3 months ago
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Legendary reggae band Third World continues to captivate audiences with their signature fusion of reggae, funk, and soul. With over five decades in the industry, the Grammy-nominated group remains a powerhouse, delivering timeless hits like 96 Degrees in the Shade and Now That We Found Love. Most recently, they brought their electrifying energy to the stage at Red Stripe’s ‘Love at Woodstock’ Valentine’s concert, proving once again why they are one of reggae’s most enduring and beloved bands. Catching up with musician and co-founder of the band Stephen ‘Cat’ Coore, we delved into the band’s remarkable journey, their signature fusion of sounds, and the driving force behind their longevity in just five questions.
1. Third World has been a powerhouse in reggae music for over five decades. What has been the key to the band’s longevity and continued relevance in the music industry?
Third World’s longevity over five decades stems from the band’s unwavering identity as musicians from the very beginning. We didn’t see ourselves in any other career. We didn’t want to do anything except play music and be entertainers. That commitment to music and our brand has allowed us to stay together, despite some members leaving or passing away. We’re dedicated to continuing the legacy of the Third World and all the songs we’ve created.
2. Your music seamlessly blends reggae with funk, soul, and R&B. Was this fusion intentional from the start, and how has it shaped Third World’s signature sound over the years?
The fusion with Third World came naturally. When we were young, we were influenced by [the band] Earth, Wind & Fire, Santana, James Brown, R&B music, and pop music. Our thing was that we could actually play that kind of music, and many bands couldn’t pull it off as well as we could. We were doing songs by The Delfonics, The Chi-Lites, and Kool & the Gang early on, so blending reggae with R&B became easier for us. While R&B fans may not have been as receptive as other audiences, Third World’s signature sound blends funk, R&B, soul, and pop music, with reggae as the foundation.
3. With classics like ‘Now That We Found Love’ and ‘96 Degrees in the Shade’, which of your songs do you feel best captures Third World’s message and legacy?
96 Degrees in the Shade best captures our message. We’ve always wanted to be a voice for the underprivileged and to remind our generation of the struggles of slavery. We come from an era of artistes like Bob Marley and Burning Spear, so giving messages of empowerment through our music felt natural. At the same time, Now That We Found Love brought great joy to people by bringing reggae to the disco scene. One of our greatest achievements was introducing reggae into the disco scene.
4. You’ve performed on some of the biggest stages – both at home and around the world – most recently at Red Stripe’s Love at Woodstock. What do you enjoy most about performing for live audiences?
Performing for live audiences is very special; it’s not something I could explain, especially when they genuinely love what you’re doing. There’s a feeling that you can’t get anywhere else. Playing music for people and seeing them enjoy it, like at Red Stripe’s Love at Woodstock, is an extraordinary experience. For Third World, we’ve always had a loyal following of people who understand and love what we do, and that makes performing even more special.
5. After 50 years in the business, what’s still left on Third World’s bucket list?
At this point, it’s not so much a traditional bucket list, but more about continuing to perform, create music, and leave behind a lasting legacy. We’ve lost some important members along the way, so it’s important for us to create and share as much music as we can. We also hope to perform in places like India and experience cricket there.
English (US) ·