Man with a Clan

Once upon a time, family acts were a fairly common occurrence in music: Isley Brothers, Cowsills (the initial inspiration for the Partridge Family, oy), and perhaps the most (in)famous, the Jacksons. Reggae's Morgan Heritage, though, has 'em all beat, if only by sheer numbers. Jamaica-born, Brooklyn-residing singer Denroy Morgan has...

By Mark Keresman

May 19, 2005

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Once upon a time, family acts were a fairly common occurrence in music: Isley Brothers, Cowsills (the initial inspiration for the Partridge Family, oy), and perhaps the most (in)famous, the Jacksons. Reggae's Morgan Heritage, though, has 'em all beat, if only by sheer numbers. Jamaica-born, Brooklyn-residing singer Denroy Morgan has 28 -- count 'em -- children by a few moms. In the early '90s, Morgan Heritage gave such a bravura showing at the Reggae Sunsplash festival, MCA Records signed it practically on the spot, but its debut, Miracles, was diluted with commercial compromise. Learning its lesson, Morgan Heritage sojourned to Jamaica and recorded with legendary roots producer Lloyd "King Jammy" James. Seven albums later and scaled to a quintet, Morgan Heritage carries on with the spiritual lyrics and rootsy sound of Bob Marley and Burning Spear while absorbing the heavenly smooth harmonies of American R&B and nodding to the "neo-roots" of contemporaries Luciano and Beres Hammond.

Morgan Heritage unleashes its Rasta groove at 8 p.m. Sunday, May 22, at Revolution, 200 W. Broward Blvd., Fort Lauderdale. Tickets cost $15. Call 954-727-0950.

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