Country: Jamaica
Carlton and The Shoes are a Jamaican vocal group best known for their success during the late 1960s as rocksteady evolved into reggae. The group was led by Carlton Manning, with original members including his younger brothers Donald and Lynford (who later joined The Abyssinians) and Alexander Henry. Initially called Carlton and his Shades, a printer’s error on their first release changed the name to Carlton and The Shoes. They gained fame with “Love Me Forever” in 1968, recorded at Studio One under Clement “Coxsone” Dodd. Their hit “Love Me Forever” became a rocksteady classic, re-released and covered multiple times. Its B-side, “Happy Land”, provided the foundation for The Abyssinians’ iconic song “Satta Massagana”, one of reggae’s most covered tracks. After Donald and Lynford left to form The Abyssinians, Carlton remained at Studio One, continuing to record and work as a session guitarist, though he never recaptured the same commercial success. Carlton and The Shoes remained active for decades, performing in Jamaica and internationally, including Japan, into the 2000s. Lynford Manning, one of the original members, passed away on 25 June 2024, marking the end of an era for the group’s founding lineup.
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