The Melodians

Jamaican reggae vocal trio

The Melodians were a rocksteady band formed in Kingston, Jamaica, in 1963 by Tony Brevett, Brent Dowe, and Trevor McNaughton. They became one of the most popular groups in the rocksteady genre, which was a precursor to reggae. The Melodians' music was marked by their tight vocal harmonies and socially conscious lyrics. They achieved international fame with their hit "Rivers of Babylon" in 1970, which was later popularized further by Boney M.'s cover in 1978. The song's lyrics are adapted from the Biblical Psalms 19 and 137, the latter of which is a lamentation over the destruction of Jerusalem and subsequent Babylonian exile. Over the years, The Melodians continued to record and perform, contributing significantly to the development of reggae music. Their legacy is marked by a string of hits that remain classics within the genre.