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The Melodians

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The Melodians were a rocksteady vocal group formed in Kingston's Greenwich Town area in 1963 by Tony Brevett, Brent Dowe and Trevor McNaughton. Recording for producers including Coxsone Dodd, Duke Reid and Leslie Kong, they are best known for "Sweet Sensation" and "Rivers of Babylon," the latter adapted from Psalm 137 and later a global hit via the film The Harder They Come and Boney M's cover. Lead singer Brent Dowe (1946–2006) co-wrote several of the group's signature songs.

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Wikipedia; Reggaeville.

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The Melodians — Rivers Of Babylon (Official Audio)

YOUTUBE · rights discovery only · performs

Trojan Records Official audio upload; discovery-only external reference.

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In stories

Story · Well supportedSongs that crossed over

Jamaican records reached the world by half a dozen different routes — a London pop session, a film soundtrack, a cover version, a remix — and almost never the one the industry expected.

Story · ProbableThe backing singers step out front

Many of reggae's most durable solo careers started in someone else's harmony stack.

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Compiled and researched by The Jamaica Music Atlas music desk. The sources that informed it are credited above.

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