File
LEFT: The members of Live Wyya band celebrate after winning the Jamaican leg of Global Battle of the Bands in November 2005.
RIGHT: C-Sharp Band.

Krista Henry, Staff Reporter

Stepping up to centre stage, a number of popular Jamaican backing bands are shying away from the support role and pursuing their own careers.

Backing bands are an important part of the music industry, performing with entertainers at major and minor shows. But for a number of bands, including Katalyst Krew, Gumption Band, C-Sharp and Live Wyya, being the 'backup' is simply not enough.

The aspiration for something more is, of course, not new, and there are good examples to follow. Third World is one of the most influential reggae outfits which took the spotlight as a mainstream show band in the 1970s. However, one of Third World's first major performances was opening for the acclaimed Jackson Five at the National Stadium in St Andrew for a 30,000-plus audience.

Great backing from Live Wyya

Live Wyya has been at the top of their game as a backing band since their inception in 1999. Performing at shows such as Rebel Salute and Sting, Live Wyya has played for nearly every reggae and dancehall artiste. However, the band is looking to expand their wings and move further up into the spotlight.

Co-manager and road manager for the group, Teddy Laidley, told The Sunday Gleaner, "They started out as a backing band, but one of the things I mentioned to them is that when you look at it not many bands around are show bands. The only show band is really Third World; you have Fab 5 who do their own thing but they are still a backing band. They need to move out of that role of backing into something else."

One of the ways in which the group is distinguishing themselves as a solo outfit is nabbing a spot on the 'Gregory Issacs and Live Wyya Tour' which the group is currently on. Laidley explained that "This current tour with Gregory is one way of exposing their new single Masterpiece, and doing work as a show band." On the tour Live Wyya performs as opening act for Issacs showcasing their talent as a group. They have recorded and released their first album, entitled Solid Meditation.

From Solid Meditation has previously come three singles - Johnny, Red Light and Hooked On You. Other singles include the Peter Tosh covers Nothing But Love, featuring Nikki Burt, and Jah Guide. Now they have released Masterpiece and also have a music video for the song.

Gumption is another band that has high hopes of becoming a show band. In a previous interview with The Sunday Gleaner, Gumption said they were in the process of looking for a main vocalist in the hope of recording songs. Phanso from Gumption said, "We are trying to reposition the band. We are known by many as a backing band, but we want to put out some recording. We are not saying we are no longer a backing band either."

C-Sharp came together in December 2001 while the band's members were studying at the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts. They slowly made themselves into one of the premier backing bands in the country. Having performed with a host of artistes, including Rita Marley, Chaka Demus and Pliers and Damian 'Junior Gong' Marley, C-Sharp soon learnt the business and was inspired to set the stage ablaze with their own talent.

Bass player and vocalist Aeion Hoilett told The Sunday Gleaner that "In 2004 we took a trip to Haiti (for Haiti's milestone of 200th year of independence) and we for the first time we did a show as a show band. We did a lot of covers of Bob Marley and other popular songs of the day. We are all talentedmusicians and we decided to stay away from the backing band stuff and continue as artistes."

Their debut album, What a Day, graced the shelves in January 2006, featuring songs such as Never Give Up and the title track. According to Hoilett, working as a show band can be more profitable than working as a backing band, and the group has begun to gain recognition as a stand-alone unit.

Hoilett explained that "These days we can pick and choose who we back. Most times we are getting shows as featured artistes. In a few months from now we will step away from backing permanently." The group's hot new single, No More, and accompanying music video, released in 2007, is making a lasting impression on the airwaves.

And C-Sharp continues to tour, as they and other backingbands-turned-show bands build their musical reputation with fans worldwide.