Afterwards I did stints with Lord Radio´s Sophisticated Sounds, playing on the Hotel circuit, and with Chocolate Affair, which was a lovely band, managed by Victor Chapman, and featuring Emmerson Drakes on vibes, Ken Jones, drums, Rickey Aimey, bass, myself, guitar, and Carlyn Leacock on lead vocals. Around 1981, I got a call from Rhapsody (formerly Harmony) in Germany. They asked if I was interested in replacing Mike Cheeseman who wanted to return to Barbados. So after giving it some thought, I agreed, and so off to Germany I went, and have been here ever since. Rhapsody was very popular around Germany. In addition to our own shows, we shared the stage with the likes of Aswad, UB40, the Wailers, Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers, Buddy Miles, Billy Preston, James Brown, Kaoma (of Lambada fame). We also toured in eastern Europe, the so-called Iron Curtain Countries like East Germany, Hungary, Tchechoslovakia and Yugoslavia. (remember that was during the so-called Cold War time.) Rhapsody also provided backing for Lee Scratch Perry and Eek a mouse on their tours in Germany. I continued composing and writing, contributing four songs to Rhapsody´s album Sunsplash Cocktail, released in 1988. After Rhapsody, I played with a few smaller formations (with German musicians), the most notable of which were Slam Jam, a funk-rock group doing original music. (I was lead singer, and also wrote all the lyrics), and It Works, doing mostly popular songs in reggae style. We called it Reggae Style Classics. With this group I composed and recorded two songs which were featured on compilation CDs. In 2001, I joined an African reggae band called Vitamin X. I had known the guys for a long time, since my Rhapsody days. In 2005 Vitamin X did a Europe wide tour backing up Eek a mouse, from Denmark to Italy, touching most of the countries in between. We also backed up Anthony Johnson and Dawn Penn. In 2008, I was asked by Ras Abraham, a jamaican singer(of Slickers fame) to sit in with his band at the unveiling of the Bob Marley statue in Serbia, and more recently again in Serbia for the Jamaica 50th anniversary independence celebrations. In 2009 I recorded my first solo CD, called the Conscious Album because all of the songs have a message or relevance to life. It´s meant to stimulate both body and mind. The philosophy behind my music is to make people happy, while not forgetting the seriousness in life! Have fun, but stay conscious! My motto is...Music is life, so start living...!
Bajans, Where Are They Now? Pg. 3
B.B. CONNELL
In Dortmund, Germany with Vitamin X
Helgoland with Vitamin X
Trio Hanau, Germany