Black Uhuru
Jamaican roots harmony group active since the early seventies, whose militant vocal trio format and heavy dub foundation shaped reggae's international breakthrough.
Black Uhuru came together in the Waterhouse district of Kingston in the early 1970s, with Derrick "Duckie" Simpson the one continuous member across a long succession of line-ups. The group's best-known configuration paired Simpson with Michael Rose on lead vocals and the American-born singer Puma Jones, working closely with the rhythm section of Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare.
That period produced albums including Sinsemilla, Red and Chill Out, records that combined tough Kingston rhythms with a spacious, dub-informed production approach and helped carry roots reggae to rock audiences in Britain and the United States. Anthem won the first Grammy Award given in the reggae category, in 1985. Rose left soon after, and Black Uhuru has continued under Simpson with changing singers.
Black Uhuru at a glance
What kind of music does Black Uhuru play?
Black Uhuru is tagged reggae.
What festivals has Black Uhuru played before?
Black Uhuru has played Glastonbury 2025.
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