The Soul Syndicate

The Soul Syndicate

Also known as: Soul Syndicate Band

Soul Syndicate, originally called the Rhythm Raiders, were one of the top reggae session bands in Jamaica from the early 1970s to the mid-1980s.

History
In the first half of the 1970s the band from the Greenwich Farm area of Kingston recorded for producers such as Keith Hudson, Winston Holness (under the pseudonym The Observers), Duke Reid and others on some of the most popular and influential recordings of the era. Core members of the band are guitarist Earl "Chinna" Smith, drummer Carlton "Santa" Davis, bassist and founder of Soul Syndicate George "Fully" Fullwood, rhythm guitarist Tony Chin and keyboard player Bernard "Touter" Harvey, later with Keith Sterling on keyboards. Other members at various times included drummer Leroy "Horsemouth" Wallace, guitarist Cleon Douglas, and keyboard players Earl Lindo and Tyrone Downie. Freddie McGregor was at one time the band's featured vocalist. The nucleus of the band also recorded under the name The Aggrovators for Bunny Lee. As well as playing on countless releases backing some of Jamaica's top vocalists, including Dennis Brown and Gregory Isaacs, they also released several albums credited to the band. Harvey later became a member of The Wailers Band. According to guitarist Tony Chin, "Sun is Shining" (1978) was the first song members of the band recorded with Bob Marley. Soul Syndicate is also credited with recording the original versions of the Wailers' tunes "Small Axe" and "Mr. Brown". The Soul Syndicate's "Stalag 17" and "Taxi" bass lines, are among many bass lines created by George "Fully" Fullwood, an instrumental, featuring Ansell Collins on organ who was a resident studio musician for Soul Syndicate in the 1970s, was much-versioned, providing the basis for hits over the two decades that followed for Big Youth, Horace Andy, Augustus Pablo, Frankie Paul, General Echo, Tenor Saw and others. Soul Syndicate is accredited with performing on singles featuring many vocalists and feature artists including: Roy Shirley, Max Romeo, Cynthia Richards, Keith Hudson, Winston Jarrett, Dirty Harry, Bobby Ellis, Lenroy Muffatt & the Soul Tops, Joe Gibbs, Romax & Elaine, Maria Baines, Abdul Sabuza, Leonard Dillon, Junior Byles, Errol Alphanso, African Brothers, Bim Sherman, Bobby Kalphat, Bim Man, Eli & Chen, Jah Carlos, Dillinger, I-Roy, Junior Delgado, Ingrid Scott, Country Joe, L. Moodie, Phillip Frazer, Freddie McGregor, Tony Tuff, Willie Brackenridge, Ashanti Waugh & D.J. Baller Joe, Augustus Pablo, Sheena Spirit & The Third Eye, King Tubby, King Jango, The Heptones, Nora Jean, Alton Ellis, U-Roy, H. Cunningham, Cornell Campbell, Shenley Duffus, The Stingers, Johnny Cool, Sylvan White, Robert Scott, Blue Flame, Jimmy London, Enos McLeod, Mary Mundy, Dr. Alimantado, Dizzy, Lloyd A. Lawrence, Glen Lee & the Vandells, Charles Bennett, Porkey & Cynthia, Derrick Morgan, Badoo, Tony Brevett, Johnnie "Dizzy" Moore, Winston Fergus and Niney.

Reunion
In 2015, the band reunited and performed at Huntington Beach, California. The line-up for the performance included George "Fully" Fullwood, Tony Chin, Earl "Chinna" Smith, Carlton "Santa" Davis, Soul Syndicate's original vocalist Donovan Carless and Keith Sterling. In Summer 2016, Soul Syndicate re-united once again to perform at Reggae on the River in Northern California. There, they backed six artists including Big Youth, U-Roy, Earl Zero, Marty Dread, Nature and Randy Valentine. The band featured George "Fully" Fullwood on bass, Tony "Valentine" Chin on rhythm guitar, Keith Sterling on keys, Karl Wright on drums, Vince Black on lead guitar, Glenn Holdaway on trumpet, Warren Huang on saxophone and Mad Professor controlling the mix. In mid 2024, they also re-united again to perform at Rototom Reggae Sunsplash in Benicàssim, Spain. They were backing Andrew, the son of Peter Tosh. The band featured Fullwood on bass, Chin on rhythm guitar, Sterling on keys, Smith on lead and Carlton "Santa" Davis on drums.

Discography (10)

Credits & Appearances (75)

Musicians
Backing Band 69
Pick A Dub
Rockers Universite • 1974
DJ Legend
Original Music • 1974-79
Dread In A Babylon
TR International • 1975
Comp. Rub-A-Dub
Century • 1975-79
Garden Of Eden
Patate • 1975-82
Sledgehammer Dub
Observer • 1977
Master Of All
Terminal • 1978
Vision Of Africa
Dread & Dread • 1978
Comp. Africans Unite
Roots Foundation • 1978-83
Visions Of Love
Epiphany • 1979
African Herbsman
Joe Gibbs • 1979
Nuh Skin Up Dub
Pressure Sounds • 1979
Comp. Early Days
Corner Stone • 1979-82
Screechie And Kojak
Silver Kamel • 1979-8X
Dub Classics
Jamaican Recordings • 197X
Comp. Goldies
Total Sounds • 197X
Dub Festival
Live And Love • 197X
Comp. Impact !
Universal Sound • 197X
Cool Breezing
Sunshot • 197X
FM
High Times • 197X-8X
Dance Hall Story
Corner Stone • 1983
Comp. Pockets Of Resistance
Black Solidarity • 198X
Artist Album Release Type Label Rec Rel
Original Blue Recordings Cornell Campbell Original Blue Recordings MS 5 CD Moll Selekta 1970-79
The Best Of Sunshot Various Artists The Best Of Sunshot CD Jet Set 1971-75
Dancing Shoes B.B. Seaton Dancing Shoes CA 2002 LP Virgin 1974 1974
Pick A Dub Keith Hudson Pick A Dub LP Rockers Universite 1974 1974
In Person Gregory Isaacs In Person GG 004 LP GG's 1974 1974
Bring The Couchie Various Artists Bring The Couchie TRLS 273 LP Trojan 1974-76 1989
Observation Station Various Artists Observation Station CDHB 68 CD Heartbeat 1974-77 1990
DJ Legend Jah Woosh DJ Legend OMLP 009 LP Original Music 1974-79
Torch Of Freedom Keith Hudson Torch Of Freedom ATRALP 1001 LP Atra 1975 1975
Dread In A Babylon U Roy Dread In A Babylon TR 73457 LP TR International 1975 1975
Rub-A-Dub Bim Sherman Rub-A-Dub EFALP 39904 LP Century 1975-79 2000
Ethiopian Kings Rod Taylor Ethiopian Kings PRP 003 CD Patate 1975-80
Garden Of Eden Rod Taylor Garden Of Eden PRP 024 CD Patate 1975-82 2007
Freedom Sounds In Dub King Tubby & The Soul Syndicate Freedom Sounds In Dub BAFCD 011 CD Blood And Fire 1976-79 1996
Only Love Can Conquer Prince Alla Only Love Can Conquer BAFCD 014 CD Blood And Fire 1976-79 1996
Extra Classic Gregory Isaacs Extra Classic TJCCD 268 CD Trojan 1977 2005
Harvest Uptown, Famine Downtown The Soul Syndicate Harvest Uptown, Famine Downtown DL 3022 LP London 1977 1977
Sledgehammer Dub Niney Sledgehammer Dub OBS 1003 LP Observer 1977 1977
Don Mais Presents Roots Tradition vineyard Various Artists Don Mais Presents Roots Tradition vineyard MRCD 1004 CD Munich 1977-80 1997
Friends & Family The Soul Syndicate & Friends Friends & Family EP 30005-2 CD Epiphany 1977-82 1994
Religious Dread Jah Woosh Religious Dread TRLS 157 LP Trojan 1978 1978
Master Of All King Sighta Master Of All TMLP 1003 LP Terminal 1978 1978
Moodie In Dub Vol 1 Black Slate & The Soul Syndicate Moodie In Dub Vol 1 LP Moodie Music 1978 1978
Vision Of Africa Errol Holt Vision Of Africa DDLP 102 LP Dread & Dread 1978 1978
Corner Stone Presents Untold Reggae History Various Artists Corner Stone Presents Untold Reggae History none LP Corner Stone 1978-82
Africans Unite Sylvan White Africans Unite RFCD 001 CD Roots Foundation 1978-83 2001
Visions Of Love Earl Zero Visions Of Love ELP 3010 LP Epiphany 1979 1979
In The Right Way Earl Zero In The Right Way STU 007 LP Student 1979 1979
African Herbsman I Roy African Herbsman LP Joe Gibbs 1979 1979
Reggae All Star Various Artists Reggae All Star LP Freedom Sounds 1979 1979
Lovers Leap Showcase Bim Sherman Lovers Leap Showcase none LP Scorpio 1979 1979
Nuh Skin Up Dub Keith Hudson Nuh Skin Up Dub PSCD 53 CD Pressure Sounds 1979 2007
Early Days Phillip Frazer Early Days none LP Corner Stone 1979-82
Mach 1 Beyond The Sound Barrier Scientist Mach 1 Beyond The Sound Barrier BSICD 54 CD Black Solidarity 1979-83 1999
Crucial Cuts Vol 2 Bim Sherman Crucial Cuts Vol 2 CENTURY 300 CD Century 1979-84
Screechie And Kojak Delton Screechie & Kojak Featuring Liza Screechie And Kojak SKCD 020 CD Silver Kamel 1979-8X 2004
Battle Of The Giants Various Artists Battle Of The Giants LP Total Sounds 197X
Studio Kinda Cloudy Keith Hudson & Various Artists Studio Kinda Cloudy CDTRL 258 CD Trojan 197X 1994
Dub Classics The Soul Syndicate Dub Classics JRCD 022 CD Jamaican Recordings 197X 2006
Deep In The Roots The Heptones Deep In The Roots CDHB 269 CD Heartbeat 197X 2004
Channel One Presents 100 Tons Of Dub Niney & The Soul Syndicate Channel One Presents 100 Tons Of Dub JRCD 034 CD Jamaican Recordings 197X 2009
The Best Of Dennis Brown Part 1 Dennis Brown The Best Of Dennis Brown Part 1 JGML 6048 LP Joe Gibbs 197X 1982
Bring The Dub Come Niney The Observer Presents King Tubby Bring The Dub Come CDHB 257 CD Heartbeat 197X 2003
Dub A De Number One Gregory Isaacs Dub A De Number One CDHB 260 CD Heartbeat 197X 2003
Goldies Various Artists Goldies none LP Total Sounds 197X
Dub Festival The Soul Syndicate Dub Festival LAL 101 LP Live And Love 197X
Impact ! Various Artists Impact ! LP Universal Sound 197X
Cool Breezing Pat Kelly Cool Breezing SLP 1001 LP Sunshot 197X
Redemption Dub The Soul Syndicate Redemption Dub ARLP 004 LP Archive 197X 2020
The Genius Of Enos Enos McLeod The Genius Of Enos PSCD 08 CD Pressure Sounds 197X 1996
Ethiopian King Various Artists Ethiopian King LP Freedom Sounds 197X 1979
My Number One Gregory Isaacs My Number One NETCD 002/MRCD 147 CD Munich 197X 1990
Niney Present Dub Niney Niney Present Dub CDTRL 427 CD Trojan 197X 1999
FM Freddie McGregor FM MML 2103 LP High Times 197X-8X 1992
Was, Is & Always The Soul Syndicate Was, Is & Always DSR 498 LP High Times 1980 1980
In A Dancehall Style Phillip Frazer In A Dancehall Style 778STONE CD Corner Stone 1980-84
Vintage Various Artists 70s-80s Various Artists Vintage Various Artists 70s-80s none LP Corner Stone 1981-84
Think Constructively Sammy Dread Think Constructively HBLP 0155 LP Heartbeat 1982 1982
What's Happening To Me Cornell Campbell What's Happening To Me JGML 6055 LP Joe Gibbs 1982 1982
Kingston 13 Meet Corner Stone Various Artists Kingston 13 Meet Corner Stone none LP Corner Stone 1982-84
Rock On Various Artists Rock On J.9009 LP Jah Live 1983 1983
Ital Observer Style Various Artists Ital Observer Style J.9008 LP Jah Live 1983 1983
Dance Hall Story Hugh Mike Dance Hall Story CSR 122 LP Corner Stone 1983
Freddie McGregor Freddie McGregor Freddie McGregor LP Polydor 1987 1987
Pockets Of Resistance Scientist Pockets Of Resistance BSICD 77 CD Black Solidarity 198X
Black & White Reggae Classics Vol 1 Various Artists Black & White Reggae Classics Vol 1 B&W 5001 LP Black & White 198X
Roots Radics Meet Soul Syndicate In Dub The Roots Radics Meet The Soul Syndicate Roots Radics Meet Soul Syndicate In Dub none LP Razor Sounds 198X
Stop Spreading Rumours Triston Palmer Stop Spreading Rumours BSCD 004 CD Black Solidarity 198X 2017
Black Solidarity Presents String Up The Sound System Various Artists Black Solidarity Presents String Up The Sound System BSLP 001 LP Black Solidarity 198X 2014

Also Appears On (31)

Artist Album Release Type Label Rec Rel
Dubwise & Otherwise Various Artists Dubwise & Otherwise BFCDS 903 CD Blood And Fire 2000
Arise Rootsman Various Artists Arise Rootsman TJDDD 118 CD Trojan 1965-83 2003
Silver & Gold Various Artists Silver & Gold DB2CD 156 CD Doctor Bird 1969-71 2025
The Story Of Trojan Records Various Artists The Story Of Trojan Records 2775354 CD Trojan 196X-7X 2011
The Trojan Story Vol 1&2 Various Artists The Trojan Story Vol 1&2 TALL 100-200 LP Trojan 196X-7X
Trojan Club Reggae Box Set Various Artists Trojan Club Reggae Box Set TRBCD 020 CD Trojan 196X-7X 2000
Wet Dream Max Romeo Wet Dream CC2-705 CD Crocodisc 196X-7X 1993
Head Shot Various Artists Head Shot CDHB 149 CD Heartbeat 1970-78 2002
Club Reggae Vol 3 Various Artists Club Reggae Vol 3 TBL 178 LP Trojan 1972 1972
The Classical Anthology Mike Brooks & Friends The Classical Anthology CD 13631 CD Musidisc 1972-85 2001
2 Heavyweight Various Artists 2 Heavyweight BAFCD 017 CD Blood And Fire 1973-79 1997
Observation Station Various Artists Observation Station CDHB 68 CD Heartbeat 1974-77 1990
Dubbing With The Observer The Observer All Stars & King Tubbys Dubbing With The Observer DBCDD 122 CD Doctor Bird 1975 2023
Jah Fire Niney The Observer Presents Jah Fire DB2CD 138 CD Doctor Bird 1976-77 2024
Hits Of 77 Various Artists Hits Of 77 DBCDD 051 CD Doctor Bird 1977 2019
Reckless Roots Rockers Various Artists Reckless Roots Rockers WR 0038 LP Wackies 1977 1977
Don Mais Presents Roots Tradition vineyard Various Artists Don Mais Presents Roots Tradition vineyard MRCD 1004 CD Munich 1977-80 1997
Haul & Pull Up Selecta Various Artists Haul & Pull Up Selecta TJDDD 061 CD Trojan 1979-82 2003
... At The Controls King Tubby ... At The Controls CDTRL 429 CD Trojan 197X 1999
Heavyweight Sound Various Artists Heavyweight Sound BAFCD 007 CD Blood And Fire 197X 1995
Niney Presents The Observer Master Mix Collection Niney Niney Presents The Observer Master Mix Collection DB4CD 142 CD Doctor Bird 197X 2024
Shades Of Hudson Keith Hudson & Various Artists Shades Of Hudson VPCD 2053 CD VP 197X 1996
Soul To Soul DJ's Choice Various Artists Soul To Soul DJ's Choice DBCD 095 CD Doctor Bird 197X 2022
Studio Kinda Cloudy Keith Hudson & Various Artists Studio Kinda Cloudy CDTRL 258 CD Trojan 197X 1994
Super Bad Various Artists Super Bad DBCDD 099 CD Doctor Bird 197X 2023
The Dub Master King Tubby The Dub Master SPEC 2063 CD Spectrum 197X 2011
The Hudson Affair Keith Hudson & Friends The Hudson Affair TJDDD 221 CD Trojan 197X 2004
Then Bunny Lee Then TSL 107 LP Total Sounds 197X
Trojan Dub Box Set Volume 2 Various Artists Trojan Dub Box Set Volume 2 TRBCD 015 CD Trojan 197X 2000
Trojan Ganja Reggae Box Set Various Artists Trojan Ganja Reggae Box Set TJETD 102 CD Trojan 197X-8X 2003
High Times All Stars Explosion Various Artists High Times All Stars Explosion AL 8312 LP Alligator 1985 1985
10 albums
75 credits
43 labels
1974 - 2020