The Clarendonians

The Clarendonians

Company type	Vocal ensemble
Industry	Music
Founded	1963
Headquarters	Hayes, Clarendon Parish , Jamaica
Products	Ska and rocksteady music

The Clarendonians were a Jamaican vocal ensemble known for their contributions to ska and rocksteady music, originally active during the 1960s and 1970s before reuniting in the 1990s.

History

Formed in 1963, The Clarendonians comprised Fitzroy "Ernest" Wilson and Peter Austin, both hailing from Hayes in Clarendon Parish. At the time of formation, Austin was 17 years old while Wilson was just 11. The pair gained recognition by winning multiple talent contests and released their first single, "A Day Will Come," recorded at Federal Records under producer Leslie Kong. After parting ways with Kong, they recorded at Treasure Isle studio, operated by Duke Reid, before attracting the interest of Studio One founder Clement Dodd. Under Dodd’s guidance, they produced several hit singles such as "Rudie Gone a Jail," "Sho Be Do Be," "Rudie Bam Bam," "You Can't Be Happy," and "Darling Forever." These tracks played a significant role in shaping the ska "rude boy" movement alongside peers like The Wailers.

The duo introduced a young Freddie McGregor, then seven years old, to Clement Dodd. Although McGregor never officially recorded as part of The Clarendonians trio, he collaborated with Wilson under the name Freddie & Fitzie.

In the late 1960s, Austin became dissatisfied with his relationship with Dodd and embarked on a solo path, working with producers Ken Lack and Phil Pratt, but he did not achieve comparable success. Later in life, Austin took on a role as an aviation supervisor at Norman Manley International Airport.

Wilson pursued a solo career with notable singles including "Storybook Children" and "If I Were a Carpenter." He briefly adopted the alias "King Shark" and also recorded with The Techniques. His career maintained intermittent success into the 1990s.

Freddie McGregor delayed launching his solo career initially, contributing as a session drummer and backing vocalist at Studio One before gaining prominence with the hit "Bobby Babylon." He emerged as a prominent reggae artist from the late 1970s onward.

The Clarendonians reunited during the 1990s and commemorated their 50th anniversary in 2013. Ernest Wilson passed away in 2021 at age 69, while Peter Austin died in 2023 at age 78.

Singles

• "You Can't Keep a Good Man Down"
• "Be Bop Boy"
• "Mey Bien" (1965)
• "Rudie Gone a Jail" (1966)
• "Rudie Bam Bam" (1966)
• "I'll Never Change" (1966)
• "Musical Train" (1966)
• "Try Me One More Time" (1966)
• "Tables Going Turn" (1967)
• "Shoo Be Doo Be" (1967)
• "You Can't Be Happy" (1967)
• "He Who Laughs Last" (1967)
• "Love Me With All Your Heart" (1967)
• "Baby Baby" (1968)
• "Take It Or Leave It" (1968)
• "Ten Guitars" (1972)
• "Baby Don't You Do It" (1969)
• "Don't Please" (1969)
• "Funny Way Of Laughing" (1969)
• "Lick It Back" (1969)
• "When I Am Gone" (1970)
• "Come Along" (1970)
• "Seven In One" (1971)
• "Bound in Chains" (1972)
• "This Is My Story" (1972)
• "Darling Forever" (1972)
• "Night Owl" (1972) (Lee & The Clarendonians)
• "Doing the Jerk"
• "Why You Did It"
• "Good Hearted Woman"
• "Do It Right"
• "Goodbye Forever"
• "How Long"
• "Hurt By Love"
• "I Can't Go On"
• "If Only I Knew"
• "Stand by Me"
• "Sunshine"

Albums

• The Clarendonians' Greatest Hits (1968), Studio One
• Good Men Never Stay Down (1992), King's Music
• Psalms of Reggae (2001), Jamaican Vibes