Fatman Riddim Section was a Jamaican studio band formed around the musicians of Inner Circle, with keyboardist Bernard “Touter” Harvey at its centre. Active during the 1970s, the group became known for its instrumental reggae recordings and dub albums released on the Top Ranking label.
In a 2015 interview with United Reggae, Touter Harvey and bassist Ian Lewis explained that the name emerged after the musicians had completed recordings and were asked to produce dub versions. Rather than representing a permanently separate band, Fatman Riddim Section was a name used for instrumental and dub projects arising from Inner Circle's recording sessions. The musicians described the name as part of the distinctive history of their group and its productions.
The band's recordings were closely associated with Jacob Miller and the Lewis brothers' production activities. Its releases included *Bald Head Justice* (1978), *Heavyweight Dub* and *Featuring “Touter”* (1978), followed by *Fatman Riddim Section Meets Downtown Horns at Channel One* (1979). The latter combined the band's instrumental rhythms with horn arrangements, while other productions reworked vocal tracks into dub versions.
The musicians involved included Bernard “Touter” Harvey on keyboards, Ian Lewis on bass, Roger Lewis on rhythm guitar, Earl “Chinna” Smith on lead guitar, Charles Farquharson on guitar and keyboards, and drummers Sly Dunbar and Calvin McKenzie, with percussion by Sky Juice. Personnel varied according to the recording session.
Fatman Riddim Section's work reflects the close relationship between Jamaican studio bands, independent labels and sound system culture during the roots reggae era. Its recordings also demonstrate the importance of dub versions as creative works in their own right, rather than merely alternative mixes of vocal songs. Although the name was used for a relatively limited number of releases, the band's music remains an important part of the recorded legacy of Inner Circle and Bernard “Touter” Harvey.
