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| Black Roots | |
|---|---|
| Name | Black Roots |
| Origin | Bristol, England |
| Genre | Reggae, Roots reggae, Dub |
| Years active | 1979–present |
| Labels | Ariwa, Saturn, Cactus, Blackboard |
| Associated acts | Steel Pulse, Aswad, Misty in Roots, UB40, Burning Spear |
Black Roots Black Roots are an English reggae band formed in Bristol in 1979. They emerged from the British roots reggae scene alongside contemporaries in London and Birmingham, gaining recognition for politically conscious lyrics and a heavy dub-influenced sound. The group’s work connects to broader movements in Caribbean music, postwar migration, and UK popular culture.
Black Roots formed in the late 1970s during a period of intense musical innovation in the United Kingdom, intersecting with scenes associated with Bristol and artists linked to Kingston-rooted traditions. They released influential recordings on independent labels and worked with producers and engineers prominent in the reggae and dub communities. Their music resonated with audiences who followed acts such as Steel Pulse, Aswad, UB40, Linton Kwesi Johnson, and Misty in Roots, contributing to the diversification of British popular music.
The band originated in Bristol amid social and cultural shifts tied to postwar Caribbean migration and local scenes that also produced groups like The Pop Group and Tricky (early affiliations through the city's creative networks). Early members were inspired by Jamaican artists such as Bob Marley, Burning Spear, Gregory Isaacs, Peter Tosh, and production approaches associated with studios in Kingston, Jamaica like Studio One and Channel One Studios. Black Roots recorded initial singles and debut material with producers and labels interacting with figures linked to Ariwa and independent UK distributors who had previously worked with Dennis Bovell and Mad Professor.
The band's sound fuses roots reggae rhythms with dub production, incorporating influences from Bob Marley and the Wailers, The Abyssinians, Culture, The Gladiators, and dub innovators such as Lee "Scratch" Perry and King Tubby. Stylistically they intersect with UK contemporaries including Steel Pulse, Aswad, Misty in Roots and crossover acts like UB40, while drawing on broader Black Atlantic currents exemplified by artists associated with Trenchtown and labels such as Island Records and Trojan Records. Their arrangements often feature heavy basslines, skanking guitar, organ stabs, and echo/delay effects used by engineers associated with Dub Syndicate and Sly and Robbie collaborations.
Original lineup members were local Bristol musicians who later collaborated with session players and producers from hubs like London and Birmingham. Over the years, personnel exchanges linked Black Roots to musicians who had worked with Aswad, Steel Pulse, Misty in Roots, Culture, and session crews connected to studios such as Chestnut and Advision. The group’s roster changes mirrored patterns seen in bands like The Wailers and UB40, with vocalists, horn players, and rhythm section members rotating while maintaining core songwriting contributors. Collaborators and guest musicians included figures who had associations with Madness, The Specials, and dub producers like Mad Professor.
Black Roots’ recorded output includes seminal albums and singles released on independent labels and reissued by labels engaged in roots reggae revivalism. Their discography sits alongside influential releases by Steel Pulse, Aswad, UB40, Misty in Roots, Linton Kwesi Johnson, and Jamaican classics from Studio One. Notable releases typically received attention from DJs and sound system cultures tied to Notting Hill Carnival and venues across Bristol, London, and Birmingham. Reissues and compilations have been curated by labels working with catalogs from Trojan Records and contemporary roots revivers such as Blood and Fire and Pressure Sounds.
Black Roots’ impact is evident in how they influenced later UK reggae and dub acts and contributed to Bristol’s reputation as a hub for Black British music, alongside artists like Portishead, Massive Attack, and Tricky who later emerged from the city’s scene. Their politically engaged lyrics and stylistic fidelity to roots reggae informed the practices of younger groups and solo artists connected to Bristol and London sound systems. Recognition of their legacy appears in festival bookings and archival reissues similar to projects honoring Bob Marley, Burning Spear, Linton Kwesi Johnson, and UK-based pioneers such as Dennis Bovell and Aswad.
Black Roots toured regionally and internationally, performing at venues and festivals frequented by audiences of Notting Hill Carnival, Camden Town clubs, and European festivals where reggae, dub, and world music were showcased. Their live shows featured extended dub passages and collaborations with guest musicians linked to acts like Aswad, Steel Pulse, UB40, and dub producers associated with Ariwa and On-U Sound. Performances often drew fans of Jamaican-rooted music traditions and of the UK reggae revival scenes documented in media coverage alongside artists such as Linton Kwesi Johnson and Misty in Roots.
Category:British reggae musical groups