The Congos

The Congos recorded some of the most alluring and exciting roots reggae of all time. Myton and Johnson, both serious Rastafarian artists and members of the Niyabinghi Order, first emerged as The Congos on a single, ‘At The Feast’, for producer Lee Perry (1976). Before teaming with Johnson, Myton had been a member of the Tartans and had also sung with Ras Michael and recorded with Prince Lincoln And The Royal Rasses. Perry had been auditioning vocal groups at his Black Ark Studio in Kingston for a project he had in mind: a roots vocal album featuring a classic falsetto/tenor/baritone line-up. However, The Congos proved to be more than he had expected, although they did not initially feature a baritone. Early singles ‘Ark Of The Covenant’ and ‘Congo Man’ confirmed the prospect of something special, even by Perry’s own high standards. Perry added Black Ark regular Watty Burnett to the group to handle deeper chores, and an album was completed.
Unfortunately, Perry was in dispute with Island Records, the label handling his international releases at the time, and therefore did not offer "Heart Of The Congos" to the company, preferring instead to press it on his own Black Art label. This caused a row with the group, who felt they were being sold short, and the album only reached the specialist shops in small quantities. The group split from Perry, arranging another limited pressing of the album themselves, and they eventually signed to CBS Records in France. The terms of the agreement also included an obligation for the group to perform in a film entitled Jamdown. In 1980, Beat’s Go Feet label released Heart Of The Congos. Burnett quitting the group.

Myton continued to perform as the Congos, releasing Face The Music, while Johnson began performing under the name of Congo Ashanti Roy. The group’s story is one typical of reggae: they had plenty of talent, but the business dealings were unsatisfactory. In the mid-90s Myton re-formed The Congos with Burnett and Lindbergh Lewis, and in 1997 the original trio played a one-off gig at New York’s SOB’s club. In 2004, Myton, Johnson and Burnett announced they were planning a world tour. Kenroy Fyffe aka Tallash joined the band. The Congos recorded several albums since and keep on touring until now.