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 The story of UB40, and how this group of young friends from Birmingham transcended their working-class origins to become the world’s most successful reggae band is not the stuff of fairytales as might be imagined. The group’s led a charmed life in many respects it’s true, but it’s been a long haul since the days they’d meet up in the bars and clubs around Moseley, and some of them had to scrape by on less than £8 a week unemployment benefit. The choice was simple if you’d left school early. You could either work in one of the local factories, like Robin Campbell did, or scuffle along aimlessly whilst waiting for something else to happen.

By the summer of 1978, something else did happen, and the nucleus of UB40 began rehearsing in a local basement. Robin’s younger brother Ali, Earl Falconer, Brian Travers and James Brown all knew each other from Moseley School of Art, whilst Norman Hassan had been a friend of Ali’s since school. Initially, they thought of themselves as a "jazz-dub-reggae" band, but by the time Robin was persuaded to join and they’d recruited Michael Virtue and Astro – who’d learnt his craft with Birmingham sound-system Duke Alloy – the group had already aligned themselves to left-wing political ideals and forged their own identity, separate from the many punk and Two Tone outfits around at that time. The group had nailed their colours to the mast by naming themselves after an unemployment benefit form. Their political convictions hadn’t been gleaned second hand either, but cemented in place whilst attending marches protesting against the National Front, or rallies organised by Rock Against Racism.

By the time Chrissie Hynde invited them to tour with the Pretenders during the summer of 1980 and their debut single "King b/w Food For Thought" had sailed into the UK Top 5, all the essential elements of UB40 were already in place. Their line-up will remain unchanged for almost thirty years, and they will continue playing a mix of original material and inspired choice of reggae covers in a style that’s instantly accessible with its bright melodies and sweeping horn arrangements – one that’s allied to a formidable rhythm section, capable of holding its own with anything from Jamaica.

UB40’s first album was released the following September, on Graduate Records. Their deal allowed them more creative freedom than if they had signed with a major label. The cover artwork memorably duplicated an unemployment benefit card, with the title "Signing Off" rubber-stamped in red, but it was the music that quickly worked its way into the affections of a young, mainly student crowd with its knowing lyrics, solid reggae rhythms and dubby, instrumental passages, offset by warm horn solos and Jamaican style scatting. There was nothing else like it at the time. As a multi-cultural band from Birmingham, UB40 weren’t drawn into trying to sound "authentic," and there was considerably more depth to their music than that of many punk and 2Tone bands. "I’m a British subject, not proud of it, whilst I carry the burden of shame," they sang on one of the tracks. Accepting the truth of their own situation amidst a sea of other reggae songs proclaiming black heritage gave us a valuable insight into where UB40 were coming from. They were unafraid to stand up and be counted, and British audiences instinctively loved them for it. "Signing Off" duly went to No. 2 in the UK and stayed on the nation’s album charts for 72 weeks.

On September 2nd, 2013, UB40 released their latest album ‘Getting Over The Storm’ on Universal/Virgin Records.

Rodney LaMont Adgerson aka “MEDAD The Music Minister” (born December 7, 1968) is an Afro-American songwriter, producer and musician who has a natural affinity for music.  Since the age of five he has been playing the drums, bass guitar and piano.  By the time he was ten years old he proved to be a virtuoso at the keyboard and would compose his first song by the age of fourteen.  

His accolades are many.  In 1987 he joined a local Go-Go band called Young Mass.  They performed throughout the D.C. Metropolitan area and went on to compete as finalist for the D.C. Metro Talent Search.  In 1994 he decided to pursue his music professionally and began sharing his talent with numerous groups throughout the Metro area: Split Personality Jazz Band, Toby Foyeh & Orchestra Africa, 4Kast Jazz Band, Expression Band who conducted a live taping for the Evening Exchange TV show on channel 32 at Howard University and Phaze II a very popular local jazz band that features Adgerson on Keys on their debut album entitled “Options”.  In 2001 he desired to have an outlet for his own artistic ideas so he formed the A.R.C trio and traveled to Seattle, Washington where Noc-on-Wood Records would feature his trio on the audio and video single “Miss Mary Jane” by the labels premier hip-hop act Nocturnal Rage. 

In addition to being a skilled keyboardist Adgerson is also an accomplished songwriter and producer.  He co-produced a CD entitled Compassion for acclaimed D.C. artist Sar Amiel and contributed to the sophomore project of D.C.'s Phase II by co-producing three songs on their upcoming album in 2004.

Rodney has shared the stage with some of the finest artist from the area:  Ron Holloway, Jerry Gordon, Marshall Keys, Rob Maletick and the Michael Stevens Project.  He has performed at some of the finest venues where many Washingtonians have made their mark on the arts:  The Kennedy Center, Constitution Hall, Ft. Belvoir Jazz Festival, Jordans Restaurant, Bohemian Caverns, Bar Nun, Takoma Station and many more.  His international efforts include the Toronto Jazz Festival, Spice Jazz Festival Grenada, W.I. Ocho Rios Jazz Festival Ocho Rios, Jamaica, The Curacao Jazz Festival Curacao, Antilles, Bahamas Jazz Festival and the Fuji Rock Festival Japan.

In February of 2004, Rodney was given an offer that have changed genres of music. With that change, he relocated to Arizona to work with a reggae artist known as “CASPER and the Mighty 602 Band”. Since relocating to Arizona, opportunities started to open up to where he was introduce and work with other reggae artists such as “Danny Clark & the Meditations, General Smiley of Michigan & Smiley and others. Also Adgerson had connected with other musicians in the Phoenix area such as “Bass Man Mel Brown, Saxophonist Dominic Amato and others.

In September of 2010 Adgerson had release his first album entitled “In My Fathers House”, from there he had launched his publishing/label “Rodney “PHREE” Adgerson Publishing”.   In 2013 Adgerson also released his second album entitled “Meditate”.

When Rodney plays...people listen!  He's been compared to Lonnie Liston Smith and George Duke for his dexterity and style.  His music is a blend of neo-soul, funk, smooth jazz and positive vibrations.  He's the epitome of soul and emotion that can be felt live or on his debut CD PHREE “In My Fathers House and Meditate”.  Be sure to remember his name - because you won't forget his sound……………

Venezolano amante de la buena Música / Constancia y Disciplina 2019 » # 28

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