The Tennors

From Jamaica Wiki

The Tennors-The band who brought the music world to Jamaica

The Tennors, considered a unique vocal group of Jamaica which unfortunately did not their due; despite their singles being successful from the rock-steady era to the Reggae age.

Originally, started as “The Twin Tennors” Albert George Murphy (Clive Tennors) and Maurice 'Prof' Johnson in mid-1960s. They performed at many occasions.

“The Tennors” band was formed when the Norman Davis joined them. In 1967, their first song “Pressure and Slide” recorded at “Studio One”, was the biggest hit in Jamaica. IT became so popular that it came back again for years to come in new versions. Yet, the irony was that "Sir" Coxone Dodd, the owner of the “Studio One” did not pay their rightful due, but instead humiliated them by literally kicking them out. It just showed as to how black talents were being misused in Jamaica by the whites.

Therefore, to avenge this humiliation, Murphy started his production, ”Tennors” through which he not only launched his own music but that of other promising artists like “Jackie Bernard, Eric "Monty" Morris and Roman Stewart” etc. However by 1967, they were two, with Johnsons’ death in an accident and continued with songs like "Ride Yu Donkey," "Copy Mi Donkey," "Scrub Mi Khaki", "Cleopatra" etc. Another irony was that “Donkey” song too was turned down by a number of people before they decided to do it themselves. It turned out to be a huge success in 1968 and was pirated and used illegally by other productions without permissions.

Many singers joined “The Tennors”, for instance, Ronnie Davis in 1968, which then created more greats like "The Stage’, ‘Weather Report" and "Another Scorcher". In 1973, they were the best performers in the Jamaica Festival where they performed the "Hopeful Village". Others singers to name a few are Nehemiah Davis, George Dekker.

Although the Tennors could not repeat the similar success of their first two singles, they brought forth many classics climaxing in 1969, with a host of songs like "Sufferer", "Sign of the Times", "Biff Baff" (aka "Traitor"), "Little Things", among other greats.

Their unique music style which had the combination of rural and down-to-earth, melodious harmonies and melodies, made them popular. They produced most of their singles released via their Tennors labels. The financial constraints and tension finally had their way in dismantling “The Tennors” in 1975. However, their founder, Murphy has now managed to restore all his greats which he had preserved all these years using the DAT technology, by which they are available today, which shall take you down a passage of time.