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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NEW ALBUM OUT NOW! Instant Download Available Here - £8.00 GBP
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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.
If I could have one wish today oh Lord, it would be to wake up with the sound, of laughter and joy, In a world of Peace and harmony, no killing, just pure love,of man, woman and beast, as the Almighty wished it to be.Everyones heart beating in union.
Mr Spence,Greetings!!Much respect 2U Nd ur muzik..ever since i discovered u i simply can't get enough..happy or sad,ur tunez r playin' on my box..I've got my peepz also hooked on dat good vibe..So much Luv 2U 4 puttin' 2gether dat beautiful Loverz Rock..4ever ur fan...Jah Bless alwayz.............DjRuDee
I give "Thanks & Praise's" To the fact God has given the world such a writing & vocal talent such as yours Keep "Da Big Tunes" coming :0) Blessed love Hx
Hi Peter, thank you for adding me to your myspace world, i've grown up with your music from the oldskool days and your still knocking them out, keep them coming will keep tuning in fab tracks, keep sharing and blessing us with your talent.
Yes Veteran......Respect for passing through..I'm feeling ya music still nothing but good vibes...We definately need to link up. Hold it down King Bless!!
I do believe you and Lloyd Brown are in competition for cuteness!!
Anyway, just blessing up your page for all the good vibes you have bought to your shows in Huddersfield. And thanks for taking the picture with our young Child of black achievement winner Benjamin
