The Congos are a reggae vocal group from Jamaica which formed as a duo with… Read Full Bio ↴The Congos are a reggae vocal group from Jamaica which formed as a duo with Ashanti Roy (tenor) (b. Roydel Johnson, 1947, Hanover, Jamaica) and Cedric Myton (falsetto) (b. 1947, Saint Catherine Parish, Jamaica), later becoming a trio with the addition of Watty Burnett (baritone) (b. early 1950s, Port Antonio, Jamaica). and have been active on and off from the mid-1970s until the present day. They recorded the classic Heart of The Congos in 1977, with producer Lee "Scratch" Perry at the Black Ark Studio.

Myton had previously been a member of The Tartans in the late 1960s (along with Prince Lincoln Thompson, Devon Russell and Lindburgh Lewis), and Ras Michael's group, and had recorded with Thompson's Royal Rasses in the mid-1970s. He formed the Congos, initially as a duo with Johnson, recording the single "At the Feast" for Lee "Scratch" Perry. Perry expanded the group to a trio with the addition of Burnett, this line-up recording the classic roots reggae album Heart of the Congos in 1977 at Perry's Black Ark studio. The album featured illustrious backing singers such as Gregory Isaacs, The Meditations, and Barry LLewellyn and Earl Morgan of The Heptones. The album has been described as "the most consistently brilliant album of Scratch's entire career".

Perry's previous productions by Max Romeo and Junior Murvin had been huge commercial successes thanks to a deal with Island Records, but Perry was in dispute with Island at the time the Congos' album was finished, so it was released on his own Black Ark label, limiting its success overseas, and causing a rift with the group. The Congos went their own way, organising a limited pressing of the album themselves. United Kingdom label Go Feet eventually reissued the album in 1980, and although the group had recorded new material since leaving Perry, Heart of the Congos proved a hard act to follow and their other releases suffered as a consequence. Albums such as Congo Ashanti were sparser and sounded ordinary compared to Perry's kitchen-sink-and-all massive productions.

Burnett quit the group, soon followed by Johnson, who embarked on a solo career. Myton continued to record as The Congos with various other musicians until the mid-1980s.

In the mid-1990s, The Congos reformed, with Myton and Burnett joined by Lindburgh Lewis, several albums following in subsequent years. In 2005 Myton recorded Give Them the Rights with a host of backup singers and star session players such as Sly and Robbie and Earl "Chinna" Smith, very much in the spiritual 70s roots vein. In 2006, the UK reggae revival label Blood and Fire released the album Fisherman Style featuring a remixed version of the classic cut "Fisherman" from Heart of the Congos plus such legends as Horace Andy, Big Youth, Dillinger, Prince Jazzbo, Luciano, Freddie McGregor, Gregory Isaacs, Max Romeo, Mykal Rose, Dean Fraser, Sugar Minott, and U-Roy doing their own new versions over the original rhythm.

In 2002, they appeared on the album The Slackers and Friends by the ska/reggae band The Slackers.

In 2008, The Congos appeared in the independent feature film, Wah Do Dem which captures them performing "Fisherman," and "Congoman Chant," under a full moon at Helshire Beach outside Kingston.

In 2009, Myton, Burnett, and Johnson reunited with Perry to record the album Back in the Black Ark, which, despite its title, was recorded at Myton's studio in Portmore and at Mixing Lab, Kingston.

Nicodemus
The Congos Lyrics

We have lyrics for 'Nicodemus' by these artists:

For Today Grace is my destiny, but pride is my home. Your…
Sleng Teng - Nicodemus On your way up, or on your way down Man come…

We have lyrics for these tracks by The Congos:

Ark of the Covenant Every morning the black sun rise Every morning the black sun…
Bow Fisherman Row fisherman row Keep on rowing your boat Lots of hungry be…
Can't Come In Congos - Can't Come In (Cedric Myton) *You keep on knock…
Chain Gang I hear somethin' sayin' That's the sound of the men working…
Children Crying Jah-Jah! The children crying in the wilderness, that's righ…

Congoman Out of Africa comes the Congo man! Bongo Ashanti! Congo Ash…
Days Chasing Days Days Chasing Days I see days chasing days For the elect sake…
Don't Blame It on I Don't you blame it on I Don't you blame it on…
Don't Blame On I Don't you blame it on I Don't you blame it on…
dont blame it on i Don't you blame it on I Don't you blame it on…
Fisherman Row fisherman row keep on rowing your boat lots of hungry be…
Fisherman (Dub colossus and te Row fisherman row keep on rowing your boat lots of hungry …
Garden Of Life With me brudda for life Great Tenor Fly With me brudda for…
Jackpot The devil tink seh him ketch jackpot (ketch jackpot) Little …
Judgement Day I've seen them falling everywhere Like candles fading unawar…
la la bam bam Oh yeah what a la la bam bam bam Oh yeah…
Lion in the Jungle in the jungle the mighty jungle the lion sleeps tonight in…
Nana People keep looking for a sign And wonder Tell dem they go…
National Heroes This song talks about real heroes and not about citizens And…
Only Jah Know Well now the youth man say I have come a long…
Open the Gate Open up the gates of Zion Africa we want to go Africa…
Open Up The Gate Open up the gates of Zion Africa we want to go Africa…
Rock of Gibraltar Only Jah know What we pass through Great tribulation We pass…
Seeking a Favor So you seeking a favor in the eyes of your…
Sodom & Gomorrow Sodom and Gomorrow was destroyed by fire Sodom and Gomorrow …
Sodom And Gomorrow Sodom and Gomorrow was destroyed by fire. Sodom and Gomorrow…
Solid Foundation 2 Brothers On The 4th Floor 2 Fly (Through The Starry Night)…
Step Aside You can't let me run away and hide I've got to…
The Wrong Thing all they do is just pray and they cry every day all…
Youth Man who is gonna stop dem now the congoman is comming with his…

Yoyo see the dreadloks playing yoyo he have no sorrows for tomor…

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