Killer Roots Reggae Dub album... JAHOVIA!
The Twinkle Brothers were formed in 1962 by brothers Norman
(vocals, drums) and Ralston Grant (vocals, rhythm guitar) from Falmouth,
Jamaica. The band was expanded with the addition of Eric Barnard (piano), Karl
Hyatt (vocals, percussion), and Albert Green (congas, percussion).
After winning local talent competitions, they recorded their
first single, "Somebody Please Help Me," in 1966 for producer Leslie
Kong. This was followed by sessions for other top Jamaican producers such as
Duke Reid, Lee "Scratch" Perry, Sid Bucknor, Phil Pratt, and Bunny
Lee. The band worked in the late 1960s and early 1970s on the island's hotel
circuit, playing a mixture of calypso, soul, pop, and soft reggae, and in the early
1970s, they began producing their own recordings. Their debut album, Rasta Pon
Top, was released in 1975, featuring strongly-Rastafari-oriented songs such as
"Give Rasta Praise" and "Beat Them Jah Jah".
As well as producing Twinkle Brothers work, Norman Grant
also produced other artists since the mid-1970s, including several albums by
E.T. Webster. In 1977, the band were signed to Virgin Records' Frontline label,
leading to the release of the Love, Praise Jah, and Countrymen albums.
When the band were dropped by Virgin Records in the early
1980s, Norman Grant moved to the United Kingdom, and carried on effectively as
a solo artist, but still using the Twinkle Brothers name, and continued with
regular releases well into the 2000s, mainly on his own Twinkle label.
