Years active 1983–1999, 2011- | Website latinquartermusic.com | |
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Associated acts Steve Skaith BandThe MeridiansThe Bhundu Boys Past members Steve SkaithMike JonesRichard WrightYona DunsfordGreg HarewoodCarol DouetMartin LascallesDave CharlesRichard StevensSteve JeffriesDarren Abraham Genres Pop music, Rock music, Reggae, Folk music Similar Bhundu Boys, Haysi Fantayzee, The Lotus Eaters, Martin Ditcham, Clive Davis | ||
Latin Quarter are a British band formed in 1983. They were popular in Germany and northern Europe and had one top 20 single Radio Africa in the United Kingdom. They originally split up in 1990, but re-formed in 2011. The band toured Germany and UK in early 2012 and have released their latest album The Imagination of Thieves in 2016. Their sound mixes elements of pop, rock, reggae and folk with largely political based lyrics.
Contents
Career
Latin Quarter were formed in late 1983 by Steve Skaith and Mike Jones who were both members of the left wing political group Big Flame. Their political viewpoint is often reflected in the choice of subject matter and lyrics of Latin Quarter's output. Jones describes their first album Modern Times as "a veritable manifesto". The main members between 1985-1987 was Steve Skaith (vocals, guitar), Richard Wright (guitar, vocals), Mike Jones (lyrics, some backing vocals), Greg Harewood (bass), Yona Dunsford (vocals, keyboards), Carol Douet (vocals, percussion).
They released a total of five studio albums plus two compilations during their first incarnation, and achieved chart success with the single "Radio Africa", which reached number 19 in the UK Singles Chart.
After low sales of their third album in the UK, the next two were only released in continental Europe and Jones claims they were the only western pop act to release a contemporary album in East Germany.
Latin Quarter collaborated with The Bhundu Boys on the latter's 1993 Friends on the Road album, including a re-working of "Radio Africa" and two new songs written by members of both bands. They were also the first band to be managed by Marcus Russell (who is from Ebbw Vale along with Mike Jones in the band) later the manager of Oasis.
When the band split up Steve Skaith went to live in Mexico where he met and formed the Steve Skaith Band with Mexican musicians, and released the albums Mexile 2004, Empires and Us 2005 and Imaginary Friend 2007. He then returned to England and re-recorded some early Latin Quarter songs on Latin Quarter Revisited 2010.
Latin Quarter re-formed in 2011 and released the albums Ocean Head in 2012 and Tilt in 2014. Steve Skaith re-recorded Latin Quarter-songs on Bare Bones in 2015. In September 2016 they released The Imagination of Thieves.
Songs
Radio AfricaModern Times · 1985
America for BeginnersModern Times · 1985
New MillionairesModern Times · 1985