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.
Weather Report
The Tennors Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'Weather Report' by these artists:
American Analog Set I haven't seen a comb now for days It's indie on…
Ampop I'll stay home today I'll cough on the phone I'll take a…
Fishmans 東京地方に大雨が降り続けて 部屋の中に居続けることもあるさ まるで魚になった気分だよ まるで水槽の中の魚 まるで泳がない…
globe 空から気象衛星のように 俯瞰で君をあなたをのぞいた 急いで飛び乗った最終便で あなたは誰に会いに帰ったの? 重な…
Graham Parker Hey, can you tell me What everybody plans to do Hey, can…
mitsume 風が時折知らせる 手に入らぬものなら 一つ二つくらいある 次第に増えていく 通り雨を 知らずに出かけて震えても 歩けたら…
OWEL I heard the news And it's not good I've read the weather…
Sammy Volkov And now for the weather Clear skies tonight with a strong…
Scandal あなたが話した 言葉を思い返してたんだ ただいまおかえりのやり取り 毎日これだけは守っていた 続かない次の言葉 お互いに…
The American Analog Sets I haven't seen a comb now for days It's indie on…
フィッシュマンズ 東京地方に大雨が降り続けて 部屋の中に居続けることもあるさ まるで魚になった気分だよ まるで水槽の中の魚 まるで泳がない…
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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@empresstashaii
cool memories. "All Nations" Hackney East London. Gloria and Henrietta. those were the days....
@charleschase6428
One of the coolest songs ever written
@mrbillhicks
If it gets any better than this feel free to let me know...
@johnhayter7354
Massive tune! That bass line is a beautiful thing
@djnattyvo
I got nothing to do today but smileeee. Love this chune!
@ironmonkey2
Thanks to my Queen for showing me about dis big tune dere! Reminds me of my early years growing up in Trinidad. Love U Nat! xxx
@rudeboysw9
this is what we call an original two step.....BIG Tuuuuuuuunnnne!! These tunes test your bass boxes for real....phaaat bassline......
@edwinrivera7561
REST IN ZION Ronnie Davis.. #Legend
@DiPinfanni
Great vocal tune! Infectious groove.
@diegocristalboylovemarinmo8575
1973 ROCKSTEADY the tenors