People Open DS/UK/12579 Aswad (1975) Aswad 1975 British reggae band Group (Male) London, England (formed) British Music | Ensemble | Reggae Black No known disability No known religious affiliation Original Members: Brinsley Forde, Angus Gaye, Donald Griffiths, George Oban, Courtney Hemmings Previous Members: Tony Robinson Unknown Aswad are a long-lasting British reggae group, noted for adding strong R&B and soul influences to the reggae sound. They have been performing since the mid-1970s, having released a total of 21 albums. "Aswad" means "black" in Arabic. The members of Aswad are UK descendants of immigrants from the Caribbean. They attended John Kelly/Holland Park School. They became one of the UK's top reggae bands in the 1980s, following the departures of Hemmings (in 1976), Oban and Griffiths (both in 1980), and the arrival of Tony "Gad" Robinson (as a replacement for Oban). They were distinctly different from Jamaican reggae acts, in that they wrote songs that dealt with the issues surrounding the experiences of black youths growing-up in the UK; such as "Three Babylon" and "It's Not Our Wish", and the powerful jazz-influenced instrumental "Warrior Charge". The members are all UK descendants of immigrants from the Caribbean https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aswad (2019) International Standard Archival Authority Record for Corporate Bodies, Persons and Families - ISAAR(CPF) 2nd edition - ICA 2004 ISBN 2-9521932-2-3 National Council on Archives, Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997 RAHSkeyte 2/12/2014 RAHAKirkbride 6/20/2023 76887603-103e-4843-8542-79d92af137cf