Zap Pow

Zap Pow is a Jamaican reggae band, founded by singer/bassist Michael Williams aka Mikey Zappow and guitarist Dwight Pinkney. Members also included singer Beres Hammond, trumpeter David Madden, saxman Glen DaCosta, and drummer Cornell Marshall. They originally existed from 1969 to 1979. They re-formed in 2016.

Zap Pow
Jazz- and reggaeconsert in the street in Spanish Town, Jamaica(1979)
Background information
OriginKingston, Jamaica
GenresReggae
Years active1969–1979, 2016–present
LabelsTrojan, Island
Members
  • Dwight Pinkney
  • Glen DaCosta
  • Lebert "Gibby" Morrison
  • Richard "T Bird" Johnson
  • Lando Bolt
  • Everol Wray
  • Geoffrey Forrest
  • Fiona
Past members

History

The band was formed in 1969, by musicians Michael Williams (bass, guitar, vocals, songwriter, former drummer of Bobby Aitken's Caribbeats),[1] ) and Dwight Pinkney (guitar, vocals, formerly of The Sharks and guitarist on a 1966 session by The Wailers), Max Edwards (drums), Glen DaCosta (tenor saxophone, vocals, flute, a former pupil at Alpha Boys School), Joe McCormack (trombone), and David Madden (trumpet, vocals, another former pupil at Alpha Boys School, who had previously recorded with Cedric Brooks under the name 'Im and Dave').[2][3] Pinkney and Williams had previously played together in the band Winston Turner & the Untouchables.[4] The band's name came from a comic book that Williams had read.[4] Several singles were released in 1970-71 including the hit "This is Reggae Music", and in 1971 their debut album, Revolutionary Zap Pow, was released on the Harry J label.

In 1975, Beres Hammond joined as lead singer (other singers with the band included Winston "King" Cole, Milton "Prilly" Hamilton, Bunny Rugs and Jacob Miller),[5] and their Tommy Cowan-produced 1976 album, Zap Pow Now topped the reggae chart in the UK.[3] Trojan Records issued Revolution in the same year. Edwards left in 1977, to be replaced by Cornell Marshall.[2] The band split up in 1979 with Hammond going on to a successful solo career.[3][5] Pinkney went on to play with Roots Radics, and Edwards also pursued a solo career.[3] Williams recorded and performed solo as Mikey Zappow.[3] The horn section of DaCosta, McCormack and Madden were regularly used in recording sessions for other artists including Bob Marley & the Wailers, and they also recorded prolifically as individual session musicians, often being used by Lee "Scratch" Perry for sessions at his Black Ark studio.[3][6] Madden went on to release solo albums, as did DaCosta.[3]

Williams died in 2005, aged 61.[4] In 2007 the band were honoured at the Prime Minister's Gala on Jamaican independence day.[5]

Pinkney and DaCosta re-formed Zap Pow in 2016, and by 2017 the band also included Lebert "Gibby" Morrison (bass), Richard "T Bird" Johnson (keyboards), Lando Bolt (drums), Everol Wray (trumpet), and singers Geoffrey Forrest and Fiona.[7] They recorded a new album, Zap Pow Again, released in October 2017.[7]

Discography

Albums
  • Revolutionary Zap Pow (1971), Harry J
  • Zap Pow Now (1976), Vulcan
  • Revolution (1976), Trojan
  • Zap Pow (1978), Island
  • Zap Pow Again (2017), VP

Compilation albums
  • Beres Hammond Meets Zappow in Jamaica, Rhino
  • Jungle Beat, Lagoon
  • Love Hits, LMS
  • Reggae Rules, Rhino
  • Revolution (the best of) (2007), Trojan

References
  1. Katz, David (2003) Solid Foundation: an Oral History of Reggae, Bloomsbury, ISBN 0-7475-6847-2, p. 69
  2. Leggett, Steve "Zap Pow Biography", Allmusic, retrieved 2011-01-02
  3. Larkin, Colin (1998) The Virgin Encyclopedia of Reggae, Virgin Books, ISBN 0-7535-0242-9, p. 323-4
  4. "Jamaica's musical icon Michael Williams dies Archived 2 October 2011 at the Wayback Machine", Jamaica Gleaner, 18 August 2005, retrieved 2011-01-02
  5. Cooke, Mel (2007) "Zap Pow honoured 30 years after break-up Archived 2 October 2011 at the Wayback Machine", Jamaica Gleaner, 30 August 2007, retrieved 2011-01-02
  6. Katz, David (2000) People Funny Boy: The Genius of Lee "Scratch" Perry, Payback Press, ISBN 0-86241-854-2, p. 294
  7. Campbell, Howard (2017) "The Return of Zap Pow", Jamaica Observer, 5 October 2017. Retrieved 7 October 2017
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