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The Original Uptones were the first ska and reggae band in the western United States. Starting out in Tucson, Arizona, in 1980, during the early post punk era and 2nd wave of ska, and not to be confused with The Uptones from Berkeley, California, which formed a few years later and trademarked the Uptones' name with a style modeled after punky English, ska bands, the Original Uptones developed an original style that transcends genres, blending elements of ska, reggae, jazz, and rock into tight and powerful, feel-good songs with brilliant horns and electric guitar, percussion tsunamis, and rich three part harmonies, in a heavy bass mix jammed out with genius and great for dancing.

History The Original Uptones formed in 1980 when several members of Tucson, jazz/rock fusion band, Chameleon, played a Halloween gig with other musicians in a theme costume as a performing reggae band called the Upsetters. They had so much fun playing ska and reggae cover songs for several hundred enthusiastic dancers and an interested booking agent, that they decided to start a real band featuring original ska and reggae material, called the Uptones, because there was already a band called the Upsetters, initially playing at bars near the University of Arizona with local punk and new wave bands, including The Pills, Phantom Limbs, and Giant Sand Worms, and eventually headlining at major music venues in Tucson, Phoenix, Los Angeles (Hollywood), San Diego, New York, New Jersey, and on cross country tour stops in Sante Fe, Knoxville, during the 1982 World Fair, and Wilmington, en route to a summer long gig as the house band at Rick's American Café, on Long Beach Island, at the Jersey Shore, and then commuting to gigs in New York City, Philadelphia, Trenton, Lancaster, New Brunswick, Asbury Park, and Atlantic City for the rest of the year. The Original Uptones opened concerts for Peter Tosh, Steel Pulse (Tucson and Trenton), the Twinkle Brothers and others, and closed a popular Tucson nightclub (The Pawnbroker) when a thousand fans turned out to grossly exceed the club’s legal capacity, resulting in the club losing its liquor license. The Original Uptones were also the last band to play at Tucson’s premier club concert venue, Dooley’s/Stray Cat, prior to an insurance scam arson fire, which tragically destroyed the historic building. The Original Uptones and their part-time horn section, called the Big Roach Horns, packed Tucson's bars and dance floors by quickly developing a large, devoted, interracial following, ranging from U of A students and faculty, to old hippies, and young punk rockers. They were designated "Tucson's Most Popular Band," in 1981* by the Newsreal (defunct Arizona arts & entertainment newspaper) and have a 30 plus year living legacy in popular Tucson reggae band, Neon Prophet, formed by lead singer, David Dean, after the Original Uptones disbanded in 1983.

Personnel Early Original Uptones: Moses Smith on lead vocals, vocals, and percussion, John Sferra on lead vocals, vocals, and drum kit, Wes Lawson on rhythm and lead guitars, Gerry DeMers on loud bass, Jon Browning on keyboards, and Zebo Miller on conga drums and percussion with Stefan Gordon mixing sound and Mark Wilsey added on lead guitar and vocals.

Prime Original Uptones: David Dean on lead vocals, vocals, conga drums, and percussion, John Sferra on lead vocals, vocals, and drum kit, Mark Wilsey on lead vocals, vocals, and lead guitar, Greg Armstrong on saxes, flute, organ, and percussion, Gerry DeMers on loud bass, Wes Lawson on rhythm and lead guitars with Dwight McKnight mixing sound.

The Big Roach Horns: Albert Woods on Trumpet, Chris Dunn on Trombone, and Brad Kohl on Saxophone.

Discography The Uptones (4 song EP) 1982

The Uptones' digital archives (double album CD) 2008

The Original Uptones (full length CD) 2015