The Congos is a Jamaican vocal group formed in the mid-70’s by Cedric Myton (October, 30th, 1947, St. Catherine, Jamaica; falsetto) and Roydel “Ashanti Roy” Johnson (April, 12th, 1943, Kendal, Hanover, Jamaica; tenor), later becoming a trio with the addition of Derick “Watty” Burnett (May, 20th, 1948, Portland, Jamaica; baritone), completing the classic line-up.

Myton started his career as a member of the group The Bell Stars in 1967, followed by The Tartans in 1968 (along with Prince Lincoln Thompson, Devon Russell and Lindburgh Lewis), and “The Royal Rasses” in 1971. Ashanti Roy attended Kendal School with Lee "Scratch" Perry, their mothers also being friends. At the age of sixteen he began hanging around recording studios, where he was taught guitar by Ernest Ranglin. He was a member of Ras Michael’s Sons of Negus in the early 70’s, as well as The Righteous Brothers (led by Vivian "Yabby You" Jackson and also featuring Albert Griffiths of The Gladiators). Later on, Ashanti Roy met again with Lee Perry who after hearing "Row Fisherman Row", invited him to his Black Ark studio to record the song. He went to the studio with Cedric Myton and that was the start. Myton and Johnson, both serious Rastafarian artists and members of the Niyabinghi Order, first emerged as The Congos on a single, "At The Feast" (1976).



Perry had been auditioning vocal groups at his Black Ark Studio in Kingston for a project he had in mind: a roots vocal album featuring a classic falsetto/tenor/baritone line-up. However, The Congos proved to be more than he had expected, although they did not initially feature a baritone. Early singles "Ark Of The Covenant and "Congo Man" confirmed the prospect of something special, even by Perry’s own high standards. Perry added Black Ark regular Watty Burnett to the group to handle deeper chores, and a masterpiece album was completed: Heart of The Congos. The album featured illustrious backing singers such as Gregory Isaacs, The Meditations, and Barry Lewellyn and Earl Morgan of The Heptones. The album has been described as "the most consistently brilliant album of Scratch's entire career".

Unfortunately, Perry was in dispute with Island Records, the label handling his international releases at the time, and therefore did not offer the trio’s Heart Of The Congos to the company, preferring instead to press it on his own Black Ark label, limiting its success overseas as the album only reached the specialist shops in small quantities. The second album released by the trio was “Congo Ashanti” (1979) featuring some more legendary musicians such as Earl "China" Smith (guitar), Carlton "Santa" Davis (drums), Sly Dunbar (drums) and Tommy McCook (saxophone). Ashanti Roy left the group after that album.



Myton continued to perform as The Congos with different musicians, releasing “Image of Africa" (1979) still with Watty Burnett, and "Face The Music" (1981), without the two colleagues. In the meantime, Johnson began performing under the name of Congo Ashanti Roy, releasing his first solo album "Sign of the Star" in 1980, followed by "Level Vibes" in 1984. In 1997 they finally reunited to release "Natty Dread Rise Again", followed by "Revival" (1998), and the first live album "Live at Maritime Hall, San Francisco", in 2000.

Besides performing great shows and huge festivals all around the globe as one of the most classic vocal groups of Jamaica, The Congos also recorded with other relevant artists from different countries such as Groundation (United States) and Pura Vida (Belgium). Their discography is completed with "Feast" (2006), "Swinging Bridge" (2006), "Cock Mouth Kill Cock" (2006), "Give Them The Rights" (2006), "Back in The Black Ark" (2009) and "Dub Feast" (2012).

Presently, besides Cedric Myton, Ashanti Roy, and Watty Burnett, the vocal group also features Kenroy “Tallash” Fyffe.