Musical Youth

Musical Youth are a British reggae band formed in 1979 in Birmingham, England. They are best known for their 1982 single "Pass the Dutchie", which was number 1 in multiple charts around the world. Their other songs include "Youth of Today", "Never Gonna Give You Up", and a collaboration with Donna Summer, "Unconditional Love". Musical Youth recorded two albums and earned a Grammy Award nomination before disbanding in 1985 after a series of personal problems. The band returned in 2001 as a duo.

History

The fathers of two pairs of brothers, Kelvin and Michael Grant and Frederick (known as Junior) and Patrick Waite, formed a group in 1979 featuring their sons. The Waites' father, Frederick Waite Sr., had been a member of the Jamaican reggae group the Techniques. At the start of Musical Youth's career, he sang lead with Junior. Musical Youth were influenced by reggae artists such as Sugar Minott, Aswad, Gregory Isaacs, Dennis Brown, John Holt and Beshara. Although schoolboys (attending Duddeston Manor School), the group managed to secure gigs at different Birmingham pubs and released a double single in 1981, including songs "Generals" and "Political", on a local label 021 Records...

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