08/09/2025
Formed in the late 1960s in Kingston, Jamaica, The Gladiators emerged as a formidable roots reggae band under the leadership of guitarist and vocalist Albert Griffiths, who was born in St. Elizabeth in 1946. The band's name was inspired by a fellow bus passenger who had just watched Ben‑Hur, and it resonated deeply with Griffiths as a symbol of struggle against oppression.
Initially a trio with childhood friends David Webber and Errol Grandison, the line-up shifted when Webber was replaced by Clinton Fearon in 1969 and Grandison by Gallimore Sutherland in 1973—solidifying the classic Griffiths‑Fearon‑Sutherland trio.
Their first major hit, “Hello Carol”, recorded at Studio One under the direction of Coxsone Dodd, topped the Jamaican charts in 1968 and helped establish the group's enduring sound. Griffiths and Fearon often supported other prominent artists in the studio, including Burning Spear and Stranger Cole.
Throughout the 1970s, the band produced a string of timeless tracks such as “Roots Natty”, “Bongo Red”, “Jah Jah Go Before Us”, and “Freedom Train”—songs that resonated deeply across Jamaica and the British reggae underground. They also participated in notable sessions at Lee "Scratch" Perry’s Black Ark studios in 1974.
In 1976, The Gladiators signed with Virgin Records and released their acclaimed debut album, Trenchtown Mix Up. The album included re-recorded favorites like “Bongo Red” (as “Mix Up”) and “Hello Carol,” as well as covers of Bob Marley’s “Soul Rebel” and “Rude Boy Ska”. Allmusic called the album "masterful" and a roots-reggae classic.
Their follow-up Proverbial Reggae (1978) further cemented their legacy with powerful tracks such as “Jah Works”, “Dreadlocks the Time Is Now”, and “Music Makers from Jamaica”. The British dub poet Linton Kwesi Johnson praised it for its poetic lyrics and majestic harmonies.
