The Gaylads

Formation

The Gaylads formed in Kingston in 1963. Harris "B.B." Seaton, born in Kingston on 3 September 1944, and Winston Delano Stewart had been recording as the duo Winston and Bibby, and they became a trio when Maurice Roberts joined. Their first hits were made for Clement "Coxsone" Dodd at Studio One, including "Whap Whap", "There'll Come a Day", "Lady in the Red Dress", "Stop Making Love" and "You Should Never Do That".

Rocksteady

The slower rocksteady rhythm suited their three-part harmony. At Studio One in 1967 they had hits with "Love Me with All Your Heart" and "How Can I Go On". They then moved to producer Sonia Pottinger, whose Gay Feet label issued "It's Hard to Confess", "A.B.C. Rocksteady" and "Over the Rainbow's End", several of them backed by Lynn Taitt and the Jets. Stewart left at the end of 1968 to go solo, and Seaton and Roberts carried on as a duo.

Leslie Kong

In 1969 the group joined Leslie Kong's Beverley's label and scored with "There's a Fire", alongside cover versions of American songs. Kong's death in August 1971 stalled that run, though they continued with "Can't Hide the Feeling". Seaton left in 1972 and had solo hits with "Accept My Apology" and "Thin Line Between Love and Hate". He also wrote "Freedom Street" and "The Girl I Left Behind" for Ken Boothe and "Swing and Dine" for the Melodians.

Later lineups

Roberts kept the name going with brothers Randell and Hopeton Thaxter. That lineup later worked as the Psalms and sang backing vocals for Bunny Wailer. Seaton and Stewart reunited for a Studio One concert in 1991. Maurice Roberts died on 14 August 2015, and B.B. Seaton died in London on 4 March 2024, aged 79.