MUSICAL YOUTH
Reggae Band

THEY SCORED A GRAMMY NOMINATION IN THE DAYS BEFORE THE GRAMMIES HAD A REGGAE CATEGORY

Musical Youth was formed at Duddeston Manor School,in Birmingham.
The group featured two sets of brothers, Kelvin and Michael
Grant and Junior and Patrick Waite . The latter
pair's father Fred Waite was a former member of the Techniques, and sang
lead with Junior at the start of the group's career in the late 70's.

Although schoolboys they managed to secure gigs at certain Birmingham
pubs and released a single "Political"/"Generals" on local label 021
Records. An appearance on BBC DJ John Peel's evening show brought
further attention to the group and they were signed to MCA Records.
By that time founding father Fred Waite had baked down to be replaced by
Dennis Seaton as lead singer. During the winter of 1982, the group
issued one of the fastest selling singles of the year in "Pass the
Dutchie". Based on the Mighty Diamonds' "Pass the Kouchie" (a song about
marijuana), the title had been altered to feature the patois
'Dutchie'(literally a 'cooking pot').

The infectious enthusiasm of the group's performance captured the public's imagination and propelled the record to number 1 in the UK charts. A US Top 10 hit also followed.
The catchy follow-up "Youth of Today" also reached the UK Top 20 and
early in 1983 "Never gonna give you up" climbed to number 6. Minor
successes with "Heartbreaker" and "Tell me why" were succeeded by a
surprise collaboration with Donna Summer on the Uk Top 20 hit
"Unconditional Love". THEY SCORED A GRAMMY NOMINATION IN THE DAYS BEFORE THE GRAMMIES HAD A REGGAE CATEGORY.Then came a revival of Desmond Dekker's 007 which saw them back in the Top 30, but after one final hit with "Sixteen", they fell from
commercial grace and subsequently split up in 1985 when Seaton left the
band.Unfortunatly matters were no better when a family rift between the Waites and the Grants put the final nail in the cofin. Plans to reform the band were scotched when Patrick Waite, who had gone on to a career of juvenile crime, died of natural causes while awaiting a court appearance on drug charges in 1987. junior Waite slipped into depression soon after.

The Grant brothers remain involved in music. Michael now runs the 5 am record label, with guitarist/ producer Tony Bean,he has also written and proiduced songs for other artists. Dennis Seaton has released a
solo set and formed his own band XMY that he performs with. He is also a youth worker and consultancy worker.

FORMED IN 1982
2 BROTHERS THE WAITES AND THE GRANTS
LEAD SINGER DENNIS SEATON
Albums: The Youth of Today (MCA 1982)
NO 1 PASS THE DUTCHIE
links
http://www.acroots.com/roots/artists/musicaly.htm
http://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/ilove/years/1982/music2.shtml

Anthology Album