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'Rugs' adds flavour to Third World
BY HOWARD CAMPBELL Observer senior writer
Wednesday, February 12, 2014
William ‘Bunny Rugs’ Clarke (foreground), lead singer of Third World, and guitarist Stephen ‘Cat’ Coore perform at Jamaica Jazz and Blues at the Trelawny Multi-Purpose Stadium last year.
February is Reggae Month and the Jamaica Observer continues its coverage with related stories.
THERE was an air of expectancy ahead of production for Third World's second album in 1976. The three-year-old band wanted to expand on its self-titled debut and had a new singer leading the charge.
William 'Bunny Rugs' Clarke had officially joined the band in the summer of '76, replacing original vocalist Milton 'Prilly' Hamilton.
Rugs first saw Third World in concert at the Bottom Line club in Greenwich Village, New York the previous winter. But the band's co-founder and guitarist Stephen 'Cat' Coore said the group was not shopping for a singer at the time.
"Prilly was entrenched but we wanted more reggae for the second album, and Prilly was into R&B so that created some differences," Coore recalled.
Third World's first album was released by Island Records in 1976 shortly after opening for Bob Marley on a handful of British dates.
Production on 96 Degrees In The Shade began with Rugs at the Harry J studio in Kingston where Marley had recorded his 1974 breakthrough album, Natty Dread.
Although Coore and keyboardist/co-founder Ibo Cooper shared vocals with Rugs on Jah Glory, Tribal War and Human Marketplace, Coore says the 'new boy' fit in perfectly.
"He had a dynamic personality and brought a better blend of R&B and reggae to the table."
Driven by the title song, 96 Degrees In The Shade was released by Island in 1977 and confirmed the promise Third World showed on debut.
Coore believed by their third album, 1978's Journey to Addis, Rugs had come into his own.
"That album gave him and the band new definition," said Coore.
William 'Bunny Rugs' Clarke died on February 2 in Orlando, Florida at age 65. A thanksgiving service for his life will be held today in
that city.
BY HOWARD CAMPBELL Observer senior writer
Wednesday, February 12, 2014
William ‘Bunny Rugs’ Clarke (foreground), lead singer of Third World, and guitarist Stephen ‘Cat’ Coore perform at Jamaica Jazz and Blues at the Trelawny Multi-Purpose Stadium last year.
February is Reggae Month and the Jamaica Observer continues its coverage with related stories.
THERE was an air of expectancy ahead of production for Third World's second album in 1976. The three-year-old band wanted to expand on its self-titled debut and had a new singer leading the charge.
William 'Bunny Rugs' Clarke had officially joined the band in the summer of '76, replacing original vocalist Milton 'Prilly' Hamilton.
Rugs first saw Third World in concert at the Bottom Line club in Greenwich Village, New York the previous winter. But the band's co-founder and guitarist Stephen 'Cat' Coore said the group was not shopping for a singer at the time.
"Prilly was entrenched but we wanted more reggae for the second album, and Prilly was into R&B so that created some differences," Coore recalled.
Third World's first album was released by Island Records in 1976 shortly after opening for Bob Marley on a handful of British dates.
Production on 96 Degrees In The Shade began with Rugs at the Harry J studio in Kingston where Marley had recorded his 1974 breakthrough album, Natty Dread.
Although Coore and keyboardist/co-founder Ibo Cooper shared vocals with Rugs on Jah Glory, Tribal War and Human Marketplace, Coore says the 'new boy' fit in perfectly.
"He had a dynamic personality and brought a better blend of R&B and reggae to the table."
Driven by the title song, 96 Degrees In The Shade was released by Island in 1977 and confirmed the promise Third World showed on debut.
Coore believed by their third album, 1978's Journey to Addis, Rugs had come into his own.
"That album gave him and the band new definition," said Coore.
William 'Bunny Rugs' Clarke died on February 2 in Orlando, Florida at age 65. A thanksgiving service for his life will be held today in
that city.
