Garth Dennis

Rudolph "Garth" Dennis (2 December 1949 – 9 December 2021) was a Jamaican musician who was a founder member of Black Uhuru, later a member of The Wailing Souls for ten years before returning to Black Uhuru in the mid-1980s, and also recorded as a solo artist.

Garth Dennis
Birth nameRudolph Alando Dennis
Born(1949-12-02)2 December 1949
Kingston, Jamaica
Died9 December 2021(2021-12-09) (aged 72)
Ontario, California, U.S.
GenresReggae
Years active1972–2021
LabelsGreensleeves, Mesa

Life and career

Dennis was born on 2 December 1949 in Kingston, Jamaica.[1] He grew up in Trenchtown, and became friends with Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, and Bunny Wailer.[2] His older sister, Joanne, had a hit in Jamaica in 1964 with "You're Wondering Now", as part of the duo Andy & Joey (with Reuben Anderson).[3] He formed Black Uhuru in 1972 with Don Carlos and Duckie Simpson.[4] After the group's early releases Dennis left, going on to join the Wailing Souls in the mid-1970s, staying with them during their successful Channel One era.[5]

When the core members of the Wailing Souls moved back to Jamaica in 1985 after a period in the United States, Dennis stayed behind, but later returned to Jamaica to rejoin the re-formed original lineup of Black Uhuru.[6] With Black Uhuru, Dennis recorded the Grammy-nominated 1991 album Now and three further albums (along with dub versions). When Simpson left the group, Dennis and Carlos continued as Black Uhuru until December 1997, but Simpson also claimed the name, winning a legal case in 1998.[7][8]

In 2008 Dennis returned to the Wailing Souls.[9]

His first solo album, Trenchtown 19 3rd Street, which featured Sly Dunbar and Carlton "Santa" Davis, was released in February 2015.[10] His second solo album was due for release in early 2020.[3]

Dennis died from complications of pneumonia on 9 December 2021 at Kaiser Hospital in Ontario, California. He was 72 years old.[11]

Discography

Albums
  • Trenchtown 19 3rd Street (2015)[10]

Singles
  • "Slow Coach", Sydna[12]

with the Wailing Souls
  • Wild Suspense (1979),[13] Mango
  • Wailing (1981), Jah Guidance[14]
  • Fire House Rock (1981),[15] Greensleeves
  • Soul & Power (1981), Studio One
  • Inchpinchers (1982), Greensleeves
  • Baby Come Rock (1983), Joe Gibbs Music
  • On The Rocks (1983), Greensleeves
  • Stranded (1984), Greensleeves

with Black Uhuru

Source:[1]

  • Now (1991), Mesa/Rhino
  • Now Dub (1991), Mesa
  • Iron Storm (1992), Mesa
  • Iron Storm Dub (1992), Mesa
  • Mystical Truth (1992), Mesa
  • Mystical Truth Dub (1993), Mesa
  • Live (1993), Sonic Sounds
  • Strongg (1994), Mesa
  • Strongg Dub (1994), Mesa

References
  1. "Garth Dennis Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More". AllMusic. Retrieved 14 December 2021.
  2. "Garth Dennis of reggae band Black Uhuru dies at 72". Reuters. 11 December 2021. Retrieved 12 December 2021.
  3. "All eyes on Garth Dennis", Jamaica Observer, 29 August 2019. Retrieved 1 September 2019
  4. Moskowitz, David V. (2005) Caribbean Popular Music, Greenwood Press, ISBN 978-0313331589, p. 33
  5. Prahlad, Sw. Anand (2001) Reggae Wisdom: Proverbs in Jamaican Music, University Press of Mississippi, ISBN 978-1578063192, p. 216
  6. Pareles, Jon et al (eds.) (1997) "Black Uhuru" in The Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock and Roll, Pocket Books, ISBN 978-0684810447
  7. Borzillo, Carrie (1995) "Black Uhuru Members Tangle With Label and With Each Other", Billboard, 29 April 1995, p. 11. Retrieved 30 August 2015
  8. Oumano, Elena (1998) "Simpson Victorious in Black Uhuru Suit", Billboard, 18 April 1998, p. 14. Retrieved 30 August 2015
  9. "The 'Souls' Reunite", Jamaica Gleaner, 7 October 2008. Retrieved 30 August 2015
  10. Campbell, Howard (2015) "Garth Dennis Goes Back to Trench Town Archived 25 July 2018 at the Wayback Machine", Jamaica Observer, 30 August 2015. Retrieved 30 August 2015
  11. Campbell, Howard (13 December 2021). "Garth Dennis, former Black Uhuru member, dies at 72". Jamaica Observer. Retrieved 14 December 2021.
  12. "Release: Garth Dennis - Slow Coach". www.reggaeville.com. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
  13. "The Wailing Souls - Wild Suspense - Credits". Allmusic. Retrieved 5 December 2021.
  14. Veal, Michael E. (19 March 2017). "Wailing Souls: Wailing". Pitchfork. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
  15. "The Wailing Souls - Fire House Rock - Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
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