Michael Rose

Michael Rose is a Jamaican reggae singer from Kingston, born in 1957 and raised in the Waterhouse area of western Kingston. He begins singing at home with his brothers, then moves into local talent shows and hotel work on Jamaica’s north coast before returning to Kingston in 1975, where producer Niney the Observer spots him and records early singles including “Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner” and “Clap The Barber”.

Black Uhuru

In 1976, Rose replaces Don Carlos as lead singer of the three-voice group Black Uhuru. His distinctive voice and self-written reality lyrics help define the group’s sound. Their first full-length recording, Love Crisis, is produced by Prince Jammy in 1977 and later remixed and reissued as Black Sounds of Freedom. After joining forces with Sly & Robbie, Black Uhuru record hit singles such as “Shine Eye Gal”, “General Penitentiary” and “Plastic Smile” on the Taxi label.

The group signs to Island Records in 1980 and records albums including Sinsemillia, Red, Chill Out and the Grammy-winning Anthem. Rose later returns to work with Black Uhuru in different forms, including recordings issued as X-Uhuru and the later project billed as Black Uhuru feat. Michael Rose.

Solo work

Rose leaves Black Uhuru in 1985 to pursue a solo career. He records singles such as “Bogus Badge” and “Demonstration” on his own Ruff Rose label, then pauses music to farm coffee on land he owns in Jamaica. He returns after signing to RCA in 1989. His solo debut, Proud, follows in Europe and Japan, and he later issues the Japan albums Bonanza and King Of General, with many of those recordings later remixed, re-recorded and reissued on Heartbeat.

In 1993 he reunites in the studio with Sly & Robbie for a run of singles including “Monkeys Business”, “One A We, Two A We” and “Bad Boys”. These recordings also appear in remixed form on X-Uhuru. His 1995 album Michael Rose, released on Heartbeat and produced by Niney the Observer, includes “Short Temper”. Another single, “Last Chance”, appears on the UK-based Ruff Cutt label and reaches the British charts for several weeks.

Further albums and collaborations

Rose also records Voice of the ghetto, also issued as Rising Star, produced by Bunny Gemini. This is followed by Be Yourself, which combines remixed versions of material from Bonanza with previously unreleased tracks, and a dub companion, Big Sound Frontline. He later releases Nuh carbon, licensed to Greensleeves/RAS Records, and then works again with Mafia and Fluxy on Dance Wicked and its dub counterpart Dub Wicked.

Other releases include Selassie I Showcase, which presents both vocal and dub tracks and includes a re-recorded version of “I Love King Selassie” over a sampled “Natural Mystic” rhythm. He also issues the live album Party in Session, recorded during tours across America in 1996 and 1997, and another live release on Tabou1 containing Black Uhuru recordings made in 1984.

Later activity

Rose continues to tour and record, including work with Sly & Robbie. Never Give It Up appears in 2001 and consists of self-produced material recorded in Miami, Florida. Later reissues and compilations include Happiness - The Best of Michael Rose, while Young T/Otis Riddim Records releases “Jump Nya Benge” on a showcase compilation. His music is associated with reggae, dancehall and dub, and he is linked with the Ruff Rose label.