Back on the road

Dave and Ansell Collins head for UK after 40 years

Dave and Ansell Collins will be returning to the United Kingdom (UK) for their first full tour in some 40 years.

The duo first met when recording for Lee Perry in the late 1960s. In 1971, they joined forces to record the international chart sensation Double Barrel, which became a global phenomenon reaching No. 1 in the UK (only the second reggae single to do so) and Jamaica, and became the first reggae single to reach the Top 30 of the United States Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 22.

Their follow-up release, the similarly styled Monkey Spanner, enjoyed the same international success. In 2011, they reunited to headline The London International Ska Festival.

Vocalist Dave Barker is one of the most accomplished, soulful singers Jamaica has ever produced.

After making his recording debut in 1968, partnering Glen Brown on a series of hits, Dave launched his solo career.

Subsequent collaborations spawned a number of best-selling singles - Shocks Of Mighty, Just My Imagination - and culminating in the singer's debut LP, Prisoner Of Love. Soon after, Barker was riding high on the British charts with Ansell, leading to a permanent relocation to London.

Most prolific musicians

Ansell Collins is one of the most prolific and finest musicians Jamaica has produced, having worked with the who's who of reggae music.

In the 1970s, he was in Channel One's studio band The Revolutionaries, as well as The Upsetters, the Impact All-stars and Sugar Minott's Black Roots Players. He has appeared on 1000s of songs, including recordings for King Tubby, Bunny Lee, Black Uhuru, Alton Ellis, Dennis Brown, Derrick Harriott, Jimmy Cliff, John Holt, Mikey Dread, Pat Kelly, Rupie Edwards, Rico Rodriguez, Sly & Robbie, Tommy McCook, Heptones, Culture, Gregory Isaacs, I-Roy, Marcia Griffiths, Mighty Diamonds, Bob Andy, Ken Boothe and Jackie Mittoo.

The Phoenix City All-stars will be supporting Dave & Ansell throughout the UK tour. The All-Stars debut single, a ska version of Carole King's classic Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow featuring Dave Barker, has already picked up great reviews.

"I was blown away by this ... utterly authentic as if it was recorded in 1964 Kingston, Jamaica," said David Rodigon, one of the foremost DJs in the UK.