Inner Circle drummer Willie
Stewart, who had defected to
join the new band. Notable among
its eight tracks were 1865 (96°
in the Shade), Rhythm of Life
and the album's only cover,
Dreamland, as recorded by Bunny
Wailer. This song, however, was
not written by Wailer, other
than the slight lyric and name
change. It was in fact written
and originally recorded as My
Dream Island, by the American
R&B band, El Tempos in 1961.
Third World's greatest success
came in the late 1970s and early
1980s, peaking with their cover
version of The O'Jays' Now That
We Found Love, a hit single on
both sides of the Atlantic in
1979. This song brought them to
the attention of Stevie Wonder,
who worked with them and wrote,
along with Melody A McCully,
their hit Try Jah Love. They
were also guests during the
third season of SCTV.
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Amid claims of
artistic differences "Carrot"
split from the band in the
mid-1980s. The resulting
five-piece band then went on to
record more commercial tunes
like Sense Of Purpose, Reggae
Ambassador, Forbidden Love, and
Shine like a Blazing Fire.
Despite several more lineup
changes, including the
departures of Cooper and
Stewart, and a decline in
mainstream success, the band are
still recording and performing
up to the present day.
Smashing hits,
sold-out tours and inspirational
messages, the 10 time Grammy
nominated band kicked into high
gear in 2010. The Reggae
Ambassadors celebrated 37 years
as a band with performances in
the United States, Canada,
Europe and the Caribbean prior
to releasing their 23rd album,
"Patriots." Executive Produced
by Third World Music Group - the
band's newly formed label,
Patriots features collaborations
with Toots Hibbert, Marcia
Griffiths, the late Gregory
Isaacs, Sly Dumbar, Robbie
Shakespeare, Dean Fraser, Inner
Circle, Mykal Rose, Junior Reid,
Capleton, Stephen & Damian
Marley, Tarrus Riley and
Tessanne Chin.
Despite holding
the mantel as one of the longest
running reggae bands, Third
World continues to steer a clear
path along their musical journey
spreading good vibes along the
way with a message that moves
peoples' mind and a rhythm that
moves peoples' dancing feet.
Listen to the Music of Third
World
Third World Links:
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