Inner Circle

Formed in Kingston in 1968 around brothers Ian and Roger Lewis, Inner Circle has traversed several eras in the history of Jamaican reggae, first as an accompanying group in the early 1970s, then with a more defined identity from Dread Reggay Hits in 1973. The band then evolves between roots reggae, soul and Caribbean pop, before finding a striking balance during the Jacob Miller years, the singer associated with Inner Circle from 1974 to 1980. This lineup notably released Reggae Thing in 1976, Ready for the World in 1977, Everything Is Great in 1979 and New Age Music in 1980, while touring between Jamaica, the United States and Europe. After Jacob Miller's death in 1980, Inner Circle reorganizes and eventually relaunches from Miami from the mid-1980s. The sound becomes more direct, more open to reggae fusion and to writing aimed at the international stage, as illustrated by One Way in 1987, Identified in 1989, Bad to the Bone in 1992 and Reggae Dancer in 1994. Inner Circle remains particularly associated with Bad Boys and Sweat (A La La La La Long), two tracks that widely disseminated its blend of reggae, pop choruses and dance rhythms. Always led by Ian Lewis, Roger Lewis and Bernard “Touter” Harvey, Inner Circle continues to tour and keep alive a repertoire built across several generations of reggae.