Born in the heart of Trench Town, Leroy rose to prominence as one third of The
Heptones – a formidable Jamaican group formed in 1965. Yet it was in the year 1964
that Leroy Sibbles, the performer, was birthed when he started recording professionally.
Whilst much heralded as a vocalist his contribution as an arranger and session bassist is
of distinction. It is this duality that Leroy celebrates with The Crowning.
Arguably the best known of Sibbles’ compositions is the instrumental Full Up,
popularised internationally by Musical Youth’s recording of Pass the Dutchie, an
adaptation of the Mighty Diamonds’ Pass the Kutchie. Also well-known is the
ubiquitous Real Rock instrumental, later voiced by Willi Williams as Armagideon
Time and internationalized by the Clash.
There is a diverse array of vocalists on Sibbles created basslines spanning six decades.
Morgan Heritage’s Down By The River released in 2003 is on the What Kinda
World arrangement originally created by Sibbles in 1968 for The Cables. Dennis
Brown’s No Man is An Island, The Abyssinian’s Satta Massagana and the chart-topping Heptones’ standard Book of Rules are proof of the worthiness of Sibbles
coronation as king of reggae basslines.
In this the 6oth year of his musical sojourn, Leroy has invited his colleague the Queen of
Reggae Marcia Griffiths, along with first-rate vocalists Duane Stephenson, Etana, and Singing
Melody to share the stage with him at The Crowning on Saturday August 31, 2024, at the Ranny
Williams Entertainment Centre.
The Crowing is a cross-generational experience of world-class Jamaican music good for
the entire family. Gates open 6pm | Showtime 8pm | Concert duration 2 hours 30 minutes
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