The Tennors were a Jamaican rocksteady and reggae vocal group in the 1960s … Read Full Bio ↴The Tennors were a Jamaican rocksteady and reggae vocal group in the 1960s and '70s. Among the band's hits was "Ride Yu Donkey" in 1968. The song was featured on the soundtrack to the 2005 film Broken Flowers.
History
The group was formed in Kingston in the mid-1960s by singer George "Clive" Murphy who formed a duo with Maurice "Professor" Johnson. They called themselves the Tennor Twins. They auditioned a song called "Pressure and Slide" in 1967 while sitting in the back of a taxicab for arranger Jackie Mittoo of Studio One. Murphy and Johnson were then joined by Norman Davis, and the trio recorded the song backed by Mittoo. The single was the best selling of the year, but, according to Murphy, the group never received any royalties for the track.
Rather than continue to deal with Studio One record producer Coxsone Dodd, the Tennors formed their own label and grew its own stable of artists. The accidental death of Johnson reduced the trio back to a duo, and Murphy and Davis continued as songwriters. They offered their song, "Ride Yu Donkey", to many artists, but ended up recording it themselves after it was turned down. The song was released in 1968 and was a huge hit.
Other songs by the Tennors included "Cleopatra", "Grandpa", Massi Massa", "Girl You Hold Me" and "Rub Me Khaki", "Sufferer", "Sign of the Times", "Biff Baff" (aka "Traitor"), "Bow Legged Girl", "Little Things", "Cherry" and "Oh My Baby".
The group became a trio again with the addition of Ronnie Davis in 1968. Other singers who were in the Tennors included Nehemiah Davis, George Dekker, Howard Spencer, and Hilton Wilson. The trio backed singer Jackie Bernard on "Another Scorcher", and moved towards reggae with the song "Reggae Girl".
In 1970, The Tennors worked with Treasure Isle producer Duke Reid on the song "Hopeful Village". Under Sonia Pottinger, they recorded "Gee Whiz" and "Give Me Bread". The band worked again with Reid in 1973 on "Weather Report", adapted from "The Only Living Boy In New York" by Simon and Garfunkel. It was a hit and won the group the Best Performer title at that year's Jamaican Independence Song Festival.
After that, the group folded. Murphy emigrated to the United States and started a solo career under the name Clive Tennors. He released a solo album, Ride Yu Donkey, in 1991.
History
The group was formed in Kingston in the mid-1960s by singer George "Clive" Murphy who formed a duo with Maurice "Professor" Johnson. They called themselves the Tennor Twins. They auditioned a song called "Pressure and Slide" in 1967 while sitting in the back of a taxicab for arranger Jackie Mittoo of Studio One. Murphy and Johnson were then joined by Norman Davis, and the trio recorded the song backed by Mittoo. The single was the best selling of the year, but, according to Murphy, the group never received any royalties for the track.
Rather than continue to deal with Studio One record producer Coxsone Dodd, the Tennors formed their own label and grew its own stable of artists. The accidental death of Johnson reduced the trio back to a duo, and Murphy and Davis continued as songwriters. They offered their song, "Ride Yu Donkey", to many artists, but ended up recording it themselves after it was turned down. The song was released in 1968 and was a huge hit.
Other songs by the Tennors included "Cleopatra", "Grandpa", Massi Massa", "Girl You Hold Me" and "Rub Me Khaki", "Sufferer", "Sign of the Times", "Biff Baff" (aka "Traitor"), "Bow Legged Girl", "Little Things", "Cherry" and "Oh My Baby".
The group became a trio again with the addition of Ronnie Davis in 1968. Other singers who were in the Tennors included Nehemiah Davis, George Dekker, Howard Spencer, and Hilton Wilson. The trio backed singer Jackie Bernard on "Another Scorcher", and moved towards reggae with the song "Reggae Girl".
In 1970, The Tennors worked with Treasure Isle producer Duke Reid on the song "Hopeful Village". Under Sonia Pottinger, they recorded "Gee Whiz" and "Give Me Bread". The band worked again with Reid in 1973 on "Weather Report", adapted from "The Only Living Boy In New York" by Simon and Garfunkel. It was a hit and won the group the Best Performer title at that year's Jamaican Independence Song Festival.
After that, the group folded. Murphy emigrated to the United States and started a solo career under the name Clive Tennors. He released a solo album, Ride Yu Donkey, in 1991.
Grandpa
The Tennors Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'Grandpa' by these artists:
Alan Ladd Grandpa Tell me 'bout the good old days. Sometimes it feels …
Countdown Nashville Grandpa, tell me 'bout the good old days Sometimes it feels…
Daniel Wesley Sat On The Porch Watching The Tide Roll In Holding A Rose I…
Danielle Bradbery Grandpa, tell me 'bout the good old days Sometimes it feels…
Dave Fenley Grandpa tell me bout the good old days Sometimes it feels…
Empty Nesters Hey, how are you? It's me again Did you eat yet? Oh you…
Eric Schwartz a.k.a. Smooth-E Ian, this is your Grandpa Milton Congratulations you're gett…
FSG Rell I can sing on a track I can sing on a…
Grandpa Some say laughter Is a cure for old age I'd try to…
Justin Moore He stood on that bank when I got baptized, Gave me…
Mariko Takahashi 彼とささいな口げんかをして 旅に出たけど寒い ウェストコーストの田舎の道で 出逢った渋いグランパ 閉じた唇が がんこそう…
Mr Cowboy Grandpa, tell me ′bout the good old days Sometimes it feels…
Neil Young "Grandpa, here's your coffee," Said Edith, as she filled hi…
Northmont As I, sit here looking out, from this old shell…
Osquel Jaja, el veneno Pa' que se lo gocen Los philies en la…
Rodney Carrington Come home It's been so long We're missing you at home So han…
The Isaacs Grandpa Tell me 'bout the good old days. Sometimes it feels …
The Judd Grandpa, tell me 'bout the good old days Sometimes it feels…
W.C. Jameson Grandpa run over the reindeer That Grandma got run over by H…
胖虎 你慢慢的走了 沒有預警的 甚至來不及看最後一眼 你說你累了 你要休息了 已經沒有力氣睜開眼 轉眼間 已經過了十幾年 可…
We have lyrics for these tracks by The Tennors:
Copy Me Donkey When I was but a little laddie My daddy bought a…
I Want You Nimejali kibali kukuwa na wewe Kweli mungu kanipa zawadi kuk…
Love I Bring Nimejali kibali kukuwa na wewe Kweli mungu kanipa zawadi kuk…
Ride the Donkey When I was but a little laddie My daddy bought a…
Ride Ya Donkey When I was but a little laddie My daddy bought a…
Ride You Donkey When I was but a little laddie My daddy bought a…
Ride Your Donkey When I was but a little laddie My daddy bought a…
Ride Yu Donkey When I was but a little laddie My daddy bought a…
Sufferer You Are born to be a sufferer Oh no my friend And…
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
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