UB40

UB40 formed in Birmingham in the late 1970s, taking their name from the unemployment benefit form. Their early sound drew heavily from Jamaican reggae, and they built a following with songs that often carried messages about social issues. In 1983, their cover of Neil Diamond's "Red Red Wine" became a worldwide hit, changing their trajectory entirely.

That success led to more charting singles through the 1980s and 1990s, including "Can't Help Falling in Love" and "Rat in Mi Kitchen." Their catalog includes songs like "Higher Ground," "Food For Thought," and "Falling In Love," which blend reggae rhythms with pop accessibility. The band's original lineup featured brothers Ali and Robin Campbell, along with Brian Travers on saxophone and several other members.

Internal changes eventually reshaped the group. Lead vocalist Ali Campbell left in 2008, resulting in legal disputes over the band name. Despite these shifts, UB40 continued recording and performing, maintaining a presence with their reggae-infused sound. Their music, built around that recognizable blend of rhythms and melodies, still gets regular airplay decades later.