Country: Jamaica
The Gaylads are a Jamaican vocal harmony group formed in Kingston in 1963, and are regarded as one of the most important rocksteady and early reggae vocal groups in Jamaica’s musical history. History The original lineup consisted of Harris “B.B.” Seaton, Winston Delano Stewart, and Maurice Roberts; Seaton and Stewart had previously recorded as the duo Winston & Bibby before adding Roberts to form the Gaylads. The group quickly became associated with Clement “Coxsone” Dodd’s Studio One label, recording early hits such as “Lady in the Red Dress,” “Stop Making Love,” “You Should Never Do That,” and “Don’t Say No.” They also provided backing vocals for other major Jamaican artists, including Ken Parker, Ken Boothe, and Delroy Wilson during this period. In 1968 the Gaylads began recording for producer Sonia Pottinger, delivering successful singles including “It’s Hard to Confess” and “Over the Rainbow’s End.” They later worked with Leslie Kong in 1969, where they scored another hit with “There’s a Fire.” Line‑up changes followed as Stewart emigrated and Seaton later left the group, leaving Roberts as the sole original member; Roberts recruited brothers Randell and Hopeton Thaxter to continue under the Gaylads name, though this later lineup did not match the commercial success of the original. Over the decades, the group’s classic lineup occasionally reunited for special performances, including appearances at the 1991 Studio One concert and the Rocksteady Reunion in Kingston. The Gaylads recorded several noteworthy tunes considered classics of the rocksteady and early reggae era, such as “Africa (We Want to Go),” “Joy in the Morning,” “Red Rose,” “Over the Rainbow’s End,” and “My Jamaican Girl.” Line‑ups and Later Years By 2012 the group’s lineup included B.B. Seaton and Randell Thaxter, and by 2016 it comprised Seaton, Harold Davis, and Dennis Spencer. Founding member Maurice Roberts died on…
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