The Gaylads

The Gaylads is a rocksteady / reggae vocal group formed in Kingston, Jamaica in 1963. Founded by former Winston & Bibby members Harris ‘B. B.’ Seaton and Winston Delano Stewart plus Maurice Roberts, who would remain the only constant member throughout the 1960s and into the 1970s. The Gaylads’ early singles included 1964’s “Whap Whap,” “Charley Marley,” and “Chi Chi Bud” and 1965’s “Big Bamboo.” The group achieved a significant boost in popularity in 1966 once they began recording at Studio One with producer Clement ‘Coxsone’ Dodd. Singles such as “Stop Making Love” (1966), “Give a Helping Hand” (1966), and “Lady with the Red Dress” (1966) paved way for their 1967 album Soul Beat. The Gaylords collaborated with many influential Jamaican musicians – including Ken Boothe, Delroy Wilson, and Ken Parker – before working with producer Sonia Pottinger in 1968 and Leslie Kong in 1969 and achieving more success. However, Winston Delano Stewart left the group and emigrated to the US before the release of The Gaylads’ 1970 album Fire and Rain. When Harris ‘B. B.’ Seaton was the second member to leave Jamaica, Maurice Roberts chose to continue with the group and brought in brothers Randell and Hopeton Thaxter to replace the two original members. After the release of the 1979 album Understanding (issued under the name The Gayladds), Maurice Roberts changed the name of the group to The Psalms and worked with artists such as Bunny Wailer. There were several Gaylads reunions by original members in the 1990s, but nothing permanent. The group was later revived in 2012 by B. B. Seaton, who performed with several new members. Maurice Roberts died at the age of 70 on August 14,2005. B. B. Seaton died at the age of 79 on March 4, 2024.

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