The Two Decade Fight For The Soul of Black Uhuru | Who Really Owns The Group?

Black Uhuru is one of the greatest groups in reggae history but has been dogged by frequent lineup changes and a lengthy battle for the ownership rights of the legendary band

[@michael_caz_nyc]

Huge Black Uhuru fan here, but Please don't forget-about: Third World - those guys are top-notch, phenomenal musicians.

[@ReggaeAppreciationSociety]

Turn on your notifications now if you haven't already. Third World coming up in 5,4,3,2.....😉

[@valmarsiglia]

I love the Puma era. "Youth of Eglington" was one of the first reggae songs I ever heard and it's still one of my favorites. I love how they use piano instead of an electric keyboard; it gives it such an intimate sound. And that bass line!

[@positive___soul]

In my opinion it goes to whomever created the original lineup and came up with the name of the group. But my personal favorite lineup will always remain Mr. Michael Rose, Mr. Duckie Simpson and Mrs. Puma Jones may she continue to rest in peace 🙏🏽🕊️❤️💛💚

[@ReggaeAppreciationSociety]

Yes I ✌️ That was the greatest lineup. They were perfect

[@positive___soul]

@@ReggaeAppreciationSociety Their harmony was magnificent 🙌🏽

[@timmusumba5846]

Yes these three were the best indeed!

[@ubirajarasantos8576]

Me too!

[@smoothoperator7023]

What about Michael Thompson, Chinna Smith & SkyJuice? 🔥

[@utregsoulnorh715]

Since a teenager I always loved Black Uhuru,esp their live shows were broader than broadway....Have to say Sandra Puma Jones her dancing and sound was for me the best part......a very strong Rasta Woman..RIP you beuatiful soul...I will neverforget the pleasure you brought in my life....thanks a lot for keeping the Fya burning R.A.S.

[@ReggaeAppreciationSociety]

🙌 blessings

[@fortisroots8912]

Ducky Simpson is the main contributor to the demise of Black Uhuru and ironically the worst singer in the group, always riding the coattails of great lead vocalist like Don Carlos, . Mikael Rose and Garth Dennis for came and success, yes he was the one who started it but so was Garth and Don when they were given the name Uhuru do rightfully they are co-owners but being a bully with a corna bwoy badman persona he kept fighting over the years for sole ownership rights, which is not fair to the others cause without them he couldn't have achieved none of the success mack Uhuru achieved, be simy can't sing, neither lead or harmony, he was just there because he was the 'badman' of them all, hence the constant short lived changing and reshuffling of lead singers, he was like a bully amongst them and they just couldn't get along or see eye to eye, Ducky the Dictator as I heard a NY promoter/producer I was worked with named him, and fittingly so cause he behaved like one, the likes of Hitler, Stalin, Lenin, and presently Putin, hence causing the untimely death of a great band/group Black Uhuru aka Black Sounds of Freedom, all 3 other leads, Don Carlos, Mikeal Rose, Junior Reid went on to have successful solo careers leaving the bad mind dread Ducky behind where he belong in the swamps, living off royalties he hardly created cause he couldn't do it without them, no producers rated him vocally, several of them criticized his non vocal ability, but most were scared of his aggressive attitude..that's the true story of Black Uhuru's demise.. Rasta bless!💚💛❤️

[@smoothoperator7023]

While i also loved Puma, for me the live shows with Darryl Thompson on lead guitar brought a whole 'nother level to their performances with the GOAT Sly Dunbar on drums & Robbie's ridiculous bass playing. With this trio, i would've sounded decent! LOL. Black Uhuru forever.✊🏾

[@desouzarrcp]

@@fortisroots8912 I agree with everything you say, but when you say that he cause the death of puma you went way off course with that statement, she die of cancer not Duckie bullyism, and the funny thing Duckie was no bad man him just use his voice and face expression to intimidate people that he could, apart from that he was a kind person, I know him from childhood. The name uhuru was given to them by our good friend scientist not the engineer.

[@5minutesciencetutorials275]

Michael Rose, Duckie and Puma with Sly and Robbie is my perfect lineup

[@TDCLOL]

it's the only lineup as far as i'm concerned. the rest are like a weak cover band version imo.

[@FitzroyFrancisRockefeller]

Don and Garth sang as "Uhuru" and after Kojo Brown told Duckie to define the Uhuru and told him to add Black which he did. After that, he recruit Rose and Errol which was the first time the group was recorded as Black Uhuru by King Jammys.

[@Howleebra]

Michael Rose, Sly and Robbie, Duckie plus those haunting vocal's from Puma created the ultimate synergy that put their music on the world stage

[@eibhlinnichrualoai]

As an Irish woman who spent my youth growing up in London,outside of Gregory Isaacs, this was my first preload to my love of reggae music. Thanks for your great videos. God bless all ❤

[@ReggaeAppreciationSociety]

Blessings ✌️ Thanks for watching

[@eibhlinnichrualoai]

@@ReggaeAppreciationSociety your channel is great thank you 🙏💚☘️💫❣️

[@surunitemiakanni-oye4346]

Like Culture Club coming on the scene about the same time and sounding so different from any other pop groups of the era with the reggae infusion in their music and the androgynous front man in Boy George, so we had Micheal Rose and Puma giving Black Uhuru and reggae music a different look and sound that is still unmatched to this day.

[@eibhlinnichrualoai]

@@surunitemiakanni-oye4346 Amen 🙏💚☘️

[@vincentdeane2471]

Regardless of what you think ,We have to appreciate the contribution of Duckie Simpson who throughout it all has kept Black Uhuru together, somewhat like Otis Williams and The Temptations Every Group needs a True Leader of all the members Duckie and Otis Williams are leaders Continue the Great Work Duckie

[@lawrencenjawe9875]

Yes I guess we have to give some credit to Duckie as a main thread in the black uhuru fabric...More as a unifier than a music wizard😄😄

[@fredvan6043]

Being too young to have witnessed Black Uhuru in their heyday (1979-1983), I have seen one Uhuru concert with Junior Reind on lead vocals, and a Sly & Robbie show featuring Michael Rose and Darryl Thompson, and I must say that only the latter one (though not under the B.U. name) was the only live glimpse I ever got of what the REAL Black Uhuru was about: just magic!

[@gazfunk]

I'm sure they all had their part to play BUT Rose is a genius song writer and Sly & Robbie were one of the best rhythm sections the world has ever seen. They are the people I think of as Black Uhuru. That being said Duckie has been the mainstay of that band over the years. I think its his band.

[@lawrencenjawe9875]

Your comments are a perfect reflection of my thoughts regarding who's who in this group and I've been saying this for years... Rose for his dominance in songwriting and unique, defining vocal style, Sly & Robbie's world class riddim section...Others played their part but were largely cosmetic and not as fundamental as the others I've named above.

[@juniorbloodfireradio519]

Yeah the Soul of the Band Sly, Robbie and and Mykal Rose Guess Duckie will have the name but Rose should have part ownership of name

[@rufdymond]

For me the Rose era was Black Uhuru, that’s when I fell in love with the group….Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner, Plastic Smile, Wood for My Fire, Rent Man, Sun is Shining, Abortion, and many more, all classics…..for me it’s was the time when the group did their best work.

[@CarlitoNahual88]

Very complex music history is the one of reggae and all its wars battles and amazing art manifesto.

[@WadjilaCherokeeX]

The first LP Love crisis is one of my favourites. They later remixed it and called it black sounds of freedom but give me the original in it's raw form as it shines. The Puma years were great and Red is another favourite. The last LP with Michael was Anthem and I have the original version with party next door on it. Thanks for the band history it was enjoyable

[@soujaar8346]

``Hello everybody welcome back again`` It's a smile of happiness to hear this introduction to a natural reggae beat video.

[@ReggaeAppreciationSociety]

Blessings brethren souljaar✌️it's always good to have you

[@positive___soul]

It's harmony to my ears as well 💚💛❤️

[@michelrood2966]

To me Mikal rose is the original Black uhuru lead singer. Everyone after that just imitated his singing style. Too bad they had so much problems

[@ReggaeAppreciationSociety]

Yes I ✌️ He's the prototype

[@rastafari4932]

Black Uhuru , to the ordinary person, was a magnificent group, especially the trio that included Puma …it’s unfortunate that financial and material gain as well as egoistic values led to the group’s demise, but it’s an old story of inhuman malicious self interest…one must know how to handle material success and stardom…

[@brianspivey9254]

Thank you for this video, Black Uhuru was one my favorite Reggae groups, especially the Michael Rose and Junior Reed versions. I always wondered why there were several different versions of the band. To me, it seems like Duckie has a point as being the owner of the group.

[@surunitemiakanni-oye4346]

Mykal Rose is the man! RIP Puma!!

[@lawrencenjawe9875]

Black Uhuru Should thank their stars and Heaven Michael Rose was part of the group or else we would've had a very different story today

[@theredroadeast723]

Surely one of my favorite reggae groups. I met Michael Rose about 10 years ago at the Metro Tech in Brooklyn. He's a really cool Brother. I was educating someone who was not familiar with the group's history. Michael was impressed with my knowledge. I hope they can settle out their differences.

[@rufdymond]

For me Black Uhuru did their best work in their Prince Jammys era - the Sensimilla album was good too.

[@tonyogbata2022]

Black Uhuru is not just the name of a band; it's a musical legacy. Irrespective of whichever personalities may have initially come together to form a group by that name, the musical identity, originality and credit of the irreplaceable Black Uhuru inarguably belongs to Duckie Simpson, Michael Rose, Errol Nelson/Puma Jones (RIP), Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare (RIP). Any other contraptions in the name Black Uhuru would only be pure mischief..

[@delroyjohnson601]

The one constant is Duckie throughout the decades. Duckie IS Uhuru!!!

[@lewisusher3379]

nine stars general, respect from Belize to Ethiopia 🇪🇹 Jahover all ⚽️🙏🏿🎸🇧🇿🎶🌈🐝🌏🐟

[@647boss2]

Duckie Simpson was there all the way it seems so for now so I would say he would rightfully should have majority ownership. Without him the band would not have stayed relevant. Besides he could not carry a solo career but has played both singer and executive producer roles. I really will them to sort out this and leave a legacy of unity. After all they all must get a fair share. Bless🙏🏿💯

[@jvkzhou]

Excellent description of the history of Black Uhuru and the squabbling over the name. Thank you! Duckie seems headstrong to me, but he has helped keep the band in the forefront of reggae.That said, we are blessed to have such a rich Black Uhuru catalog of music, and multiple lead singers past and present interpreting it. Andrew Bees is also an excellent lead vocalist with his own distinct sound.

[@Michel-7.7.7]

It's a shame. The only ones profiting are the lawyers, instead of celebrating a one of a kind jamaican success story, with a royalty share according to the credits. That stuff happened among rock groups also but in Jamaica it's peobably a feature of the music industry

[@heerollie7797]

Another great minidoc ❤

[@nolacaribbeanexperience3835]

What a phenomenal video and dope channel!

[@mystyjakanyango4079]

Always digging out enlightening stories.... Commendable, brother.

[@ReggaeAppreciationSociety]

Blessings ✌️ Thanks for watching

[@tonysherwood9619]

I appreciate versions - even in bands and at least we get a different flavour!

[@TheAnnaFisher]

Apprecialove this video and all your material. Jah bless 🙏👏❤️💛🖤💚🔥🎶🇯🇲🌎

[@dubster48]

This dispute demeans reggae and demeans the arguing participants

[@troylewin1443]

Been listening to Black Uhuru since a pickney. Saw Mykal Rose perform at Brighton, U. K. during the 90s. He did sing"Guess who's coming to dinner? " Love this channel. Always very informative. So it is Irie. Lovefull Ites.

[@PaulBrown-fp6ug]

Another very great and informative video. Thank You. I am a long time supporter of Uhuru and have collected over 20 albums in either vinyl or CD format. I was aware of the break up concerning Michael Rose leaving after the 'Anthem' Album but was not fully aware of the beginnings of Black Uhuru. I always have great sympathy for Duckie as he has maintained the name Black Uhuru more than all others. Also understand why others want the Successful Black Uhuru name as it guarantees a payday. BUT am not getting involved in who is right or wrong. There are no no real winners as many left feeling like they were conned. Always really sad when Reggae groups go down this path, Aswad, UB40, for instance Blessings and greetings.

[@ReggaeAppreciationSociety]

Blessings ✌️ Thanks for your insight

[@lawrencenjawe9875]

And I've noticed there's been more toxic and tumultuous (short-lived in some cases) relationships amongst UK Reggae bands than those in say motherland Jamaica: UB40, Capital Letters, Reggae Regular, Brimstone, The Investigators and others...Often with a relatively dry and meager catalogue despite their obvious talents.... Lack of promotion?, musical differences? the overshadowing influence of Reggae from motherland Jamaica?... I'd really like to know....

[@phynessea247]

The best line up of Black Uhuru was: Duckie, Michael and Puma(RIP). The other lineups after the magic wasn't there. Also need to give props to Sly & Robbie who were crucial to their sound.

[@consciousthought4820]

Fire burn all divisions one love Addi meditation 🔥🔥🔥

[@LZ-dm8co]

I know this is the reggae appreciation society, but i just like to take a second to appreciate yourself for all the knowledge and content sir. Your hard work and dedication to us followers of this music does not go unnoticed or unappreciated 🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍

[@ReggaeAppreciationSociety]

Thanks so much. This means a whole lot 🙌 I appreciate it

[@LZ-dm8co]

@@ReggaeAppreciationSociety 🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍

[@graceboyce4912]

I loved them, they kept it real

[@tommabry4166]

Praise the ultimate rhythm section. Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare.

[@warrendoris9669]

It always happens with musical groups _ the splitting up part. Supremes,Destiny.s Child,the Wailers.The original lineup with Mykal Rose Duckie and Puma was it for me. No way was that possible without Sly and Robbie. They had a beautiful powerful sound. Darkness sure seem to cover the world.

[@robertmathurin739]

Blessed Love,, Rastafari,, 🇱🇨👊🏼🇯🇲👍🏼♥️🔥🔥🔥

[@rastagideon8236]

This is a great video, thankful for the over standing.

[@ReggaeAppreciationSociety]

Blessings ✌️

[@fabriciotonelli5396]

Thanks for this amazing work!! Very informative and well done video. I consider myself as the biggest black uhuru fan all over the world (LOL), I´ve been listening them since I was 13 (Now I´m 43) and among all video concerning their bio, I think yours it´s the best.

[@ReggaeAppreciationSociety]

Thanks mi lion ✌️

[@zabluoc4549]

Very Chaotic and egos colliding but all that produced an inique brand of reggae.. Mykal Rose is the best, Sly and Robbie set the Black uhuru Rythm and style. Junior Reid Cowboy town is my favorite.

[@KyaniMosaic_Crone]

So upset. I just found out I have a chance to see Mykal Rose tomorrow at a Baltimore area festival. But with less than 24 hrs notice on July 4th weekend I can't back out of previous plans

[@joli8166]

Duckie is the only one who never left, and made it possible to be a group in the first place.

[@mrsplanetmaster9]

Thx R.A.S....💃🏼😁🌿🌿🌿🌿🙋🏽‍♀

[@ReggaeAppreciationSociety]

Blessings 🙌❤️💛💚

[@frankthomas7390]

If it wasn't for Duckie Simpson there wouldn't be a Black Uhru band today cause everyone except Duckie went their separate ways..

[@jamesmhango2619]

Duckie Simpson is the Don....... The fence can't hold too many bulls in the pen.

[@michaelbarnett491]

Folk Song is not a Black Uhuru original .... It is adapted from the Curtis Mayfield-penned beautiful "Romancing To The Folk Song" sung by The Impressions ... Check it !!!!

[@manjaromanchile4307]

Black Uhuru the best Bass and Drum ina reggae.

[@underflo43tky]

Always have liked Black Uhuru. I have listened to them since the 1980s. I think Red is their best but I like anything earlier as well. But I really liked those Junior Reid releases and the 1990s releases too. I only saw them once live in the 1990s with Garth and Don Carlos. Yasas Far I opened the show I believe. I met Don Carlos after the show briefly. In retrospect I think their records up to Red were the best but do really like everything they have done. I really liked Positive a lot when that was released. Don Carlos lives in California now I believe? He seems to collaborate with California reggae bands on occasion. I also like Don Carlos’ solo releases. Thanks for the video.

[@ReggaeAppreciationSociety]

Thanks for sharing ✌️ Yep Don Carlos lives in California and is very active

[@mranonymous1966]

All respect to all the artists but from a fan perspective, I think most people agree that the REAL Black Uhuru was Michael Rose, Puma Jones, and Sly and Robbie, with Duckie Simpson

[@simona6909]

This is why we cannot go forward in the music industry in fighting and greed

[@CivilShepherd]

New Black Uhuru album "New Day" has Duckie Simpson leading and featuring Chico, CA roots-rock band Dylan's Dharma

[@staminadon]

If Mykal Roze not on lead s straight that group cannot go straight

[@anclark2063]

The group name belongs to Duckie Simpson, i heard this even b4 the issue, way back in 1977, that person also told me about Don Carlos and Garth Dennis.

[@dasaiyan7]

Duckie is Black Uhuru! 🔥

[@culturedat]

I don't know about this one dispute, but I seen duckies Simpson, garth dennis, Michael Rose, Junior Reid and sly and Dunbar perform under the name black uhuru at UCLA festival back in 2014 with two of my kids

[@5minutesciencetutorials275]

Heartbreaking story about Puma from Duckie: when she was nearing death, she requested a chance to perform with the group for the last time. A friend of Duckie raised the money to bring Puma over to Jamaica. She has by the list all her hair. Sadly, Michael Rose never turned up for the show. Puma returned to USA and died soon after; heartbroken.. when she called Michael to say goodbye, his wife slammed the phone. How cruel 😢

[@winstonl.stewart8225]

This has been debunked many times!!

[@5minutesciencetutorials275]

@@winstonl.stewart8225 thanks for clarifying. Debunked by whom, when.

[@lawrencenjawe9875]

Logic would dictate Duckie Simpson as the "owner" of the group while members Don Carlos and Micheal subsequently left on their terms....But I don't know what Black Uhuru would've been if main songwriter and Chief vocalist Michael Rose had not been part of the group's most successful commercial and critical years of 1977-1985.

[@colincampbell4247]

Simple maths

[@everetteisaac2299]

Steel PULSE is the No.1 Reggae Band in the world.

[@TheRoafer]

Thank you for the details. It's always good and interesting to hear at least most of the facts and history. This video explains a lot. I certainly respect and enjoy the music from all of the artists mentioned. Sly and Robbie are simply awesome, and they have provided a great influence to many. Black Uhuruu keeps the positive vibes flowing, one of the greatest reggae bands ever.

[@nicolebona1198]

The name of the song is playing background or artist name.

[@anthonymackey222]

This is crazy, the only Original member is Duckie, so he should own the name and kick back to the guy that stated Uhuru.

[@FitzroyFrancisRockefeller]

As it stands today, the trademark Black Uhuru is owned by Derrick "Duckie" Simpson.

[@michielvdvlies3315]

the fans own the group

[@lrgright]

Never one mention of the current outstanding legendary lead Singer Andrew Bees. Tell a friend about the clean energy of Beeshive music...

[@PaulBrown-fp6ug]

Absolutely Loved Andrew Bees on the Excellent 'Dynasty' Album. He really excels on 'Dread to be Rasta' track. The album was a great introduction of Andrew Bees that promised much. But for me nothing has quite reached the same quality.

[@davidhawkins1727]

Garth Dennis

[@advancedadam.7699]

Give it to duckie simson😂

[@thetamihana2561]

When I listen to BU I hear Mykal Junior Puma Sly Robbie not Ducky. Ducky was lucky and was a passenger. Credit where credit is due.

[@evangelinewangari1124]

Guess who's coming to dinner

[@kabronetti]

i think,noone owns a band,...what you can own in a band is the songs... if you are the composer,your voice can be heard more than others,... cause if you are not happy,you have the power of leaving the band and the music is gone... so...we could say that you own a band (of course in a certain way...) if you are the composer of all the songs in that band...

[@staminadon]

Mykal Roze rule this group

[@jracerichards]

Go ask Duckie

[@urbanlaurette6557]

Unfortunately cupidity has always been nemesis of mankind.Especially those individuals perceiving they're sanctimonious in mind body and soul. Unfortunately that's the narrative here of a great musical band.

[@anthonyhutchinson77]

Thanks for your research... but what surfaces from all these infighting is the insincerity of many of these so-called Rasta... even in the case of Bob, Tosh and Bunny... claiming that the only true "man" is Rasta... and yet they cannot live together inna Babylon... I heard Duckie Simpson say that even while they were singing these beautiful songs on stage they were not even talking to each other... imagine that! Plastic Smile????

[@ReggaeAppreciationSociety]

🤔

[@DaSageBlaze]

The original Black Uhuru is Don Carlos and Gold

[@ahayahyashayah9093]

Michael Rose

[@fesquemonkey9784]

Black Uhuru means Black Unity, does anybody remember this! looks like another Ham show to me

[@mykalbelle8397]

Sly and Robbie, and Mykal Rose was/IS Black Uhuru. As far as I am concerned, that's the ONLY Black Uhuru ever existed! Mykal Rose, Sly and Robbie (and Puma Jones). Without the aforementioned, the world wouldn't know nothing of a Black Uhuru.

[@andrefernandez8414]

poor Puma Jones didn't see this s**t grow...

[@livingstonejoseph3456]

Here is the nerve-wracking thing: how can those who claim to preach "Rastafari Love and Unity" become so embedded in such ominous feud. It therefore goes to show that all these Rastafari preachings are mere superficialities rooted in the deep worldly Babylon and shouldn't be believed. Does anyone know the case of "False Pastors or Preachers or so-called Men of God?"

[@coolmind2476]

Not a good idea to use the same name for different lineups. But they wanted to make money to spend it later for lawyers 😂

[@jimmyshaba9085]

Duckie is uhuru and uhuru is duckie

[@michaeledwards3578]

Sly and robbie

[@LoganCharlesII]

"Garth Dennis and Don Carlos continued to perform under the Black Uhuru name, much to Duckie Simpson's annoyance...."

[@lawrencenjawe9875]

Yup...True. I find very strange though that Don Carlos should engage in this "blow below the belt" 🤣🤣🤣🤣 especially as he had left the group on his own accord in 1975 after limited success....But then again it's really no surprise since the Uhuru commanded lots of publicity and international exposure... Carlos and Garth were merely taking advantage of this.... Consequence??? Well, Duckie Simpson won the court battle in 1997..

[@PaulBrown-fp6ug]

@@lawrencenjawe9875 Yep, agree with you here. I have similar Feelings about Michael Rose who left the group after continuous arguments with Duckie regarding Group Leadership / Remunerations. Really, really sad they had the fallout as I got the 2 Anthem Albums, was blown away. Was planning for next album, only to find Rose had left. I still Got and Enjoyed 'Brutal' and 'Positive' but Missed Michael Roses very distinct lead vocals. Blessings and Guidance

[@awotnot]

Saw BU with Junior at Glastonbury in 1986 and with the orig line up in 1989.

[@user-uy8zg7kv8s]

Seems ducky was the problem

[@evangelinewangari1124]

Ducky Simpson is the problem

[@pedromq7807]

Usually like dat... The less talented just finds a way to "keep" the rights

[@kutchie420]

Good job

[@thedonkeyaward]

Rose IS Black uhuru.

[@Infinitebrandon]

Good history 🫱🏻‍🫲🏾. Mi no gusto Michael rose. I don't wanna run my mouth too much now. Ty RAS; again ❤💛💚

[@ReggaeAppreciationSociety]

Blessings mi lion ✌️ Always great to know you approve of a video