The Wailing Souls (formerly known as The Renegades) represent a legendary Jamaican reggae vocal group with a rich history tracing back to the 1960s. While the lineup has experienced various changes throughout the years, Winston “Pipe” Matthews and Lloyd “Bread” McDonald have remained as the group’s unwavering pillars. Notably, they’ve earned recognition with three Grammy Award nominations.
Historical Journey
Formation and the Studio One Era
Originally emerging as The Renegades in 1966, the group consisted of Winston “Pipe” Matthews, Lloyd “Bread” McDonald, and George “Buddy” Haye, all of whom had participated in vocal classes led by Joe Higgs during the early 1960s, alongside The Wailers. Matthews had prior recording experience as a member of The Schoolboys with Prince Buster.
They initiated their journey by contributing as backing singers for Ernest Ranglin and independently releasing their debut single, “Lost Love.” Subsequently, they recorded multiple singles for Clement “Coxsone” Dodd’s Studio One label, including notable tracks like “Back Out With It,” “Row Fisherman Row,” and “Mr. Fire Coal Man.” In 1968, they rebranded themselves as The Wailing Souls. In the same year, George “Buddy” Haye departed, and new members Oswald Downer and Norman Davis joined the group. Under their new name, they produced singles such as “Dungeon” and “Thou Shalt Not Steal.”
The 1970s
In 1970, they commenced their collaboration with producer Lloyd Daley, leading to the release of the single “Gold Digger.” During this period, to avoid confusion with The Wailers, their singles were occasionally released under different names like The Little Roys, The Classics, Atarra, and Pipe and the Pipers. Later that year, they teamed up with members of The Wailers to produce Tuff Gong singles, including “Harbour Shark,” “Walk Walk Walk,” and “You Should’ve Known Better.”
By 1974, Oswald Downer and Norman Davis had left the group, and original member Buddy Haye returned, alongside Joe Higgs, although Higgs’ stint with the band was short-lived as he was recruited for a US tour with Jimmy Cliff. His successor was Rudolph “Garth” Dennis, a founding member of Black Uhuru.
In the mid-1970s, The Wailing Souls established a strong connection with producer Joseph Hoo Kim and his Channel One Studios, resulting in a string of hits. The house band, The Revolutionaries, provided backing for tracks such as “Back Biter,” “Very Well,” “Things and Time,” “Jah Jah Give Us Life,” and “War.” In 1977, the band launched their own ‘Massive’ label, which led to further hits with songs like “Bredda Gravalicious” and “Feel the Spirit.” Their career reached new heights in 1978 when Island Records internationally released the “Wild Suspense” album, featuring remixed tracks from their singles.
