My Father,
The Rocksteady Era......
Johnny Clarke (The Voice).......
Luther, Alexander, Freddie, D. Brown, Aswad. (that era)........
Brenda Russell........
Nerious Joseph, (in the 80's his influence was key)..........
Speed Garage (cah we mek it!!)........
The Complete Sound System Story (from Sir Coxone/Duke Reid..... To Love Injection/Mighty Crown)......
MJM Production For The "Emotionally Charged" Album..... Love Always :)
Sounds Like
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UPCOMING SHOWS
VIDEOS
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"Know Yourself" A collaboration track with Peter Spence & Lloyd Brown "Out Now" Check Dub Vendor for your copy
PETER SPENCE
BIOGRAPHY
Emotionally Charged is the new long player released under the auspices of Danville, CEO at Cousins Records. The album is the culmination of Works inspired by Broken Promises, Broken Hearts and The Reality that Love Affairs, especially the One we have with Music, brings. Emotionally Charged brings together a plethora of musical talents. Producers from JA, SA, Netherlands and NY have added their Flavour. Joe G, Phillip Gad, Stingray and Keith "Spock" Dilworth add the Homegrown flavour... But this is where the story begins.......
Reggae music has flourished in England like no other place outside Jamaica. At least two generations of talented UK artists and producers have laid down musical roots that are now celebrated far beyond the confines of the inner city communities that first nurtured them. Whilst Maxi Priest has proven Britain's most successful reggae singer to date, the name on a lot of people's lips right now is Peter Spence; a Birmingham born artist with street credentials to spare, but whose gifts increasingly demand a more international setting.
It's the quality of his songs and material, as well as his peerless vocals that have reaped Peter most acclaim so far. Whilst hardly prolific, he's consistently delivered music of the highest order, and yet just seems to get better as time goes by. A retrospective of his earlier songs called "Lover's Rock" was released by Warriors Of Peace and has been re-issued by Jet Star. Singles on the Checkmate and Stingray labels followed, the latter having issued Peter's second Studio album, Unfinished Business. The title of this milestone set says it all, since Peter's career is still only at the midway stage, as demonstrated by his spiralling popularity on both sides of the Atlantic.
His story begins in England's second city of Birmingham, where he was taught guitar by his father, who had played with bands in Jamaica before settling in England. His own musical apprenticeship was first served by roles as the drummer and then rhythm guitarist for a group called the Experts during the very early 80s. Inspired by Jamaican harmony groups such as the Heptones and Tamlins, he then turned singer and joined a Sound-System called Imperial Warrior, based in the Balsall Heath area of Birmingham. The influence of Jamaican sound-system culture was all persuasive at the time, and new UK reggae acts began to emerge at a phenomenal rate, including friends and contemporaries of Peter's such as Pato Banton, Macka B, Tippa Irie, Maxi Priest, and many others.
His debut track, "Frivolous Woman", was recorded for Birmingham producer G. T. Haynes, who also managed Pato Banton, Tippa Irie and Annette B, in addition to Peter himself. His breakthrough arrived in 1987 with a hit on Greensleeves called "Don't Leave Me Lonely", for which he received a Best Newcomer award. His next stop was another London based reggae independent label called Fashion, where he recorded a handful of tunes in the lover's rock vein, including "Yesterday's Magic", "I Believe In Love" and "Crazy Feelings". His debut album for G. T, "I'll Be There" was released in 1989 to rave reviews and won Best Reggae Album for that year at the Black Music awards, whilst Peter himself was voted Best Male Reggae Singer. He and deejay Tippa Irie, then co-starred on "Girl Of My Best Friend" for Island Records. The Tours that followed took them to the US, Japan and Africa.
Wider fame should have beckoned at this point, but the next time we heard Peter's winning partnership with Tippa was on a 1996 single entitled "Where Is The Love", produced by Peter Hunnigale. All three performed on a tribute record to Dennis Brown released in 1999, featuring an all-star line-up from the UK reggae community. Such camaraderie is reflected in the way Peter has toured and recorded with both Tippa Irie and Pato Banton on many occasions. In 2000, Pato's Life Is A Miracle album was nominated for a Grammy award. No less than seven of the tracks feature Peter, who also wrote and played on the album, in addition to singing backing vocals. One of the tracks, "Ocean Warrior", was included on Surf Dog's Music For Our Oceans project, which is run by a California based charity dedicated to cleaning up the sea and protecting its endangered species.
Jet Star, who'd previously released his answer version to Gwen McRae's "Girlfriend's Boyfriend", then commissioned two tracks, "Flying Without Wings" and "Make It With You", for their Pop Hits Inna Reggae Vol. 1 album. Peter's cover of Bread's Make It With You later featured in the Channel 4 documentary Dancehall Queens, but it wasn't until searching out an old producer friend from Birmingham called Wooligan that his career took proper shape once more. It through Wooligan that he met Tony English - a New York based producer who's also from Birmingham, and once saw Peter play with the Experts. Tony promptly invited him to New York where they recorded two tracks, "Mr. Charmer" and "I Don't Care" (co-starring Shellene Thomas) at Philip Smart's HCF studio in Long Island. Mr. Charmer was an immediate, transatlantic reggae chart hit, thus confirming what Tony English had known all along. Firstly, that within an industry dominated by MCs, there was definitely room for singers of his calibre, and secondly, there were audiences out there eager to show their appreciation of advanced vocal and song writing skills such as his own.
From there it was but a small step to Stingray's Big House studio in NW London, where Peter recorded hit single "Daddy's Love" and the album "Unfinished Business", as well as collaborations with Richie Davis, Lloyd Brown and Winsome. The communal atmosphere at Stingray obviously inspired him since Unfinished Business contains some of his best-ever material, including Mr. Charmer and I Don't Care. Now considered a classic reggae vocal set, This period of Works also announced how he'd successfully transcended his early reputation as a lovers' rock artist to deliver songs of even greater depth and meaning. "Know Yourself Mankind", "Redemtion", "Whom Have I Angered", enjoy anthem status in roots dances. This love of roots and dub music has been with Peter since the start, which may explain why he excels at writing and performing more conscious material, despite his undoubted gift for love songs.
Peter is putting the finishing touches on his new Studio album "STRENGTH" to be released on his own SideWalk Entertainment label in Spring 2008 Peter says this is his most exciting project to date. Tour dates will be announced shortly......Blessed Love.
Long time!
I just want to stop by to wish you God's richest blessings in all you do, and to let you know you are thought of, and much appreciated.
Pure love
Yve
PS please check out my blog on my views on Michael Jacksons death, and leave me a comment, your feedback etc.
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the new (XOVA) C.D "THE PRESSURES OF LIFE" is OUT NOW!!....ORDER IT
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yes big up yourself peter,loved the show in brum the other day,thanks still good as ever.i remember your music from 20 years ago as a young boy.blessed love.
It was a moment that I did not go through it and I always found the same groove, the same voice, same soul and it's just well ...... Good Continuation,Good inspiration....... Love and Respect,
Hail up Peter, It was real good to link up with the "I", Sister Kofi and Mike Anthony last Saturday. I had a great time...see you on the next one zeen bless.
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