Ronnie Davis In-depth Biography
Bridging the rock steady era of the late 1960s with the reggae of the 1970s, Ronnie Davis} is one of Jamaica's top vocalists. Recording more than one hundred tunes, produced by Bunny Lee}, in the early-1970s, Davis} recorded his first chart-topping tune, "Won't You Come Home"}, for producer Lloyd Campbell} in 1975. A single featuring the same riddim with vocals re-cut by Keith Porter} and vocal harmonies by Davis}, was credited to Keith and Ronnie} went initially released. With the addition of a third vocalist, Lloyd Ricketts}, the duo was renamed the Itals}. Re-releasing the track as "Inna Dis A Time"}, the group scored with one of the year's best-selling tunes.
Although their attempts to build a loyal audience proved an uphill climb, Davis} and the Itals} attracted international attention after the album was reviewed favorably by New York Times} music critic, Robert Palmer}. Touring with Roots Radics} in 1983, the group was named “one of the top one hundred artists," by Pollstar}, two years later. Their album, Rasta Philosophy}, garnered a Grammy nomination in 1987.
Leaving the Itals} to pursue a solo career, in 1995, Davis} formed a vocal group, Ronnie Davis and Idrien}, featuring harmony singers Roy Smith}, Robert Doctor} and Lloyd Ricketts}. Performing their debut concerts in the United States in 1997, the group released its first album, Come Straight} shortly after their return to Jamaica.
Born in the Jamaican coastal village of Savanna La Mar, Davis} became a member of the popular rock steady vocal group, the Tennors}, in 1967. With one of the group's two vocalists, George “Clive" Murphy}, serving as mentor, he soon took over lead vocal duties for the band. Over the next four years, he appeared on more than fifty tunes released by Treasure Isle}, Gay Feet}, Prince Buster}, Dynamic} and the band's own, Tennors} label.
With the Tennors}' disbanding, as rock steady evolved into reggae, Davis} took his first steps as a soloist. ~ Craig Harris, All Music Guide
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