Welton Irie w/Lloyd Parks & We The People Band (1986)

@LeoOReggio

This stage show was held annually for a few years, in the 1980s, on Christmas morning, at the National Arena, in Kingston, Jamaica. The promoter is former famed crime fighter/police detective, Cornwall “Bigga” Ford. All the major artists at the time could be seen on this series of stage shows.

Welton Irie (born Welton Dobson, 1961 in Jamaica), sometimes credited simply as Welton, is a Jamaican reggae deejay, best known for his work in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
Welton Irie began his career performing as simply ‘Welton’ on the Sir John the President and Big John’s Stereophonic Sound sound systems (the latter later known as Echo Tone Hi Fi), in 1976, initially heavily influenced by Ranking Trevor. After building up a sizeable following, he was able to introduce young talent such as General Echo to the sound system. Welton moved on to the Gemini and Virgo sound systems and began a partnership with Lone Ranger, the two beginning their recording careers together as a duo for Studio One, in a similar vein to Michigan & Smiley with tracks such as “Chase Them Crazy”. On Studio One boss Coxsone Dodd’s recommendation, he extended his stage name to Welton Irie. The pair’s partnership was short-lived with both going on to solo careers. Solo hits soon came with “The Bomb”, “Army Life”, the Jamaican number one hit “Ballerina” recorded with Sly & Robbie, and “Lambs Bread International”.
His debut album, Ghettoman Corner, was recorded for producer Glen Brown and was based on rhythms from Sylford Walker’s Lamb’s Bread album. Walker’s album was re-released with the inclusion of six of Irie’s deejay versions as Lamb’s Bread International by Blood & Fire in 2000.
In the early 1980s, he worked with Henry “Junjo” Lawes’ Volcano sound system, and in 1983 returned to Gemini, touring internationally with Johnny Ringo and Squiddly Ranking. In the mid-1980s, with the prevalent style of reggae changing, Irie stopped deejaying and worked as a selector for Gemini. He revived his career in the mid-2000s and began performing live once again.

Lloyd Parks and We The People, one of Jamaica’s hardest-working backing bands was formed in 1975 by Lloyd, evolving out of the popular 70s aggregation Skin, Flesh and Bones which also included drummer extraordinaire Sly Dunbar. These are two musicians who have helped reggae music become much more than music played in the dance halls or below Half Way Tree. Reggae music is now world-famous and “hot on the box” too!
Lloyd is more than the founder and leader of these ambassadors of reggae. He is the very cornerstone of their tight, unpretentious sound, and there are few, if any reggae musicians or music lovers anywhere who are not familiar with Lloyd Parks’ background.
Lloyd actually began his music career as a singer and one-half of rock steady duo The Termites with Wentworth Vernal. They were responsible for hits like ‘Do The Rock Steady’, ‘Rub Up Push Up’ and the big one ‘Have Mercy Mr. Percy’ all on the Coxsone label; and it is quite fitting that MKB is paying tribute to the rock steady era and some of its stars.
The band comprises eight musicians, who are all big names locally, and two members, saxophonist Tony Green and trombonist Everald Gayle have released solo instrumental CDs which have been very well received.
Along with being one of the leading reggae bass players in the world, Lloyd is well known for his vocal prowess on hits like ‘Slaving,’ ‘Reservation For Two’, ‘Baby Hang Up The Phone,’ ‘Stars’, ‘I’m In Love Again’, ‘Ordinary Man’ and his trademark ‘Officially’.
We The People has been the number-one band for the Heineken Startime vintage series since 1988 and has backed almost all of the artists who have appeared each year over the thirteen-year period.