Amazulu was founded in London in 1982. The British band plays a mix of reggae, ska, and pop. Among the best-known members are Anne-Marie Ruddock (vocals), Sharon Bailey, Lesley Beach, Clare Kenny, Margo Sagov, and John “Nardo” Bailey. In the early days, the group also included Rose Minor as a singer and Debbie Dread as a drummer. The band consists mainly of women and stands out with its colorful appearance and blend of Caribbean and British musical influences. The name is derived from the Zulu word for the Zulu people. Their first single , “Cairo,” was released in 1983 and reached number 86 on the UK charts. This was followed by “Moonlight Romance” (1984) and “Excitable” (1985), which climbed to number 12 on the UK singles chart. That same year, “Don’t You Just Know It” reached No. 15 in the United Kingdom. Amazulu celebrated their biggest success in 1986 with “Too Good to Be Forgotten.” The cover version of the Chi-Lites classic reached No. 5 in the UK and No. 31 in Germany. Also in 1986, “Montego Bay” reached No. 16 on the UK charts and “The Things the Lonely Do” entered the UK Top 50. Amazulu’s debut album was released in 1986 and reached No. 97 on the UK album charts. Spellbound followed in 1987. Later singles included “Mony Mony” (1987) and “Wonderful World, Beautiful People” (1987). After the end of their active career, the group disbanded in 1988.
