SOLID

Born in Kingston, Jamaica (1958), as a youth Derrick Lara loved to  emulate American R&B singers of the early 70s. He nurtured his vocal  style in the local church choir, performing alongside his sister,  Jennifer Lara. Derrick started performing as a vocalist professionally  alongside Errol Lee in the Bare Essentials Band. Later on he performed  as a drummer in the Seventh Extension Band, playing on Jamaica’s north  coast. Lara focused on drumming for a while until an impromptu  appearance as a vocalist prompted him to focus again on vocals. By 1972  Lara's reputation as a singer reached Kingston where he was invited to   record with Joe Gibbs. Gibbs’ production of ‘What We Need’ introduced  Lara’s distinct falsetto to Jamaican ears. Further sessions with Gibbs  led to Lara’s debut album and an appearance on the discomix, ‘Don’t Stop  Til You Get Enough’ featuring DJ Trinity. In 1983, the vocal group the  Tamlins engaged Lara to perform with them, initially on recording  sessions with Sly and Robbie. Through the years Lara has remained with  the Tamlins, although all the members of the Tamlins also pursue solo  careers. In 1994, the Tamlins re-recorded their classic, ‘Baltimore’,  with Richard ‘Bello’ Bell, who also enrolled Lara to join the Star Trail  Posse. The Star Trail Posse provided backing vocals to performers such  as Beres Hammond, Everton Blender and Anthony B. Lara released a series  of hit singles including ‘Gun Man’, ‘Me No Have It’ and ‘Man Fe Know’  for Bell, while with Tappa Zukie he released, ‘Love Is Calling’ and for  K.C. White he updated Horace Andy’s ‘Money Money’ rhythm for the  classic, ‘Bad Vibes’. Lara also released the album “Motherless Child”  drawing from his formative years and dedicated the title track to his  mother, who had died in childbirth. "Motherless Child" established Lara  as a seriously talented artist. In 1999, Lara released ‘All About Life’  in collaboration with Sly and Robbie, Mafia and Fluxy, Danny Browne,  Firehouse Crew and Culture Lee. In the early 2000's Lara performed with  the Tamlins and toured with Rita Marley singing background vocals.  Derrick still performs with the Tamlins, but he has revived his solo  career with the release of SOLID, a brand new  album with the Stamina All Stars, produced by Bruce Lincoln Benjamin at  Actual Music Productions label out of Santa Cruz, CA.