Drummie Zeb
Drummie Zeb | |
---|---|
Born | Angus Gaye 24 September 1959 London, England |
Died | 2 September 2022 | (aged 62)
Years active | 1975–2022 |
Children | 6 |
Musical career | |
Genres | Reggae |
Occupation(s) |
|
Formerly of | Aswad |
Angus Gaye (24 September 1959 – 2 September 2022), better known as Drummie Zeb, was an English musician. He was the drummer and vocalist for the reggae band Aswad,[1] as well as a record producer for other artists.
Early life
Gaye was born in
Gaye took an interest in drumming after a cousin, who was a drummer, started living at his family home as a tenant. He would use anything he had at hand to use as a drum. His father bought him his first drum at the age of eight so he would stop damaging family property and Gaye eventually became a kit drummer in the local steelpan band called the "Metronomes".[5][4]
Career
In 1975, Gaye saw an advertisement for the band Aswad and turned up for the audition, where he was successful in getting the part of the drummer.[4] They became the first British reggae group to sign with an international label, signing up with Island Records in 1975. Gaye was the only member who remained a part of the band throughout its existence.[2][4] As the songs of the band became more commercial-oriented in nature in the 1980s, he started assuming most of the lead vocalist duties and eventually replaced Forde.[6]
Aswad gained popularity after the release of their debut single "Back to Africa" in 1976.[4] They followed this up with Love Fire (1981), Rise and Shine (1994), which earned a Grammy nomination for Best Reggae Album, Dub: The Next Frontier (1995),[7] and Cool Summer Reggae (2002).[8] Aswad ultimately released 21 albums and received two more Grammy nominations.[9] By 2006, he and Robinson were the only founding members still playing with the group.[10] Aswad released their last album, City Lock, in 2009.[9]
Outside of Aswad, Gaye served as a
Personal life
Gaye had six children,[12] including Soloman who is also a reggae artist.[13] He died on 2 September 2022 at the age of 62.[5][4] The cause of death has not been given.[2]
References
Specific
- AMG. Archivedfrom the original on 20 September 2022. Retrieved 8 May 2010.
- ^ a b c d Abdul, Geneva (2 September 2022). "Drummie Zeb, lead singer of UK reggae band Aswad, dies aged 62". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 3 September 2022. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
- ^ a b c d Pedersen, Erik (2 September 2022). "Drummie Zeb Dies: Singer For UK Reggae Group Aswad Was 62". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 3 September 2022. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f "Drummie Zeb obituary". The Times. 5 September 2022. Archived from the original on 5 September 2022. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
- ^ a b c David Katz (8 September 2022). "Angus 'Drummie Zeb' Gaye obituary". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 14 September 2022. Retrieved 14 September 2022.
- ^ Fred Zindi (11 September 2022). "In the groove: Obituary: Aswad's Angus Gaye aka 'Drummie Zeb' dead". The Standard. Archived from the original on 20 September 2022. Retrieved 14 September 2022.
- ISBN 9781134700240. Archivedfrom the original on 20 September 2022. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
- ^ a b Moskowitz 2006, p. 119.
- ^ a b O'Connor, Roisin (3 September 2022). "Drummie Zeb death: Singer of British reggae band Aswad dies aged 62". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on 5 September 2022. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
- ^ Moskowitz 2006, p. 17.
- ^ Katz, David (22 September 2011). "Lover's rock: the story of reggae's Motown". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 3 January 2019. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
- ^ "Aswad singer Drummie Zeb dies". San Francisco Examiner. 2 September 2022. Archived from the original on 5 September 2022. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
- ISBN 9780774862301. Archivedfrom the original on 20 September 2022. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
Bibliography
- Moskowitz, David Vlado (2006). Caribbean Popular Music: An Encyclopedia of Reggae, Mento, Ska, Rock Steady, and Dancehall. Greenwood Publishing Group. ISBN 9780313331589. Archivedfrom the original on 3 December 2021. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
External links
- Drummie Zeb discography at Discogs
- Drummie Zeb at IMDb
- Portraits of Drummie Zeb at the National Portrait Gallery, London