HE Tamlins, consisting of Carlton Smith, Derrick Lara and Junior Moore, started out as a nightclub act in 1970 and by 1972 had won the "Most Outstanding Group" award in Jamaica.

Inevitably, numerous local artists were clamoring for the sweet harmony of The Tamlins as backing vocals. Willingly they threw their musical weight behind performances of artists such as Delroy Wilson, Pat Kelly, John Holt, Jimmy Cliff and Peter Tosh. They later toured the United States, France, Germany, Italy, Denmark, Sweden, Holland, South America and the Eastern Caribbean Islands with Peter Tosh.

Out of the Tosh relationship developed a rapport with the famed 'rhythm twins', Sly and Robbie of Taxi Productions. The Tamlins' first single on the Taxi Label was Star, to be followed by Laying Beside You Baby and then the remake of Nina Simone's Baltimore, which was also released internationally by EMI. Baltimore held the NO.1 spot in Jamaica for twelve weeks. Indisputably, it was judged the "Number One Record of the Year" in Jamaica on JBC's "Top 100" for 1980. The group also won the "Best Group Award" from JBC, Radio Jamaica and the Daily News that same year.

In 1986, The Tamlins performed on "Dancehall '86" at Cinema One with Half Pint, Josey Wales and Culture, among others. They not only got a standing ovation, but this was judged the "Best Performance of 1986" at the annual Rockers Awards Show. They also "tore the house down" at Sunsplash '86 and the Taxi Connection Shows that same year.

1987 saw The Tamlins featured on the Freddie Jackson show at the Oceana Hotel, where they proved themselves in such stellar company, receiving thunderous applause and accolades. That year The Tamlins were nominated in several categories of media awards and won the award for "Best Performers." In 1988 The Tamlins released their album, I'll Be Waiting on the Live and Learn Label and a second album, Love Divine for SKD of Miami. A return engagement with Freddie Jackson was scheduled in 1989, this time at the Wyndham Hotel, and once again, fans felt they stole the show. The self-produced single, Hurt So Good, was also released that year, to critical acclaim.

Tours of Japan in 1987, performances at Madison Square Garden and in Washington, D.C. and the Detroit, Michigan award for "Top Jamaican Group" are some of the highlights and best held memories of this talented trio.

The TamlinsThe nineties found The Tamlins celebrating two decades of success in the music industry, with songs still popping up on the charts and tours in markets around the world.

One of the high points of The Tamlins' career was performing in an episode of Miami Vice, a then popular television show in the United States. They wrote and performed several songs for an episode of the show entitled, Soul On Ice. They were the first Jamaican musical group to have been featured on a top-rated television series.

On stage, the electrifying Tamlins are described as a cross between Bob Marley and Earth Wind & Fire, a combination definitely worth experiencing live. Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.