THIRD WORLD -- VETERAN REGGAE BAND TO PLAY AT AFRO-CARIBBEAN NIGHT AT THE MIDEM LATIN AMERICAN AND CARIBBEAN MUSIC MARKET IN MIAMI, AUGUST 1998. By Anya McCoy This article appeared in the August 19, 1998 Miami New Times, part of a supplement on MIDEM. This is the unedited text. Parts of the history of the band was used, with permission, from their website, thirdworldband.com "I discovered Reggae thru the music of Third World", says Pattie Guerra of New Jersey-based Reggae Promotions. "Listening to "Try Jah Love" in the discos in the early 80's, she says, that song, that sound and message of what Jah (the Rastafari religion's name for God) meant, prompted me to learn more about this music, and that song still remains one of my all-time favorite reggae songs, and can still bring tears to my eyes -- it's both beautiful and profound." Ms. Guerra started taking vacations in Jamaica, collecting reggae music, and it was then she discovered Bob Marley and the many others that perform what is called "Jah's Music". Since then, she has built a business around promoting reggae music and managing artsts, such as young reggae sensation Ras Shiloh. The power of that one song has positive ramifications 15 years after the first listen. Third World's music is like that, instantly accessible and sweetly infectuous, building them a strong, long-term die-hard fan base. The fans may even be on their second generation, bringing their kid to Third World concerts. 1998 marks the 25th anniversary of the band's formation. Third World is known for its infectuous sound, the warm and inviting voice of lead singer Bunny Ruggs, and the fun, spiritual atmosphere at their concerts. Their history is a roadmap of the evolution of reggae since the early 70's. The year was 1973. A teenaged Guitarist, Cellist and Singer named Stephen 'Cat' Coore - then with the Inner Circle Band - left the safety of the 'Circle' to pursue his musical dream. 'Cat' and a fellow musician from another band, Colin Leslie, conceived and launched the band Third World. (Inner Circle, artists with a similar good-feeling vibe and sound to Third World, are nowadays best known for the smash hits "Bad Boys" of TV and movie fame, and "Gonna Make you Sweat". ) Soon they were joined by Michael 'Ibo' Cooper on keyboards and vocals, and recruited bassist Richie Daley, drummer Carl Barovier, Irvin 'Carrot' Jarrett on percussion and on lead vocals, Milton 'Prilly' Hamilton. Their Kingston premiere in 1974 playing funk and reggae, earned them great reviews and gigs, as they were the only group of that era composed of young, talented, trained instrumentalists who could sing and would take chances on musical grounds others feared to tread. A few months later, they were opening for the Jackson Five at the Jamaican National Stadium, where they stunned the 30,000 plus audience with their versatility and professionalism. Before long, they were playing in England where Island Records' Chris Blackwell saw them perform. Blackwell immediately offered them a record deal and a slot on a European tour, opening for one of his artistes, Bob Marley and The Wailers. 'Third World, their 1976 debut album, featured the hypnotic "Satta Massa Gana", their cover version of the legendary Abyssinians reggae anthem. It was closely followed in 1977 by the smash hit album, 96 Degrees in the Shade, which was released to rave reviews in Europe and the U. S, and firmly established their name. This album also heralded the arrival of the drummer, Willie Stewart and of soulful new lead singer, William 'Bunny Rugs' Clark (another ex-Inner Circle member). This combination of 'Rugs', 'Richie', 'Cat', 'Carrot', 'Willie' and 'Ibo' proved to be the formula for success as their next album, Journey to Addas (1978), that included, the worldwide Top Ten hit "Now That We Found Love" (a disco-reggae remake of an O'Jays tune). But, by 1981, came the shattering closure to the most important chapter in the history of reggae music - the passing of Bob Marley. This closure was marked by two events in particular -- the release of Stevie Wonder's tribute to Marley, Master Blaster (Jammin'), and the salute to Bob by Third World at Reggae Sunsplash that summer, during which Wonder joined Third World onstage to perform Master Blaster. The magic that filled the air that early summer morning was harnessed by Wonder who quickly wrote, produced and arranged Third World's next international blockbuster, "Try Jah Love", (Pattie Guerra's initiation into the world of reggae), released in 1982. This song became the group's anthem, solidifying them in the archives of musical history as the promoters of love and spirituality. Then there were "Lagos Jump" (1983) - which featured legendary U.S. players like Gerald Albright and the Earth, Wind and Fire horn section - "Sense of Purpose" in 1985 and "Reggae Radio Station" (1987). These singles kept Third World's seat in the charts warm, until their next smash pounced on the world in 1989, "Forbidden Love". Co-written by Rupert 'Gypsy' Bent III (who joined the band for that year of touring) this song illustrated the group's focus on the outer boundaries of music, incorporating a rap by Daddy-O from Stetsasonic. Celebrating 20 years as a group, Third World expressed it's dedication with the album Committed (1993). The songs reaffirmed their roots like the ska-sound of "Give The People What They Need", and stretched their limits to incorporate computerized dancehall, DJ grooves and also reggae-fied hip-hop in tunes such as Riddim Haffe Rule, Committed, and Mi Legal. Collaborating again with Rupert Bent on two tracks of their subsequent album, 'LIVE IT UP', the group seemed to gravitate to the young energy and ideas of Bent and other upcoming musicians and producers. This openness to new paths in music inevitably led to a crossroads in the evolution of the band in 1997 - the departure of founding member 'Ibo' Cooper, and of drummer Willie Stewart, who decided to take their musical development down different avenues. This void, however, was readily filled by three young musicians: Bent, who has assumed the roles of guitarist, keyboardist, vocalist and kete drummer; Leroy 'Barbie' Romans, on keyboards, flute, and vocals; and ex-Jimmy Cliff drummer, Tony 'Ruption' Williams. · Cat Coore says, " When people come to see this new band they will have a great surprise. The sound, the way the band is playing now, is the best it's ever been." I-MAN Records of South Beach, has signed Third World, and Coore states that "pretty soon we will be merging some Third World business enterprises with I-MAN to form a subsidiary". Three of the members of the band now live in Florida, the others have kept their base in Jamaica. "But", according to Cat, "we feel at home in South Florida, and it's just a quick plane ride from Jamaica". "Business is very easy to conduct in South Florida, much easier than Jamaica, which has economic hardships at this time, so bad the banks don't have money to lend to produce an album", he continues. * *The band is touring almost constantly, but will take a short break before resuming the travel necessary to promote their new CD, Generation Coming, due for release September 1st . A single from the album, "Reggae Party", with Bounty Killer and Shaggy as guests on the recording, was released in July in Jamaica. *"Recording the album was a pleasure", says Coore, because Ocean Drive Record Studio is cozy, like a home, and there were lots of personal touches that made the length of time is took to record the album easygoing". Easygoing seems to be the key to their new operations in South Florida, and their easygoing sound, loved for a quarter of a century, continues to flourish in the Florida sun. For more information on Third World, and sound clips, visit their website: http://thirdworldband.com Peace, Anya Visit my webpages: http://extra.newsguy.com/~herblady