Name: The
Delegators
Locality: London, UK
Locality: London, UK
Color: Orange Fire—ska with influences near the equator.
The Story: What happened when a smooth cat named Teddy “Two Fingers” Garcia moved to London to jam with other smooth cats to 60’s Kingston greats and soul music? A band with some hip island sounds was formed. The name? The Delegators.
The Story: What happened when a smooth cat named Teddy “Two Fingers” Garcia moved to London to jam with other smooth cats to 60’s Kingston greats and soul music? A band with some hip island sounds was formed. The name? The Delegators.
60’s
Kingston, that brings up a few notables: Bob Marley and the
Wailers in their former years come to mind, along with Skatalites, Byron Lee and the Dragonaires. The sound of the Delegators is not just from Jamaica, though,
but from Detroit and Memphis as well, them citing labels whose classics became the building blocks for their own brand: Motown, Stax, Studio One, and Treasure Isle.
If you pair that with Smokey Robinson's “Tracks Of My Tears,” John Coltrane's “Dear Lord” and Nina Simone's “Do What You Gotta Do,” then you have the gamut of influences that have created the band's sound. Their musical journey stepping stones culminate in a mash-up that one can only dream of.
If you pair that with Smokey Robinson's “Tracks Of My Tears,” John Coltrane's “Dear Lord” and Nina Simone's “Do What You Gotta Do,” then you have the gamut of influences that have created the band's sound. Their musical journey stepping stones culminate in a mash-up that one can only dream of.
They released an EP entitled Movin' On in 2010 and a debut album last
year called All Aboard. The band studied the classics and hit the
road, changing it up with new members along the way. The current band features
Janet Kumah (vocalist), Leon Vince (tenor sax), Ramy Eissa (bass), Arthur Béranger
(drums), and Rick Venn (guitar).
The band
describes their free agency as of late with a quote that pretty much sums up
the whole shebang. Says Leon, “...we aren't sitting around hoping that a label is
going to come along and wave their magic wand - these days you have to get out
there and do it yourselves.” Preach.
If it
wasn’t for music...the Delegators say that life “would have no color.” They
bring their own cornucopia to the table. Catch the Delegators upcoming dates
in Winchester at the Boomtown Fair on August 9th and in Southampton at Ska Nation on August 30, and be sure to stay tuned for their next release.
Coloring
Outside The Lines Because: It's just the right time of year for the Delegators; and even when it's not summer, the Delegators take you there. Vocalist Janet Kumah has a mighty meaty voice but a
slick delivery. It’s like playing a track on vinyl in a record store, to the
very few that exist anymore. Their songs are classic, none the less original, creating a unique sound to stand out from carbon copy.
Think: sunbathing, frizzy hair, shades, cantaloupe juice, waking up late, road trip, outdoor music festival, jerk, fête.
Think: sunbathing, frizzy hair, shades, cantaloupe juice, waking up late, road trip, outdoor music festival, jerk, fête.
