Sheridan Opera House: “The Mighty Diamonds”

18 Aug Sheridan Opera House: “The Mighty Diamonds”

Telluride’s Sheridan Arts Foundation presents a night of reggae with Jamaican legends The Mighty Diamonds, the most consistent and long-running vocal trio in Jamaican musical history, live at the historic Sheridan Opera House Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2015.  Tickets are $20 GA floor and $30 reserved balcony in advance. (Tickets will be $5 more day of the show.) Buy early here.

Lloyd “Judge” Ferguson, Fitzroy ”Bunny” Simpson and Donald “Tabby” Shaw formed The Mighty Diamonds in 1969 in the Trenchtown area of Kingston, Jamaica. The group is now the most consistent and long-running vocal trio in Jamaican musical history.

The Mighty Diamonds

With their sweet harmonies and polished performances, The Mighty Diamonds quickly became known as the young group with the Motown sound. Their first recordings at Dynamic Sounds eventually led to their classic hit “Shame and Pride” in 1973. Their first hit singles “Country Living” and “Hey Girl” were recorded on the Channel One label. After touring the U.S. with Toots and the Maytals, the group signed to Virgin Records in 1975 and recorded four albums. Their debut album Right Time become a classic with generated hits such as “Africa,” “Have Mercy” “Natural Natty,” “Them Never Love Poor Marcus,” and the reggae party album, “Pass the Kutchie,” which has been sampled by everyone from Lauryn Hill to Michael Franti and Wyclef Jean.

By 1982, “Pass the Kutchie” from the album Changes had become an international hit, later covered by Musical Youth, whose version “Pass the Dutchie” also went big.

Judge, Bunny, and Tabby have produced over 40 albums over their long career. The trio has toured the world extensively and has a strong following in Europe and Japan, as well as in the U.S. In Jamaica, The Mighty Diamonds are forever loved.

On-stage antics of The Mighty Diamonds are reminiscent of the Four Tops, including animated hand gestures and energetic footwork. And they are favorites of the dance hall crowd, roots and progressive audiences.

The Mighty Diamonds continue to achieve stardom on their own terms, wrapping a militant message into some of the prettiest melodies around. Even with their mushrooming international popularity, the Mighty Diamonds have not forgotten their roots, the unique cultural potpourri of Jamaica with its harsh ghetto realities and irresistible reggae pulse.

The Mighty Diamonds are remarkable for the fact that the three founding members have remained together, despite the ever-changing and cut-throat music business, for over 46 years and counting, finding strength and inspiration in their faith in Rastafari and love of Jah.

The group’s message is one of unity, love, and at times, rebellion in the face of injustice. Their unquestionable reputation for a stylized traditional and polished sound has earned them prominence as a model reggae harmony trio.

The Mighty Diamonds just released their latest single, “Special Lady,” a remake of Ray, Goodman and Brown’s 1980’s ballad, on their independent label, Street Corner Music.

In 2015,  The Mighty Diamonds will be releasing their long-awaited surprise titled album.

For a preview of the show, watch The Mighty Diamonds in action.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHLdJGtnj-g

Tickets are available online at sheridanoperahouse.com or by calling 970.728.6363 ext. 5.

Guests visiting from out of town for this show can receive 15 percent off lodging by using the code 15Show when booking a room at TellurideHotels.com.

The Sheridan Arts Foundation was founded in 1991 as a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization to preserve the historic Sheridan Opera House as an arts and cultural resource for the Telluride community, to bring quality arts and cultural events to Telluride and to provide local and national youth with access and exposure to the arts through education. The Sheridan Arts Foundation is sponsored in part by grants from the Telluride Foundation and CCAASE.