The Morwells
| Company type | Reggae group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1973 |
| Founder | Maurice Wellington, Eric "Bingy Bunny" Lamont |
| Defunct | early 1980s |
| Headquarters | Kingston , Jamaica |
| Products | Reggae music albums and singles |
The Morwells, also known as Morwell Unlimited, were a reggae group originating from Jamaica, established in 1973 by Maurice Wellington and Eric "Bingy Bunny" Lamont. The band dissolved in the early 1980s, with some members later forming the Roots Radics.
History
The ensemble was created in 1973, featuring Eric "Bingy Bunny" Lamont alongside Maurice "Blacka" Wellington, who were longtime friends from Trenchtown, Kingston. Prior to the band’s formation, Lamont had collaborated with Bongo Herman under producer Derrick Harriott, while Wellington was involved in record sales and worked as an independent producer. Their initial releases came through their own label, Morwell Esquire. In 1974, Louis Davis, previously part of The Versatiles, joined the lineup, contributing his expertise in arrangements and mentoring Lamont in guitar playing.
During the mid-1970s, The Morwells gained recognition with multiple singles and secured distribution within the UK market. Their debut albums, Presenting The Morwells and its dub version Dub Me, both appeared in 1975. Concurrently, Wellington expanded his role into studio engineering and production for Joe Gibbs, working on early projects with Culture. Meanwhile, Lamont became rhythm guitarist for The Revolutionaries, maintaining his involvement with The Morwells. The addition of bassist Errol Holt in 1977 further connected the group with Jamaica’s leading musicians.
The band continued to issue albums through the late 1970s into the early 1980s but had ceased operations by 1980. Holt and Lamont proceeded with the Roots Radics, founded in 1978, whereas Wellington concentrated on production work—including collaborations with his brother, deejay Nicodemus—and oversaw the Morwell label before moving to New York City.
Lamont passed away from prostate cancer in December 1993; Wellington returned to Jamaica in 1998 and succumbed to adenocarcinoma in October 2000.
Discography
- Albums
- Presenting the Morwells (1975), Morwell Esq.
- Dub Me (1975), Morwell Esq.
- Crab Race (1977), Burning Sounds
- Cool Runnings (1979), Bushranger
- A1 Dub (1980), Trojan
- Kingston 12 Toughie (1980), Carib Gems
- Bingy Bunny and the Morwells (1981)
- Best of the Morwells (1981), Nighthawk
- Bingy Bunny & Morwells (1982), Park Heights
- Kingston 12 Toughie (A Tribute To Bingy Bunny) (1996), RAS
- Contributing artists