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Don Carlos

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Don Carlos, born Euvin McCallus Spencer in Waterhouse, Kingston in 1952, is a Jamaican roots-reggae singer and an original member of Black Uhuru alongside Garth Dennis and Derrick “Duckie” Simpson. He sang lead on the Prince Jammy-produced Love Crisis, later reissued as Black Sounds of Freedom, before establishing a prolific solo catalogue in the early 1980s.

Albums and songs including Suffering, Day to Day Living, Harvest Time, “Laser Beam,” “Dice Cup,” “Hog and Goat,” “Just a Passing Glance” and “I Love Jah” made his light, high tenor a signature of the roots revival. He has periodically rejoined Black Uhuru and built an especially strong international live following, including major East African audiences.

At a glance

Confidence
Well supported
Sources
AllMusic; Reggaeville; Don Carlos discographies; Greensleeves and VP Records release histories; Kings Music International.

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Connections

Media & sources

Footage

Black Uhuru - One Love (featuring Don Carlos)

YOUTUBE · rights discovery only · performs

Don Carlos with the first Black Uhuru line-up, before Michael Rose joined.

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Don Carlos — "Just A Passing Glance" (live, California Roots 2019)

YOUTUBE · rights discovery only · performance footage

Still touring the song more than thirty years after he cut it.

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Recordings

Don Carlos - Late Night Blues [Official Audio]

YOUTUBE · rights discovery only · official audio

The title track of the 1984 album, and the clearest example of his phrasing.

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Open source ↗

Don Carlos, Pass Me The Lazer Beam (VP Records reissue)

BANDCAMP · rights discovery only · documents

VP Records' official Bandcamp, streaming the full album. Originally released 1983 and produced by Bunny "Striker" Lee, recorded at King Tubby's and Channel One and mixed by Scientist; reissued remastered on 21 June 2024. Opens with "Lazer Beam" and runs to ten tracks including "Spread Out", "Ababa John I" and "Booming Ball". A rights holder publishing its own catalogue, with fuller credits than any video upload carries.

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In stories

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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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