The Gaylads

Renowned rocksteady harmony trio the Gaylads was formed in 1963 by Kingston-born vocalists Harris "B.B." Seaton and Winston Delano Stewart, who as the duo of Winston & Bibby previously enjoyed a series of Coxsone Dodd-produced hits including "Joybells," "I'll Be There" and "Lover Man." With the addition of local singer Maurice Roberts, the newly-formed Gaylads returned to Dodd's Studio One to cut their first hits, reeling off a string of well-received sides like "Whap Whap," "There'll Come a Day" and "What Is Wrong with Me." As Seaton began work with another Kingston group, the Astronauts, the Gaylads' activities ground to a temporary halt, but in 1966 the group returned in force with the hits "Lady with the Red Dress," "Stop Making Love" and "Don't Say No"; they also became a regular fixture of other Dodd sessions, backing singers including Slim Smith and Ken Boothe (for whom Seaton authored the classic "The Girl I Left Behind"). The sea change from ska to the slower rocksteady rhythm brought with it a huge shift in the Gaylads' approach -- no longer restrained by the demands of uptempo material, they were free to attempt more complex and sophisticated harmonies, resulting a number of 1967 hits including "Love Me with All Your Heart," "How Can I Go On" and "I Am Free" (all later included on the trio's debut LP, The Soul Beat). Upon completing the follow-up, Sunshine Is Golden, the Gaylads parted ways with Dodd, signing on with producer Sonia Pottinger for the fine "It's Hard to Confess." The quality of the Gaylads' work with Pottinger remained high over the sessions to follow, with efforts like "A.B.C. Rocksteady" and "Over the Rainbow's End" ranking with the group's very best work. However, in late 1968 Stewart left the trio to mount a solo career; Seaton and Roberts...