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English Beat

The Beat
The English Beat, Truckee, California.jpg
The Beat in Truckee, California
Background information
Also known as The English Beat, The British Beat
Origin Birmingham, England
Genres New wave, ska, 2-tone, post-punk
Years active 1978–1983, 2003, 2006–present
Labels Go Feet, 2 Tone, London, Sire, I.R.S., EMI, A&M, Chrysalis
Associated acts Ranking Roger, Pato Banton, General Public, Fine Young Cannibals, The International Beat, Special Beat, Madness
Members The English Beat starring Dave Wakeling
Dave Wakeling
Nucci Cantrell
Matt Morrish
Kevin Lum
King Schascha
Minh Quan
Brad Engstrom

The Beat feat. Ranking Roger / The New English Beat feat. Ranking Roger
Ranking Roger
Ranking Junior
Fuzz Townshend
Oscar Harrison
Andy Pearson
Steve Harper
Bobby Bird
Mark 'Chiko' Hamilton
Past members Andy Cox
Everett Morton
Saxa
David Steele
Wesley Magoogan
Dave 'Blockhead' Wright

The Beat (known in North America as The English Beat and in Australia as The British Beat) are a band founded in Birmingham, England, in 1978. Their music fuses ska, pop, soul, reggae and punk rock.

The Beat, consisting of Dave Wakeling (vocals, guitar), Ranking Roger (vocals), Andy Cox (guitar), David Steele (bass), Everett Morton (drums), and Saxa a.k.a. Lionel Augustus Martin (saxophone), released three studio albums in the early 1980s: I Just Can't Stop It (1980), Wha'ppen? (1981) and Special Beat Service (1982), and a string of singles, including "Mirror in the Bathroom", "Too Nice to Talk To", "Can't Get Used to Losing You", "Hands Off, She's Mine" and "All Out to Get You".

The Beat were formed in Birmingham, England, in 1978, during a period of high unemployment and social upheaval in the United Kingdom. Ranking Roger, one of the band's vocalists, added a Jamaican vocal flavour to the band's sound with his toasting style. Jamaican saxophonist Saxa added a Jamaican ska instrumental sound. Saxa (born Lionel Augustus Martin in 1930) had played saxophone with Prince Buster,Laurel Aitken, and Desmond Dekker in the first wave of ska. He joined The Beat to record their first single, "Tears of a Clown", a cover version of the Motown hit by Smokey Robinson and the Miracles.


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