Matumbi (band)
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1971 in South London, England |
| Founder | Tex Dixon, Euton Jones, Dennis Bovell, Errol Pottinger, Eaton "Jah" Blake, Bevin Fagan, Nicholas Bailey |
| Headquarters | London , United Kingdom |
| Products | Reggae music, albums, singles |
Matumbi stood out as a prominent British reggae ensemble during the 1970s and early 1980s, recognized as the initial successful band associated with guitarist and producer Dennis Bovell. They composed and performed the theme song for the BBC television series Empire Road (1978–79), which gained enough popularity to be released as a single.
History
Originating in 1971 in South London, Matumbi's founding members consisted of Tex Dixon (vocals), Euton Jones (drums), Dennis Bovell (guitar), Errol Pottinger (guitar), Eaton "Jah" Blake (bass), Bevin Fagan (vocals), and Nicholas Bailey (vocals, who later adopted the stage name Nick Straker). Early on, the group functioned as a backing band for Jamaican musicians. In 1973, they served as the opening act for The Wailers at an Ethiopian famine relief concert held in Edmonton, London, earning critical praise that even outshone the headline performers.
Matumbi signed with Trojan Records and experienced a significant breakthrough in 1976 with their rendition of Bob Dylan's "Man in Me", which became the top-selling reggae single across the UK that year. Disputes within the group emerged when the record label opposed members’ involvement in side projects, prompting departures including Bailey and Dixon, who were succeeded by Webster Johnson on keyboards. Subsequently, Pottinger and Jones also exited, replaced by Glaister Fagan and Lloyd "Jah Bunny" Donaldson.
With this refreshed lineup, Matumbi secured a contract with Harvest Records and embarked on a tour alongside Ian Dury and the Blockheads. In 1978, they recorded two sessions for John Peel’s program on BBC Radio 1 and created the theme for Empire Road. Their first album, Seven Seals, was issued that same year; their follow-up album, Point of View, produced a UK top 40 single with its title track in 1979.
While albums released between 1980 and 1982 failed to match earlier achievements, their final record Testify was produced in Jamaica with Bevin Fagan and Euton Jones serving as co-producers. After disbanding, members pursued individual careers: Bovell began a solo path and established himself as a respected producer; Donaldson joined The Cimarons; Fagan and Blake went on to create The Squad. Bevin Fagan died of a heart attack in 2008 at age 54.
Albums
- Seven Seals (1978), Harvest SHSP 4090
- Point of View (1979), EMI
- Dub Planet Orbit 1 (1980), Extinguish
- Matumbi (1981), EMI
- Testify (1982), Solid Groove
- Compilations
- The Best of Matumbi (1977), Trojan
- Empire Road - the best of Matumbi (2001), EMI
- Music in the Air (2005), Trojan
Singles
- "Brother Louie" (1973), Trojan
- "Wipe Them Out" (1973), Trojan
- "After Tonight" (1976), Trojan
- "Man In Me" (1977), Trojan
- "Rock" (June 1978), Harvest HAR 5162
- "Empire Road" (September 1978), Harvest HAR 5169
- "Bluebeat & Ska" (March 1979), Harvest HAR 5174
- "Point of View (Squeeze a Little Lovin')" (August 1979), Harvest – UK No. 35
- "Alive & Kicking" (1983)