Bloodfire Possé

Jamaican reggae group featuring Paul Emerson Blake (not to be confused with another reggae singer named Frankie Paul, whose real name was Paul Blake), Donovan ‘Benjie’ Belnavis, Carl ‘Teddy P’ Ayton, Alden ‘Trapper John’ Stewart and Danny Browne. Blake began singing while still at school, followed by a stint playing to the tourists on the north coast of Jamaica. The group had performed individually and gleaned professional experience playing in other bands. Notable contributions were made with the Caribs, the In Crowd, the Sagittarius Band, Natural Mystics and 7th Extension.

The band members also played on a number of recording sessions before combining their talents. As a group, they recorded ‘Rub A Dub Soldier’, ‘Get Flat’ and ‘Are You Ready’, all of which topped the Jamaican charts. They toured the island playing concerts for students, which often resulted in the school gates being mobbed.

Bloodfire Posse quickly gained international notoriety and in 1985 made their UK debut at the second Reggae Sunsplash Festival held in Selhurst Park, which led to a tour of Europe. While in the UK the group performed at a young offenders’ prison. The inmates prepared the backdrop, which featured the Pink Panther cartoon character, a reference to the group’s instrumental interpretation of the theme tune, and the project was televised in the UK. The group’s success generated interest from CBS Records and they secured a contract for the release of Are You Ready. By 1986 Trevor ‘Skatta’ Bonnick replaced Blake, who would later have a solo career, as lead singer, initially voicing the hits ‘Do You Feel Like Dancing’, ‘Can’t Stop Rocking Tonight’ and a version of the Four Tops’ ‘Aint No Woman (Like The One I Got)’.

In June 1990 the band were shocked by the death of founding member Alden Stewart, which resulted in a lapse of work for about a year. By 1991 the group were back on the live circuit, and in the studio recording the hits ‘Dance All Night’ and ‘Rude Boys’, but disbanded for good two years later.