Black Uhuru was the most dramatic reggae act since the ‘70s. They led the second generation of reggae vocals groups. They won the first Grammy award ever for a reggae group. Their name means "freedom" in the African language of Swahili.

The group formed in Jamaica in 1974, by Euvin "Don Carlos" Spencer, Rudolph "Garth" Dennis and Derrick "Duckie" Simpson. The childhood friends grew up in the Waterhouse district of Kingston where other legendary reggae groups were spawned. The name stuck as the years changed the lineup time and time again. Without a record contract and a few years behind them, Spencer left for a solo career and Dennis joined other Waterhouse group The Wailing Souls. Simpson kept the name, adding Errol "Jay" Wilson and Michael Rose, with Sly Dunbar on drums and Robbie Shakespear on bass. They released Love Crisis with producer Prince Jammys, and released reggae anthem "I Love King Selassie." In 1980 they remixed and rereleased their Love Crisis album under the name Black Sounds of Freedom, with the UK label Greensleeves.

Adding high vocalist Sandra "Puma" Jones, they group saw career highs during the ‘80s, collaborating with Sly and Robbie and seeing the introduction of the reggae category at the Grammy's, relishing in their first win for the genre. The studio album Re, spotlights rising singing stars Rose and Jones, which followed up the live album Tear It Up and 1983's studio album Anthem.

Rose left the group to pursue a solo career, replaced by Junior Reid, who remained with the group until visa problems prevented him from touring in 1989. Jones was diagnosed with cancer and died on January 28, 1990. Jones was replaced by Olefunke. The original trio recorded a reunion album, Now, in 1990 and continue to tour and perform for reggae fans everywhere.