The Clarendonians

The Clarendonians
Origin	Clarendon Parish, Jamaica
Genres	Ska, rocksteady, reggae
Years active	1965–1972
Labels	Studio One
Associated acts	The Soul Lads
Past members
Fitzroy "Ernest" Wilson Peter Austin Freddie McGregor

The Clarendonians were a ska and rocksteady vocal group from Jamaica, active from the mid to late 1960s.

History

The Clarendonians were originally Fitzroy "Ernest" Wilson and Peter Austin (who would also record as part of The Soul Lads), the duo coming together in 1963 in their native Clarendon.^[1] The duo won several talent contests and came to the attention of Studio One boss and producer Clement Dodd, while they were still in their early teens. Dodd took the duo into the studio, and recorded a series of singles (including "Rudie Gone a Jail", "Sho Be Do Be", "Rudie Bam Bam", "You Can't Be Happy", and "Darling Forever" - all chart-toppers in Jamaica,^[2] and "You Can't Keep a Good Man Down") that helped to define the 'rude boy' era of ska, alongside the other (initially less successful) young vocal group that Dodd was working with, The Wailers.^[1][3] Dodd expanded the group to a trio with the addition of a seven year old Freddie McGregor (who had to stand on a crate to reach the microphone),^[3] although they would often still record as a duo, with McGregor and Wilson recording as Freddie & Fitzie, and McGregor and Austin recording as Freddie & Peter.^[1]

Ernest Wilson was the first member to establish himself as a solo artist, with singles such as "Storybook Children" and "If I Were a Carpenter", and briefly recorded under the name 'King Shark', and with The Techniques.^[3] He continued to be sporadically successful through to the 1990s.^[1]

McGregor took some time to establish himself as a solo artist, working at Studio One as a session drummer and backing singer, but found success with "Bobby Bobylon", and since the late 1970s has been one of the biggest names in reggae.

Austin also embarked on a solo career, recording a brace of tunes for producer Phil Pratt, but failed to match the success of his colleagues.

Discography

Singles

"You Can't Keep a Good Man Down" "Be Bop Boy" "Mey Bien" (1965) "Rudie Gone a Jail" (1966) "Rudie Bam Bam" (1966) "I'll Never Change" (1966) "Musical Train" (1966) "Try Me One More Time" (1966) "Tables Going Turn" (1967) "Shoo Be Doo Be" (1967) "You Can't Be Happy" (1967) "He Who Laughs Last" (1967) "Love Me With All Your Heart" (1967) "Baby Baby" (1968) "Take It Or Leave It" (1968) "Ten Guitars" "Baby Don't You Do It" (1969) "Lick It Back" (1969)

"When I Am Gone" (1970) "Come Along" (1970) "Seven In One" (1971) "Bound in Chains" (1972) "This Is My Story" (1972) "Darling Forever" (1972) "Night Owl" (1972) (Lee & The Clarendonians) "Doing the Jerk" "Why You Did It" "Good Hearted Woman" "Do It Right" "Goodbye Forever" "How Long" "Hurt By Love" "I Can't Go On" "If Only I Knew" "Stand by Me" "Sunshine"

Albums

• The Best of The Clarendonians (1968) Studio One
• Can't Keep a Good Man Down (1992) King's Music
• Reggae Psalms (2001) Jamaican Vibes

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d} Larkin, Colin (1998) "The Virgin Encyclopedia of Reggae", Virgin Books, ISBN 0-7535-0242-9
2. ^ Dunning, Vin, sleevenotes from The Best of The Clarendonians
3. ^ ^{a b c} Harris, Craig "The Clarendonians Biography", allmusic.com, Macrovision Corporation

External links

• The Clarendonians at algoriddim