Leroy Sibbles, Earl Morgan and Barry Llewellyn first came together as "The Heptones" in 1965 in Kingston, being Sufferers Time their last single to be released, in 1978! Together they recorded a huge number of hits for all major Jamaican record producers at the time. They began their career after one unsuccessful single for Ken Lack's "K Calnek" label, under the watchful eye of Coxsone Dodd of Studio One, to whom they recorded a huge number of Jamaican hits, beginning with "Fattie Fattie", their first Studio One single in 1966. This began a long run of success for Coxsone, including "Pretty Looks Isn't All", "Get In The Groove", "Be a Man", "Sea of Love" (a cover of the Phil Phillips and the Twilights doo-wop classic), "Ting a Ling", "Party Time" and "I Hold the Handle." They were the chief rivals to The Techniques, who recorded for Arthur "Duke" Reid, as the top vocal act of the rocksteady era. During their five years at Brentford Road, Leroy Sibbles played bass on numerous! sessions, auditioned acts, and along with Jackie Mittoo, was the chief studio arranger. Some of their instrumental session work was released as the Soul Vendors and Sound Dimension. Amongst the rhythms featuring Sibbles' bass playing are Alton Ellis' "I'm Still In Love", "Full Up" (used on Musical Youth's "Pass The Dutchie") and The Abyssinians "Satta Massagana". The Heptones remained at Studio One well into the reggae era, where they cut tunes such as "Message from a Black Man", "Love Won't Come Easy ...
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