Joseph Hill

Joseph Hill was born in St. Catherine, Jamaica in 1949 and began his musical career as a percussionist in the late 1960s. As Rastafarianism's influence on reggae grew in the 1970s Mr. Hill formed the roots-reggae group Culture, releasing more than 30 albums. He wrote the group's best known songs including "Two Sevens Clash," "Natty Never Get Weary" and "I'm Not Ashamed". "Two Sevens Clash" (Sly & Robbie played on the recording) is considered one of the most influential reggae records. The song was based on a prediction by Marcus Garvey, the pan-Africanist, who said that chaos would occur when the 'sevens' met -- July 7, 1977. The outcome was similar to Orson Welles & The Mercury Theatre's radio broadcast of 'War Of The Worlds' -- many Jamaican businesses and schools closed their doors on that day.