Harmony groups

The Heptones were a Jamaican rocksteady and reggae vocal trio formed in Kingston in 1965 by Leroy Sibbles, Earl Morgan and Barry Llewellyn. Central to Coxsone Dodd's Studio One, they scored hits beginning with "Fattie Fattie" (1966), while Sibbles also served as the label's bassist, arranger and auditioner alongside Jackie Mittoo. Their 1973 title track "Book of Rules" became one of their most celebrated recordings.

The Paragons were a Jamaican rocksteady vocal trio, led by John Holt, best known for "The Tide Is High" (1967), produced by Duke Reid for his Treasure Isle label. The song became an international standard well beyond reggae after Blondie's 1980 cover topped both the US and UK charts, and it returned to UK number one again in 2002 in a version by Atomic Kitten.

The Melodians were a rocksteady vocal group formed in Kingston's Greenwich Town area in 1963 by Tony Brevett, Brent Dowe and Trevor McNaughton. Recording for producers including Coxsone Dodd, Duke Reid and Leslie Kong, they are best known for "Sweet Sensation" and "Rivers of Babylon," the latter adapted from Psalm 137 and later a global hit via the film The Harder They Come and Boney M's cover. Lead singer Brent Dowe (1946–2006) co-wrote several of the group's signature songs.

The Gaylads were a Jamaican rocksteady and reggae vocal group formed in Kingston in 1963, whose core comprised Harris "B. B." Seaton, Winston Delano Stewart and Maurice Roberts. They gained popularity recording at Studio One with Coxsone Dodd from 1966, with hits such as "Stop Making Love," "Joy in the Morning" and the earlier "Lady with the Red Dress," and issued the album Soul Beat. After original members emigrated, Maurice Roberts (1935–2005) continued the group before eventually renaming it the Psalms.

The Maytals (renamed Toots and the Maytals in 1972) are a Jamaican vocal group formed in the early 1960s by Frederick "Toots" Hibbert (1942–2020) with Henry "Raleigh" Gordon and Nathaniel "Jerry" Mathias, and are among the best-known ska and rocksteady acts. Their gospel-charged harmonies produced enduring hits including "54-46 (That's My Number)," "Monkey Man," "Pressure Drop" and "Funky Kingston," recording for producers such as Leslie Kong. Their 1968 single "Do the Reggay" is credited with first using the word that named the genre.

Jamaican vocal harmony group formed in the mid-1960s and central to Duke Reid's Treasure Isle rocksteady sound, whose lead singers included Slim Smith and later Pat Kelly; classics include 'Queen Majesty' and 'You Don't Care'. A foundational rocksteady harmony group.

Jamaican rocksteady vocal harmony group formed in 1966, originally featuring Roy Shirley, Slim Smith and Franklyn White, best remembered for the Bunny Lee-associated classic 'My Conversation'. An influential rocksteady harmony group.').

Jamaican vocal harmony trio led by Keble Drummond that recorded for Studio One in the late 1960s, best known for the rocksteady hit 'Baby Why', whose rhythm became a much-versioned classic. A key Studio One harmony group.

Jamaican vocal harmony group from Clarendon parish, originally Ernest Wilson and Peter Austin (later joined by a young Freddie McGregor), whose Studio One rude-boy-era hits include 'Rudie Bam Bam' and 'You Can't Be Happy'. A ska/rocksteady harmony group.

Jamaican vocal harmony group led by Tommy Cowan that won the 1967 Festival Song Competition with the Treasure Isle rocksteady classic 'Ba Ba Boom'. A celebrated rocksteady harmony group.