Culture are a Jamaican roots reggae group founded in 1976. Originally they were known as the African Disciples. The one constant member until his death in 2006 was Joseph Hill.

History

The group formed in 1976 as the vocal trio of Joseph Hill (formerly a percussionist in Studio One house band the Soul Defenders), his cousin Albert "Ralph" Walker, and Roy "Kenneth" Dayes, initially using the name The African Disciples. Roy Dayes also used the name "Kenneth Paley", which is the name that appears on the Culture records released by Virgin Records. The African Disciples soon changed their name to Culture, and auditioned successfully for the "Mighty Two": producer Joe Gibbs and engineer Errol Thompson. The song was sufficiently influential that many in Kingston stayed indoors on 7 July, fearing that the prophecy would come true. A second Gibbs-produced album, Baldhead Bridge, followed in 1978, by which time the group had moved on to record for producer Sonia Pottinger. This prompted Virgin Records to sign the group to its Front Line label, releasing Harder than the Rest (1978) and International Herb (1979). Hill carried on using the Culture name, and recorded the Lion Rock album, which was reissued in the United States by Heartbeat Records. For their part, Walker and Dayes recorded a handful of songs on their own; a few of which turned up on an album titled Roots & Culture. Hill performed at the Reggae Sunsplash festival in 1985 and in 1986 the original line-up reformed to record two highly regarded albums – Culture in Culture and Culture at Work. Dayes subsequently worked as a solo artist under the name Kenneth Culture.

By 2001 Telford Nelson had replaced Taylor.

Joseph Hill, who came to symbolise the face of Culture, died in Berlin, Germany on 19 August 2006 while the group was on tour, after collapsing following a performance. His son, Kenyatta Hill, who had acted as the group's sound engineer on tour, performed with his father's band at the Western Consciousness show in 2007, which was dedicated to Joseph Hill, and became the lead singer of Culture; Walker and Nelson continue to provide backing vocals.

In 2011, Live On was released, featuring Kenyatta's performances of his father's songs, including "Two Sevens Clash" and "International Herb".

  • Live On (2011), Zojak Worldwide

Dub albums

  • Culture Dub (1978), High Note
  • Culture in Dub: 15 Dub Shots (1994), Heartbeat
  • Stoned (One Stone in Dub engineered by Fathead and Jim Fox) (1996), RAS
  • Scientist Dubs Culture into a Parallel Universe (2000)
  • Rare and Unreleased Dub, Revolver

Live albums

  • Cultural Livity: Live Culture '98 (1998), RAS
  • Live in Africa (2002)
  • Live in Negril (2003)

Split albums

  • Roots and Culture (1982), Jah Guidance – split with Don Carlos

Compilations

  • Vital Selection (1981), Virgin
  • Rare and Unreleased Dub Revolver Records (1989)
  • Too Long in Slavery produced by Sonia Pottinger (1981), Virgin
  • 17 Chapters of Culture (1992), Sonic Sounds
  • Trod On produced by Sonia Pottinger (1993), Heartbeat
  • Strictly Culture: The Best Of Culture 1977–1979 (1994), MCI
  • Ras Portraits (1997), RAS
  • Peace and Love (1997), Rhino
  • Reggae Giants (1997), Top Tape
  • Production Something (1998), Heartbeat
  • Kings of Reggae (2001), Nocturne
  • Chanting On (2004), Earmark
  • This Is Crucial Reggae (2004), Sanctuary
  • Culture & The Deejays at Joe Gibbs 1977–79 (2008), 17 North Parade
  • At Joe Gibbs (2011), 17 North Parade
  • Seven Sevens Clash (2012), 17 North Parade – box set of seven 7-inch singles
  • Stronger than Ever: At Their Best, Rocky One
  • Natty Never Get Weary, Revolver

DVDs

  • Live in Africa (2002), RAS

References

  • [ Allmusic biography]
  • 2003 article, ic stand against crack
  • Culture biography and discography