Singers & Players

Singers & Players were a reggae collective made up of vocalists and musicians associated with Adrian Sherwood's On-U Sound Records. They recorded five albums between 1981 and 1988. Including artists such as Bim Sherman, Style Scott, Don Campbell (musician), Roots Radics, Roydel Johnson, better known as Congo Ashanti Roy from the band The Congos and Ras Michael's Sons of Negus, George Oban, who had previously played with Burning Spear and Aswad, Errol Flabba Holt, Headley Bennett, Jah Woosh, Keith Levene, Steely of Steely & Clevie, Prince Far I and Mikey Dread they were regarded as a dub music supergroup. There was never any fixed line up to the group, and many different artists featured on each track and each album. The artwork and sleeve-designs were usually provided by noted photographer, Kishi Yamamoto. The band's third album, Staggering Heights, received a four-star rating from Record Collector. War of Words (1981) Revenge of the Underdog (1982) Staggering Heights (1983) Leaps and Bounds (1984) Vacuum Pumping (1988) Golden Greats Volume 1 (1989) Golden Greats Volume 2 (1995) War of Words was the first album by Singers & Players. It was released in the U.S. on 99 Records in November 1981 and then in the U.K. on On-U Sound Records in August 1982. It was produced by Adrian Sherwood and engineered by Dennis Bovell, John Walker, Nobby Turner, Richard Manwaring and Steve Smith. Side One "Devious Women" (Jarrett Tomlinson) "Quante Jubila" (Michael Williams, Antonio Phillips) "Sit and Wonder" (Jarrett Tomlinson) "Fit To Survive" (Jarrett Tomlinson) Side Two "Reaching The Bad Man" (Adrian Maxwell, Jarrett Tomlinson) "World of Dispentation" (Jarrett Tomlinson) "91 Vibrations" (Adrian Maxwell, Jarrett Tomlinson) Staggering Heights was the group's third album. It was released in July 1983 on On-U Sound Records, and was produced by Adrian Sherwood. Side One "African Blood" (Roydel Johnson) "Bedward The Flying Preacher" (Michael Williams) "Snipers in the Streets" (Roydel Johnson) "A Matter of Time" (Jarrett Tomlinson) Side Two "School Days" (Mikey Dread) "Socca" (Jarrett Tomlinson) "Autobiography" (Michael Williams) "This Assembly" (Desmond "Fatfingers" Coke) Bim Sherman - vocals Prince Far I - vocals Antonio "Crucial Tony" Phillips - bass, guitar, keyboards, vocals Jah Woosh - vocals Don Campbell (musician) Charles "Eskimo Fox" Kelly - drums, percussion, backing vocals George Oban - bass Keith Levene - guitar Keith "Lizard" Logan - bass, vocals Veral "Mr. Ranking Magoo" Rose - percussion Ari "Stepper" Up - keyboards Clifton "Bigga" Morrison - keyboards Peter "Doctor Pablo" Stroud - keyboards Nick Plytas - keyboards Lincoln "Style" Scott - drums Mikey Dread - vocals "Congo Ashanti" Roy Johnson - vocals, percussion, guitar Errol "Flabba" Holt - bass Eric "Bingy Bunny" Lamont - guitar Bloodvessel - guitar Dwight Pinkney - guitar Martin "Frederex" Harrison - guitar Carlton "Bubblers" Ogilvie - keyboards Akabu (Vyris Edghill & Valerie Skeete) - backing vocals "Staggering Heights". Record Collector. Retrieved 26 June 2025. Artist page at unofficial On-U Sound site interview with Singers and Players drummer, Eskimo Fox