Third World is a Jamaican reggae fusion band formed in 1973
Stephen “Cat” Coore
Richard Daley
Tony “Ruption” Williams
Maurice Gregory
Norris “Noreiga” Webb
AJ Brown
| Past members | Michael “Ibo” Cooper Irvin “Carrot” Jarrett Carl Barovier Milton “Prilly” Hamilton Bunny Rugs Willie Stewart Rupert “Gypsy” Bent III Leroy “Baarbe” Romans Mikel Wallace Herbie Harris Robbie Lynn Pablo Stewart |
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As a result of their experience playing in The Alley Cats and Inner Circle (son of former Deputy Prime Minister David Coore), Third World started when keyboardist Michael “Ibo” Cooper and guitarist (and cellist) Stephen “Cat” Coore (son of late Deputy Prime Minister David Coore) left to form their own band along with Inner Circle singer Milton “Prilly” Hamilton. Before making their live debut in the spring of 1974, they recruited bassist Richard Daley, formerly in Ken Boothe’s band and Tomorrow’s Children, as well as drummer Carl Barovier and former Inner Circle percussionist Irvin “Carrot” Jarrett.
It was in 1974 that the band released their first single, “Railroad Track”. This single was produced by the band themselves after they recorded a number of tracks with Geoffrey Chung which were not released. At the beginning of their career, they played mostly in Kingston hotels and nightclubs, and they supported The Jackson Five at the Jamaican National Stadium (along with The Wailers).
Upon signing with Island Records, the band toured Europe with The Wailers and its self-titled debut album was released in the spring of 1976. There was also a cover of “Satta Massagana”, originally performed by The Abyssinians, on the album, which became a local hit after it was recorded by the group. Upon the recording of their second album, 96° in the Shade (1977), which included several local hits, Hamilton and Cornell Marshall (who had previously replaced Barovier) were replaced by two more former Inner Circle members, singer William “Bunny Rugs” Clarke and drummer Willie Stewart, who were also former members of the Inner Circle. It was notable among its eight tracks that they featured the song 1865 (96° in the Shade), a reference to the 1865 Morant Bay rebellion, as well as “Rhythm of Life” and the album’s only cover, “Dreamland”, written by Bunny Wailer. In 1976 they performed in front of some 80,000 people at the Smile Jamaica festival.
As early as the year 1977, the band collaborated with psychiatrist Fred Hickling on the Explanationations show, which was performed at Kingston’s Little Theatre in early 1978.