War (band)

A comeback was attempted in 1994 with Peace Sign, but the album flopped (see 1994 in music). By the mid-1990s, though, Yellowman released socially conscious material, rising to international fame as part of a popularization led by singers like Buju Banton. By 1984, War was a touring band only. Violent and sexually explicit lyrics earned Yellowman some criticism in the mid-1980s, along with most of the rest of the ragga community. After a few unsuccessful attempts at recouping, War's Outlaw (1982 in music) was a moderate success, but the group was unable to keep any momentum as members came and went. His exaggerated sexual prowess, combined with his long-time social outcast status as an albino (who are denigrated in Jamaica), made Yellowman very popular. The line-up began to fall apart in 1978 when Dickerson quit and Charles Miller was murdered (see 1978 in music). He was extremely popular in Jamaica in the 1980s, coming to prominence with a series of funky, sexy singles that established his reputation.

A compilation of jams called Platinum Jazz was a surprise success in 1977 (see 1977 in music). Yellowman (born Winston Foster in 1956 or 1959) is a Jamaican dub, ragga and dancehall musician. Why Can't We Be Friends (1975 in music) sold well, and included "Low Rider", perhaps their most well-remembered song. Photograph of Yellowman (http://www.reggaephotos.com/images/Yellowman_7-5-03/Yellowman_009.jpg). That was followed by the sligtly disco influenced "Gypsy Man" from the 1973 album Deliver The Word. After a highly unsuccessful album, War, War's The World Is a Ghetto reestablished them at the forefront of popular funk and included the 1972 hit "The Cisco Kid".

In 1971, Burdon left the group in the middle of a European tour, claiming he was too exhausted to go on (see 1971 in music). "Spill the Wine" became a hugely popular single, and the follow-up, The Black Man's Burdon, was almost as successful as the first. Burdon changed the name to War and the new line-up, with Oskar, began recording in 1969 and released Eric Burdon Declares War in 1970 (see 1970 in music). In 1968, the Creators became Nightshift and started performing with Deacon Jones, a football player and singer (see 1968 in music). At a performance, producer Jerry Goldstein suggested they work with Eric Burdon (of the Animals) and Lee Oskar (a Danish harmonica player).

They recorded several singles on Dore Records and worked with Jay Contreli (of Love). Dickerson and Lonnie Jordan. Within a few years, they had added Charles Miller, B.B. The roots of the band are from 1962, when Howard Scott and Harold Brown formed a group called the Creators in Compton, California (see 1962 in music).

War was an American funk band of the 1970s and early 1980s.