Zanda formed in Kingston in the late 1970s with Michael Rose on lead vocals, Tony Chin on guitar, Courtney Panton on bass, Leroy 'Horsemouth' Wallace on drums, and Winston 'Pipe' Bowen on keyboards. Their debut album 'The Beginning' came out in 1979, followed by 'Black Belt Jones' in 1980. These early records established them as a reggae band that could blend roots with rock and soul elements.
Rose wrote most of their lyrics, which often dealt with social issues like poverty and inequality. Songs such as 'Canto a Jah' and 'Só mesmo Jah' reflected this conscious approach. Their outspoken stance sometimes led to friction with authorities, including performance bans in Jamaica.
In 1985, Rose left to pursue solo work after disagreements within the band. Zanda kept recording and touring afterward, putting out albums like 'Warrior' in 1986 and 'Jah Message' in 2000. They never quite matched their earlier commercial peak but maintained a presence in reggae circles.
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