Chalice was a popular reggae group from 1980-87 who never expanded their fan base beyond Jamaica’s shorelines, where they recorded nearly ten albums on Pipes Music, Rohit, CSA, Sunsplash, and Ras Records (including: Stand Up, Dangerous Disturbance, Wicked Intentions, Up Till Now, and Live at Reggae Sunsplash) before disappearing from the scene. The name Chalice comes from a popular term in Jamaica for a ganga (marijuana) smoking pipe often used for ceremonious occasions. True to their name, the virtue of smoking weed was the subject of many of their songs.

Chalice’s lineup consisted of Alla (keyboards, vocals), Desi Jones (drums), Mikey Wallace (keyboards, vocals), Wayne Armand (guitar, vocals), Papa Keith Frances (bass), and Trevor Roper (guitar, vocals). They were a hot live act whose studio recordings often lacked the same intensity and failed to convey their infectious entertaining skills. Chalice used synthesizers as the back and front bone to achieve their bouncy danceable sound; but an over reliance on the sound branded them as lightweights by diehard reggae fanatics. Like Rodney Dangerfield, they got no respect. In concert, Chalice made you get up and boogie; but their studio recordings were often cheaply produced and lacked the same dynamics of their live shows. Add minimal promotion to mix and it’s easy to see why internationally the word never got out about them. Chalice sometimes sang about serious issues, like on the rootsy “Good Be There” and “Stand Up,” but not nearly enough to satisfy their critics. Chalice’s other popular hits include, “Can’t Dub,” “Jamaican Anthem,” “I’m Trying,” “I Can’t Run,” “Dangerous Disturbance,” “Peter Botha,” “Handle Me Rough,” and an update of Terence Trent D’Arby’s “Let’s Go Forward.”
All Music-Andrew Hamilton.