Harlem Gem profile picture

Harlem Gem

LEADING UK REGGAE BAND

About Me

Hailing from Huddersfield

Hailing from Huddersfield, Harlem Gem are Richmond Quarshie (Richy Gem) and Lloyd Charles (Lloydie Gem). Richy is the gifted songwriter, arranger, musician and producer, whilst Lloydie provides the distinctive lead vocals. The two met whilst working on various projects, but didn't become a firm partnership until 1989. In 1990 after signing to Boss Records, they released a series of singles including the unforgettable “Missing You Missing Me c/w Heaven Is (Lying in Your Arms) to top the Independent charts and win Best Newcomers Award.

1994 heralded a new horizon as the single 'Let Me Love You' received critical acclaim and was play-listed on radio stations across the country including Radio 1. It was also featured on Jet Star’s premier reggae compilation series- Pure Lovers Vol. 8 alongside distinguished legends like Dennis Brown, Gregory Isaacs, Junior Delgado and Ruddy Thomas helping to establish Harlem Gem in Europe, Africa, the Far East and other parts of the world. 1994 not only saw more releases from Harlem Gem, but also an appearance on 'Teenbeat' - Africa's premier television music programme which has hosted amongst others, Stevie Wonder, Dionne Warwick, Sounds of Blackness, Shabba Ranks and Public Enemy.font

With a massive following built on powerful live shows including appearances with The Wailers, D-Influence, Alton Ellis, Mike Anthony, Don Campbell and many more, Harlem Gem sparked off a feeling of something special happening in reggae. In 1999, their eagerly awaited debut album- ‘HUNGRY’’ exploded on the scene, which sent out powerful messages about struggles and issues everyone related to and was acclaimed as one of the significant reggae albums of its time.

Before long Harlem Gem had added a tour of France and appearances at CLOTHESHOW (NEC), Hackney Empire, the Commonwealth Sports Awards and Bradford International Music Festival to their ever-impressive portfolio. Their booking for the Commonwealth Sports Awards in St Lucia confirmed their status as one of the UK's leading reggae bands. Appearing alongside Beres Hammond during the 2003 breath-taking tour was another huge statement for the band’s accomplishments and UK reggae. Harlem Gem have now launched their own label ‘Gem Magic’ and are working on the long-awaited follow-up to ‘HUNGRY’’ which promises be another defining moment for reggae- BE WARNED!!!


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My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 9/30/2005
Band Members: RICHY GEM (Songwriting, Production, Keyboards, Arragements and Programming), LLOYDIE GEM (Vocals), KEETY ROOTS (Production, Arrangements, Instrumentation, Programming and Engineering), JAMMYS (Guitars), LEXI (Vocals), YUNGA GEM (Arrangements, Programmimg) and THE GEM FAMILY (D'BO General, Bongo Chillie, Daddy Rue, Charice, Lady Q)
Influences: Inspiration from The Creator, Ancestors, Those Present and Those To Come and the forces of the Cosmos
Sounds Like:

GEM MUSIC

Click on sleeve for more details


Record Label: GEM MAGIC, BLACK PEARL & EKQ Records
Type of Label: Indie

My Blog

FRIENDS FOR LIFE

"FRIENDS" Friends is taken from the acclaimed debut album, HUNGRY and speaks for itself.  It is a song that means different things to different people.  For me it was something to be shared ...
Posted by Harlem Gem on Wed, 01 Nov 2006 01:52:00 PST

BE PART OF THE GEM REVOLUTION

THE GEM REVOLUTION: EXCLUSIVE DOWNLOADS : AVAILABLE ON DATES TO BE ANNOUNCED Yes friends, Precious Gems and fellow myspace-itesDOWNLOAD EXCLUSIVE TUNES FOR FREE:www.myspace.com/gemmagicincFr...
Posted by Harlem Gem on Sun, 09 Jul 2006 05:51:00 PST

HUNGRY: STILL STIRRING A STORM!

Released in 1999, HUNGRY was the long awaited debut album from Harlem Gem's immediately affirming their recognition as one of the UK's leading reggae bands: Read what the critics said: "Its...
Posted by Harlem Gem on Wed, 19 Jul 2006 03:48:00 PST

EDUCATION IS THE KEY!

In an interview on Ghana Television, Richy Gem of Harlem Gem appealed to young people to persevere towards educational attainment. The interview on Teenbeat was in response to young people abandoning...
Posted by Harlem Gem on Wed, 19 Jul 2006 03:23:00 PST