The Jamaicans
| Company type | Music group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Predecessor | The Merricoles |
| Founded | 1967 |
| Founder | Derrick Brown, Norris Weir |
| Defunct | 1972 |
| Headquarters | Jamaica |
Key people | Tommy Cowan, Norris Weir, Derrick Brown, Martin Williams |
| Products | Ska and rocksteady music recordings |
The Jamaicans were a Jamaican ensemble specializing in ska and rocksteady, established in 1967. The lineup featured Tommy Cowan, Norris Weir, Derrick Brown, and Martin Williams.
Career
The group initially formed in 1964 under the name the Merricoles, with founding members Derrick Brown and Norris Weir. Subsequently, Martin Williams, Flats Hylton, and I Kong joined the ensemble. Tommy Cowan later became part of the six-member formation. To enhance their global marketability, Canadian shipping agent Aston McKeachron suggested renaming the band The Jamaicans. Under this name, they recorded several singles for Duke Reid’s Treasure Isle label, including notable tracks like "Pocket Full of Money" and "Diana." In 1967, both Kong and Brown exited the group.
Their major success arrived that same year with the release of "Things You Say You Love." They secured victory at Jamaica’s Festival Song Contest in 1967 with the rocksteady anthem "Ba Ba Boom," penned by Cowan and Weir to honor the Jamaica Independence Festival. This song continues to be their most recognizable work. In addition to "Ba Ba Boom" and "Things You Say You Love," they performed a cover of Curtis Mayfield’s "Dedicate My Song to You." Their original composition "Black Girl" was later interpreted by the disco band Boney M. The group dissolved in 1972, after which Cowan pursued a prosperous career as a music producer.
Following the disbandment, Norris Weir relocated to the United States where he became a traveling singing missionary evangelist and produced ten Gospel albums. He received ordination in 2010 and passed away in November 2018 in Port St. Lucie, Florida. Martin Williams died in May 2022 after a period of illness.
Compilation albums
- Baba Boom Time (1996), Jamaican Gold
Singles
- "Things You Say You Love" (1967), Treasure Isle
- "Ba Ba Boom" (1967), Treasure Isle
- "Dedicated to You" (1967), Trojan
- "Peace and Love" (1968), Treasure Isle
- "Slow and Easy" (196?), Treasure Isle
- "Cool Night" (1968), Doctor Bird
- "Sing Freedom" (1970), Top Cat
- "Love Uprising" (1971), Dynamic Sounds
- "I Believe in Music" (1971), Jaguar
- "Take Warning" (197?), Jaguar
- "Mary" (1971), New Beat
- "Are You Sure" (1972), Dynamic Sounds
- "My Heart Just Keeps on Breaking" (1974), Dragon
- "Bad Man" (2000), Kingston 11
- "Chain Gang" (2012), Supreme