Tradition (band)
| Company type | Musical group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1976 in Brent, North West London, United Kingdom |
| Founder | Chris "Buff Head" Henry, Paul "Echo" Thompson, Tony "Drummie" Matthews, Michael Johnson, Grace Reed |
| Defunct | 1983 |
| Fate | Disbanded; reunited after more than twenty years |
| Headquarters | Brent, North West London , United Kingdom |
Key people | Paul "Echo" Thompson, Les McNeil |
| Products | Reggae music |
Tradition is a reggae ensemble originating from the United Kingdom that rose to recognition in the late 1970s, securing a contract with RCA Records. The group dissolved in 1983 but reunited after more than twenty years.
History
Established in Brent, North West London, in 1976 under the name Special Brew, Tradition's founding members comprised Chris "Buff Head" Henry on bass, Paul "Echo" Thompson handling keyboards and vocals, Tony "Drummie" Matthews on drums, Michael Johnson playing guitar, and Grace Reed providing vocals. Following the early exit of Reed and Johnson, Les McNeil and Paul Dawkins joined the band. By 1977, they had signed with Venture Records and released singles such as "Moving On," "Rastafari," and "Summertime." They were also main performers on the Anti-Nazi League's 'Rock Against Racism' tour.
In 1978, Tradition put out the discomix 12-inch single "Why Why," while establishing a solid reputation through live performances supporting artists like Alton Ellis, Delroy Wilson, and Culture. They functioned as a studio band for producer David Tyrone and earned Echoes Best Single for their track "Breezin'." That same year, they briefly joined forces with RCA Records. In 1979, Dawkins departed to pursue a solo path and was succeeded by Shakeel Khan. The 1982 release Spirit of Ecstasy highlighted Thompson's keyboard talents amid several lineup adjustments. Meanwhile, McNeil also explored solo ventures.
During the 2000s, Thompson and McNeil established Reloaded before eventually reviving Tradition.
Album discography
- Tradition in Dub/High Risk Dub (1977), BPI
- Moving On (1978), RCA/Venture
- Alternative Routes (1978), RCA
- Tell Your Friends About Dub (1978), RCA
- Captain Ganja & The Space Patrol (1980), Venture
- Runaway Love (1980), RCA
- Tradition's Party Disco Episode 1&2 (198?), Venture
- Spirit of Ecstasy (1982), Solid Groove – Tradition featuring Paul Thompson
External links
- Tradition at Roots Archives