Matumbi was a British reggae bands active during the 1970s and early 1980s … Read Full Bio ↴Matumbi was a British reggae bands active during the 1970s and early 1980s remembered as the first successful band of guitarist and record producer Dennis Bovell. Their style was soulful and melodic.
Great Britain has produced several great roots bands -- Steel Pulse, Aswad, Misty In Roots, and Black Slate among them but Matumbi is one of the earliest and most influential. They formed in 1971 in London at a time when roots music in Jamaica itself was just entering its prime.
Formed in south London, with a line-up of Tex Dixon (vocals), Euton Jones (drums), Dennis Bovell (guitar), Errol Pottinger (guitar), Eaton "Jah" Blake (bass guitar) Bevin Fagan (vocals) (died 2008), and Nicholas Bailey (vocals, later better known as Nick Straker), initially they acted as a backing band to touring Jamaican musicians. In 1973, they opened for The Wailers at the Ethiopian famine relief concert in Edmonton.
Success brought problems for the band, with their record label unhappy about some band members' other musical activities, and Bailey and Dixon left, to be replaced by Webster Johnson (keyboards). Pottinger and Jones also left the band, with Glaister Fagan and Lloyd "Jah Bunny" Donaldson joining. The new line-up signed a deal with Harvest Records, and toured with Ian Dury & the Blockheads. Matumbi recorded two sessions for John Peel's BBC Radio 1 show in 1978. In the same year, they recorded the theme song for the BBC television series, Empire Road.
The group's debut album, Seven Seals, was issued in 1978, but their second album, Point of View, was a greater success, with the title track giving the band a top 40 hit in 1979. Further albums followed between 1980 and 1982, but these did not match their earlier success. Their last album, Testify, was recorded in Jamaica co-produced by Bevin Fagan and drummer Euton Jones.
The band split up, with members moving on to various other projects; Dennis Bovell released solo material and became renowned as a producer, Donaldson joined The Cimarons, and Fagan and Blake recorded as The Squad.
Great Britain has produced several great roots bands -- Steel Pulse, Aswad, Misty In Roots, and Black Slate among them but Matumbi is one of the earliest and most influential. They formed in 1971 in London at a time when roots music in Jamaica itself was just entering its prime.
Formed in south London, with a line-up of Tex Dixon (vocals), Euton Jones (drums), Dennis Bovell (guitar), Errol Pottinger (guitar), Eaton "Jah" Blake (bass guitar) Bevin Fagan (vocals) (died 2008), and Nicholas Bailey (vocals, later better known as Nick Straker), initially they acted as a backing band to touring Jamaican musicians. In 1973, they opened for The Wailers at the Ethiopian famine relief concert in Edmonton.
Success brought problems for the band, with their record label unhappy about some band members' other musical activities, and Bailey and Dixon left, to be replaced by Webster Johnson (keyboards). Pottinger and Jones also left the band, with Glaister Fagan and Lloyd "Jah Bunny" Donaldson joining. The new line-up signed a deal with Harvest Records, and toured with Ian Dury & the Blockheads. Matumbi recorded two sessions for John Peel's BBC Radio 1 show in 1978. In the same year, they recorded the theme song for the BBC television series, Empire Road.
The group's debut album, Seven Seals, was issued in 1978, but their second album, Point of View, was a greater success, with the title track giving the band a top 40 hit in 1979. Further albums followed between 1980 and 1982, but these did not match their earlier success. Their last album, Testify, was recorded in Jamaica co-produced by Bevin Fagan and drummer Euton Jones.
The band split up, with members moving on to various other projects; Dennis Bovell released solo material and became renowned as a producer, Donaldson joined The Cimarons, and Fagan and Blake recorded as The Squad.
Empire Road
Matumbi Lyrics
We have lyrics for these tracks by Matumbi:
After Tonight I'm your key to set you free You can come to…
Bluebeat And Ska Don′t speak, no, don't try It′s been a secret for the…
I Can't Get Enough Of That Reggae Stuff Par, ley, par, ley I can't get enough of that funky…
Ordinary Man ordinary men uuu i would have to be stronger than samsone a…
Reggae Stuff Par, ley, par, ley I can't get enough of that funky…
That Reggae Stuff Par, ley, par, ley I can't get enough of that funky…
War Another day wake in Babylon After dawn we pray Anytime now o…
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
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@peterchame5627
Who remembers the TV programme....wow.....bless
@antoniboulnois
0:46
@ICanPlayPiano
Was one of the tracks on the EMI compilation album 'Don't Walk, Boogie'
@MarkThomas-mk5sl
Great childhood memories 🇬🇧
@racheldoesacrylic4089
im a white sista remember this from way back just poped in my head from no where ,where did the time go ? from south london calling x
@mekatemple3206
I LOVE THIS SONG.....IM SO GLAD MY FATHER PLAYED THIS SONG........MATUMBI YOU NEED TO COME RAGGAMUFFIN IN NEW ZEALAND WE HAVE A REGGAE CONCERT ONCE A YEAR.. THIS YEAR LAURYN HILL IS COMING AND TOOTS AND THE MAYTALS.............PLEASE HOOK UP AND COME YOU WILL HAVE 30,000 PEOPLE JAMMING TO YOUR MUSIC.......JAH RASTAFARI.....LOOK UP RAGGAMUFFIN YOU WILL SEE....LOVE YOU ALL.......MY FATHER WOULD BE OVER THE MOON IF HE COULD SEE YOU ALL HE GOES EVERY YEAR
@user-is4mj7sm9w
A big tune😂😂❤❤❤❤❤❤
@steevemarie8329
roots reggae Man ! come from UK !Big Up !
@user-zc5ft9nw9b
Probably my favourite Reggae song tbh...I ever get sick of this :-)
@kachaso
brings back great memories watching this show on our black and white tv in Zambia.