Zap Pow

Zap Pow

Zap Pow is a Jamaican reggae band, founded by singer/bassist Michael Williams aka Mikey Zappow and guitarist Dwight Pinkney. Members also included singer Beres Hammond, trumpeter David Madden, saxman Glen DaCosta, and drummer Cornell Marshall. They originally existed from 1969 to 1979; they re-formed in 2016.

History
The band was formed in 1969, by musicians Michael Williams (bass, guitar, vocals, songwriter, former drummer of Bobby Aitken's Caribbeats),) and Dwight Pinkney (guitar, vocals, formerly of The Sharks and guitarist on a 1966 session by The Wailers), Max Edwards (drums), Glen DaCosta (tenor saxophone, vocals, flute, a former pupil at Alpha Boys School), Joe McCormack (trombone), and David Madden (trumpet, vocals, another former pupil at Alpha Boys School, who had previously recorded with Cedric Brooks under the name 'I'm and Dave'). Pinkney and Williams had previously played together in the band Winston Turner & the Untouchables. The band's name came from a comic book that Williams had read. Several singles were released in 1970-71 including the hit "This is Reggae Music", and in 1971 their debut album, Revolutionary Zap Pow, was released on the Harry J label. In 1975, Beres Hammond joined as lead singer (other singers with the band included Winston "King" Cole, Milton "Prilly" Hamilton, Bunny Rugs and Jacob Miller), and their Tommy Cowan-produced 1976 album, Zap Pow Now topped the reggae chart in the UK. Trojan Records issued Revolution in the same year. Edwards left in 1977, to be replaced by Cornell Marshall. The band split up in 1979 with Hammond going on to a successful solo career. Pinkney went on to play with Roots Radics, and Edwards also pursued a solo career. Williams recorded and performed solo as Mikey Zappow. The horn section of DaCosta, McCormack and Madden were regularly used in recording sessions for other artists including Bob Marley & the Wailers, and they also recorded prolifically as individual session musicians, often being used by Lee "Scratch" Perry for sessions at his Black Ark studio. Madden went on to release solo albums, as did DaCosta. Williams died in 2005, aged 61. In 2007 the band were honoured at the Prime Minister's Gala on Jamaican Independence Day. Pinkney and DaCosta re-formed Zap Pow in 2016, and by 2017 the band also included Lebert "Gibby" Morrison (bass), Richard "T Bird" Johnson (keyboards), Lando Bolt (drums), Everol Wray (trumpet), and singers Geoffrey Forrest and Fiona. They recorded a new album, Zap Pow Again, released in October 2017.

Discography (10)

Artist Album Release Type Label Rec Rel
Revolutionary Zap Pow Zap Pow Revolutionary Zap Pow HJLP 8706 LP Harry J 1971 1971
Zap Pow Zap Pow Zap Pow ILPS 9547 LP Island 1973-78 1978
Now Zap Pow Now CD Culture Press 1976
Revolution Zap Pow Revolution TRLS 130 LP Trojan 1976 1976
Last War Zap Pow Last War
The Best Of Zap Pow
TJCCD 375 CD Trojan 1972-80 2007
Reggae Rules Zap Pow Reggae Rules RNLP 015 LP Rhino 1973-80
Beres Hammond Meets Zap Pow Zap Pow Beres Hammond Meets Zap Pow CD Rhino 197X
Jungle Beat Zap Pow Jungle Beat LG2-1032 CD Lagoon 197X
Love Hits Zap Pow Love Hits LMS 0040 CD LMS Music 197X
Revolution Zap Pow Revolution
The Best Of
TJCCD 375 CD Trojan 197X 2007

Credits & Appearances (13)

Production
Arranger 1
Now
Vulcan • 1976
Artist Album Release Type Label Rec Rel
Now Zap Pow Now VULP 004 LP Vulcan 1976 1976
Producer 5
Artist Album Release Type Label Rec Rel
Revolutionary Zap Pow Zap Pow Revolutionary Zap Pow HJLP 8706 LP Harry J 1971 1971
Reggae Rules Zap Pow Reggae Rules RNLP 015 LP Rhino 1973-80
Love Hits Zap Pow Love Hits LMS 0040 CD LMS Music 197X
Beres Hammond Meets Zap Pow Zap Pow Beres Hammond Meets Zap Pow CD Rhino 197X
Beres Hammond & Friends Beres Hammond Beres Hammond & Friends ERC 0745 CD Ejaness 197X-8X 2001
Musicians
Horns Backing Band 5
Artist Album Release Type Label Rec Rel
Ain't That Loving You Al Campbell Ain't That Loving You JSLP 015 LP Jamaica Sound 1978 1978
Mind Blowing Melody Glen Da-Casta Mind Blowing Melody TDWD 11 LP Third World 1979 1979
Come To Me Softly Jackie Edwards Come To Me Softly TDWD 10 LP Third World 1979 1979
True Believer In Love Delroy Wilson True Believer In Love MICCAN 0032 LP Micron 197X
Tell Me Darling Jackie Edwards Tell Me Darling IC 8004 LP Imperial 197X

Also Appears On (28)

Artist Album Release Type Label Rec Rel
This Is Reggae Music Various Artists This Is Reggae Music TJNBX 254 CD Trojan 1960-75 2005
Funky Kingston Reggae Dancefloor Grooves Various Artists Funky Kingston Reggae Dancefloor Grooves TJDCD 054 CD Trojan 1968-74 2002
Tighten Up Various Artists Tighten Up TJBDD 011 CD Trojan 1968-74 2002
Blow Mr. Hornsman Various Artists Blow Mr. Hornsman TRLS 257 LP Trojan 1968-75 1988
Reggae Horn David Madden Reggae Horn LMS 005 LP LMS Music 1969-83
The Best Of Reggae Various Artists The Best Of Reggae DBCDX 081 CD Doctor Bird 196X-7X 2022
The Trojan Story Various Artists The Trojan Story TRLD 402 LP Trojan 196X-7X 1974
Trojan 'Tighten Up' Box Set Various Artists Trojan 'Tighten Up' Box Set TRBCD 018 CD Trojan 196X-7X 2000
Trojan 35th Anniversary Box Set Various Artists Trojan 35th Anniversary Box Set TJETD 130 CD Trojan 196X-7X 2003
Trojan Carnival Box Set Various Artists Trojan Carnival Box Set TJETD 132 CD Trojan 196X-7X 2003
Trojan Club Reggae Box Set Various Artists Trojan Club Reggae Box Set TRBCD 020 CD Trojan 196X-7X 2000
Trojan Reggae Chill Out Box Set Various Artists Trojan Reggae Chill Out Box Set TJETD 115 CD Trojan 196X-7X 2003
Trojan Soulful Reggae Box Set Various Artists Trojan Soulful Reggae Box Set TRBCD 021 CD Trojan 196X-7X 2000
Voodooism Various Artists Voodooism PSCD 09 CD Pressure Sounds 1976-79 1996
One Big Happy Family Various Artists One Big Happy Family ILPS 9530 LP Island 1978-79 1979
Club Reggae Vol 5 Various Artists Club Reggae Vol 5 TBL 205 LP Trojan 197X 1971
Here Comes That Feeling Various Artists Here Comes That Feeling TJDDD 140X CD Trojan 197X 2004
Just My Imagination Vol 3 Various Artists Just My Imagination Vol 3 CDTRL 311 CD Trojan 197X 1992
Reggae Chartbusters Vol 4 Various Artists Reggae Chartbusters Vol 4 2712801 CD Trojan 197X 2009
Soul Power Various Artists Soul Power TJDCD 263 CD Trojan 197X 2005
The Hudson Affair Keith Hudson & Friends The Hudson Affair TJDDD 221 CD Trojan 197X 2004
The Reggae Love Collection Various Artists The Reggae Love Collection CD Pulse 197X 2003
Trojan Selecta Vol 7 Various Artists Trojan Selecta Vol 7 TJJCD 372 CD Trojan 197X 2007
Trojan Suedehead Reggae Box Set Various Artists Trojan Suedehead Reggae Box Set TJETD 169 CD Trojan 197X 2004
Beres Hammond & Friends Beres Hammond Beres Hammond & Friends ERC 0745 CD Ejaness 197X-8X 2001
Trojan Bob Marley Covers Box Set Various Artists Trojan Bob Marley Covers Box Set TJETD 323 CD Trojan 197X-8X 2006
Trojan Roots and Culture Box Set Various Artists Trojan Roots and Culture Box Set TJETD 226 CD Trojan 197X-8X 2005
Tighten Up Vol 8 Various Artists Tighten Up Vol 8 TBL 207 LP Trojan 1980 1980
10 albums
13 credits
13 labels
1971 - 2001