The Mighty Diamonds
formed - 1975
(Kingston, Jamaica)
Donald 'Tabby' Shaw - ... the prophet
Fitzroy 'Bunny' Simpson -
... the jester
Lloyd 'Judge' Ferguson - ... the judge
The most consistent and long-running vocal trio in Jamaican musical history, consisting of the judge (Judge), the jester (Bunny), and the prophet (Tabby Diamond, the lead singer). Possessing one of the most achingly pure voices on earth, Tabby croons mini morality plays, limning life on the island of suffering with the precision of a microscope. They are best known for the reggae classics "Pass the Koutchie," "Country Living," and "The Right Time."
-- Courtesy ( -- Roger Steffens, All-Music Guide) --
 Known in the reggae business for their sweet, soulful harmonies and constant hits, the Mighty Diamonds are one of the world's greatest harmony groups who continue to achieve stardom on their own terms, wrapping a militant message in some of the prettiest melodies around. Even with their mushrooming international popularity, the Mighty Diamonds have not forgotten their roots which come from the unique cultural potpourri of Jamaica with its harsh ghetto realities and its irresistible reggae pulse.
On stage antics of the Mighty Diamonds are reminiscent of the Four Tops with their animated hand gestures and energetic footwork. Favorites of the dance hall crowd, roots or progressive audiences, the Diamonds have thrilled audiences at Reggae Sunsplash for over a decade while generating mounds of favorable US and European press. Their unquestionable reputation for a stylized traditional and polished sound has earned them prominence as a model reggae harmony trio.
Formed in 1969, the Mighty Diamonds consist of Donald Shaw (Tabby Diamond), Lloyd Ferguson (Judge Diamond), and Fitzroy Simpson (Bunny Diamond), three brethren from Trenchtown, Jamaica, an area known to produce many great Reggae stars. Their first recordings at Dynamic Sounds eventually led them to their classic hit "Shame and Pride" in 1973.
Known as the young group with the "Motown sound", the Diamonds recorded "Country Living" at Channel Music. After touring the US with Toots and the Maytals, the group signed to Virgin Records in 1975 and recorded four albums. By 1982, "Pass the Kutchie" from the album Changes had become an international hit and has since been covered by Musical Youth, whose version "Pass the Dutchie" has also been a hit all over the world. |
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