Amazulu: The Story of a British Reggae/Ska/Pop Band
Amazulu was a vibrant British band from the 1980s that blended reggae, ska, and pop music. Comprised of five women and one man, the group made a significant mark on the UK music scene, scoring four top-20 hits. Their biggest success came in 1986 with the single “Too Good to Be Forgotten.”
Early Days and Rise to Fame
The band’s name, Amazulu, is derived from the Zulu language, representing the Zulu people. Originally, the group intended to call themselves Amazon, but they discovered that an American rock band had already taken the name. The name Amazulu was chosen after Sharon Bailey and Lesley Beach, two of the founding members, attended a South African play by the same name. After meeting the playwright, they received permission to use the name.
Amazulu was formed by Sharon Bailey, the band’s original manager, and Lesley Beach, the saxophonist, alongside Rose Miner, who was the original lead singer. The initial lineup was entirely female, with Debbie Dread on drums. Over time, Anne-Marie Ruddock replaced Miner as the lead singer, and John “Nardo” Bailey joined on drums, becoming the band’s “token male.” After leaving the band, Miner pursued a career as a dancer, dance teacher, and percussionist, performing with Quilombo do Samba in the UK and Brazil.
The band received early support from Falcon Stuart, the former manager of X-Ray Spex and Adam and the Ants, who helped promote their first single, “Cairo.” Although the single saw modest success, including airplay from BBC Radio 1’s John Peel, it laid the groundwork for their future achievements.
Television appearances on shows like The Young Ones and Top of the Pops helped Amazulu gain widespread recognition. Their hits included “Excitable” and “Too Good to Be Forgotten,” the latter being a cover of a song by The Chi-Lites. In 1986, the band enjoyed minor success in the United States with their cover of “Montego Bay,” a song originally by Bobby Bloom. This track became an unexpected hit in Canada, reaching No. 6 on the singles chart. That same year, they released their self-titled album on Island Records, although it didn’t achieve significant chart success.
Line-up Changes and the Break-up
As their success peaked in 1986, the group slimmed down to a trio consisting of Anne-Marie Ruddock, Sharon Bailey, and Lesley Beach. The following year, Beach left the band, leaving Ruddock and Bailey to continue as a duo. They managed to score a minor hit with their cover of “Mony Mony.” Amazulu’s second album, Spellbound, was released in select Asian countries, including Hong Kong, in 1987. The album featured singles like “Mony Mony,” “Wonderful World, Beautiful People,” and “My Heart Belongs to You.” However, by early 1988, the band had disbanded.
After the split, members pursued various paths. Bailey, Ruddock, and Beach appeared in the 1987 Alex Cox film Straight to Hell. Sharon Bailey later traveled the world, living in Brazil and Rome before settling in Buckinghamshire, where she continues to drum occasionally and remains involved in the music industry. Lesley Beach moved to Tucson, Arizona, after a break in Ibiza. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree and worked as a social worker while continuing to play percussion with Rose Miner in Quilombo do Samba. This band won the Best Band award at the 2002 Notting Hill Carnival.
Clare Kenny, another member of Amazulu, found success as a session musician, playing with artists like Sinéad O’Connor, the Indigo Girls, Shakespears Sister, and Damien Dempsey. Meanwhile, Margo Sagov graduated as an architect and continued to play guitar with various bands, including Rock Candy.
Amazulu’s legacy lives on, and they are even mentioned in the song “Asbestos” by Suede on their album Head Music.