Culture (band)

Culture (band)
Name	Culture
Background	group_or_band
Origin	Kingston, Jamaica
Genres	Reggae, Roots reggae, Dub
Years active	1976–present
Labels	Rita Marley Music, Greensleeves Records, Nighthawk Records, Heartbeat Records
Associated acts	Jah Shaka, Joseph Hill (musician), The Wailers, Black Uhuru, Inner Circle (band), The Abyssinians

Culture (band) is a Jamaican roots reggae group formed in Kingston, Jamaica in 1976. Fronted by singer Joseph Hill (musician), the group became known for spiritually themed lyrics, melodic harmonies, and collaborations with producers such as Joe Gibbs and Bunny Lee. Culture's recordings and performances influenced the global reggae movement, intersecting with sound system culture, international tours, and relationships with labels like Greensleeves Records and Heartbeat Records.

History

Culture was founded in Kingston, Jamaica during the mid-1970s, a period shaped by the aftermath of the 1976 Jamaican general election, the rise of roots consciousness, and the influence of sound systems like Jah Shaka and King St. Sound. Initial sessions were recorded with producer Joseph Hoo Kim and later with Joe Gibbs, leading to early singles that gained traction on Jamaican radio and UK dubplates. The 1977 sessions for Joe Gibbs produced material that would be compiled into the landmark album "Two Sevens Clash," released on Nighthawk Records in 1977; the album resonated amid apocalyptic expectations tied to Marcus Garveyist thought and global events such as tensions in New York City and crises in South Africa under Apartheid.

Following domestic success, Culture toured extensively through the United Kingdom, United States, and Europe, appearing alongside acts like The Wailers and Black Uhuru. The group worked with producers including Bunny Lee and labels such as Greensleeves Records, expanding distribution and reaching audiences connected to sound systems and roots reggae revivals. After the death of Joseph Hill in 2006, surviving members continued performances and recordings, maintaining the group's presence at festivals including Rototom Sunsplash, Reggae Sunsplash, and UK reggae circuits.

Musical style and influences

Culture's music is rooted in roots reggae and dub, featuring harmonized vocal lines, vocal call-and-response, and bass-driven rhythms characteristic of Jamaican studio sessions led by producers like Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare (as session musicians) and engineers from studios such as Channel One Studios and Studio One. Lyrically, Joseph Hill drew on Rastafari themes, Marcus Garvey's pan-Africanism, Biblical imagery, and social commentary reflecting events such as the 1976 Jamaican general election and struggles in South Africa.

The production aesthetic often employed dub techniques pioneered by engineers like King Tubby and Lee "Scratch" Perry, including echo, reverb, and instrumental versions that informed extended 12-inch releases on labels such as Rita Marley Music and Greensleeves Records. Influences included vocal harmony groups like The Abyssinians and The Heptones, as well as contemporary bands like The Gladiators and Third World (band), while performance practice intersected with sound system culture exemplified by Jah Shaka.

Band members and lineup changes

Founding lineup centered on lead vocalist Joseph Hill, with harmony singers who rotated during the group's history. Early collaborators and members included Albert Walker and Kenneth Dayes in the classic period that recorded "Two Sevens Clash." Studio contributors and touring musicians drew from Jamaican session players and touring bands associated with acts such as The Wailers and Inner Circle (band), including bassists, drummers, and keyboardists linked to Studio One sessions.

Throughout the 1980s and 1990s Culture's personnel changed as members pursued solo projects or worked with producers like Bunny Lee and Joe Gibbs. After Joseph Hill's death in 2006, the group's continuity was maintained by his son, Kenyatta Hill (also known as Kenyatta "Addis" Hill), who assumed lead vocal duties while performing classic repertoire; this continuation mirrored transitions seen in other Jamaican groups such as Black Uhuru and The Heptones. Additional lineup modifications involved musicians connected to the European reggae circuit and labels like Heartbeat Records for touring and studio work.

Discography

Culture's recorded output includes studio albums, compilations, and live releases that circulated on labels important to roots reggae distribution. Key albums and releases include: - "Two Sevens Clash" (1977) — seminal album on Nighthawk Records that elevated Culture internationally amid roots reggae's rise. - Subsequent studio albums produced in collaboration with Joe Gibbs and Bunny Lee released on labels including Greensleeves Records and Heartbeat Records. - Live recordings and compilations distributed in the UK and Europe, often pressed for sound system and reggae festival audiences familiar with releases from Greensleeves Records and Rita Marley Music. Culture's catalog also features numerous singles and dub versions issued as 7-inch and 12-inch releases, contributing to collections curated by labels and reissue series that document Jamaican roots reggae history alongside artists like The Abyssinians, The Gladiators, and Burning Spear.

Legacy and impact

Culture's influence spans Jamaican popular music, international reggae scenes, and Rastafari cultural expression. "Two Sevens Clash" is frequently cited in retrospectives alongside albums by Burning Spear, Bob Marley and the Wailers, and Black Uhuru for shaping roots reggae's global reach. Joseph Hill's songwriting and vocal delivery influenced later generations of reggae artists, sound system selectors such as Jah Shaka, and revivalist movements in United Kingdom and European festival circuits like Rototom Sunsplash.

The group's sustained presence through lineup continuations exemplifies continuity practices in Jamaican music where family succession and ensemble reformation occur, comparable to changes in groups like The Wailers and Black Uhuru. Culture's recordings continue to be reissued and sampled, appearing in compilations and archival projects that document the intersection of Jamaican political history, Rastafari thought, and popular music across labels including Greensleeves Records, Heartbeat Records, and independent reggae reissue imprints.

Category:Reggae musical groups Category:Jamaican musical groups Category:Roots reggae musicians