ALL-STARS: MAKING REGGAE ACCESSIBLE

One might reasonably assume that a band calling itself the “International Reggae All-Stars” would boast some pretty impressive credentials to justify such a lofty name.

Certainly, the term international can be applied to the group. Formed in 1981, the six-piece band consists of English, Jamaican, and American musicians. The description “reggae” makes perfect sense because that’s the predominant musical style the Laguna-based group performs--masterfully rendered on stages everywhere from Solano Beach to France, as well as on last year’s enormously engaging self-titled extended play recording. And “All-Stars” holds up quite well in that the members’ resumes list such employers as Bob Marley, Smokey Robinson, The Crusaders, Junior Walker, The Ventures, and Peter Tosh.

“Our combination of musicians, what we bring to reggae is kind of unique,” explained All-Stars’ keyboardist-vocalist Larry Fulcher, following a recent appearance in Laguna Beach’s White House, where the band often performs on Monday nights.

“I come from an R&B; background, Peter (Dobson, lead guitarist-vocalist) came from English rock and so on. So we add all these particular elements together into our brand of reggae, and it makes it nice, makes it a little more accessible to the average guy.”

This reggae-for-the-common-man approach may help explain such noteworthy accomplishments as the All-Stars being the first reggae band to perform in Alaska and Peru, among other locales. Moreover, that accessibility, coupled with the All-Stars’ obvious instrumental strength and versatility, account for the group’s status as the outfit that visiting Jamaican singers contact when they need a backing band for concerts.

“That’s become one of our specialties,” Dobson said, citing Eek-A-Mouse and Big Youth as just two of the Jamaican vocalists to have been supported by the group. “Because we’re a catalyst band, we can do that job very well, working for a West Indian artist who comes over and needs a band; we automatically tend to make his music real accessible to the people he’ll play for here.”

“At first these artists,” Fulcher added, “are kind of surprised to see that a six-piece band--with four non-Jamaicans--can do their music as well as their records. But at this point, it’s second nature to us.”

Also important to the group is performing benefit concerts.

The All-Stars--which also features bassist George (Fully) Fullwood, rhythm guitarist-vocalist Tony Chin, drummer Larry Dent, and vocalist Keidi Howard--have two benefit concerts scheduled for next week:

Tuesday the group performs at the Belly Up Tavern in Solano Beach, followed next Friday by an 8:30 p.m. appearance at the Woman’s Club in Laguna Beach. The latter will benefit the Ethiopian Famine Relief Fund.

Fulcher emphasized the personal significance of Tuesday night’s benefit to the group:

“The one on the 12th is really special to us because it’s for a fellow musician, a guy by the name of G.T. Clinton, who’s the keyboardist in (local reggae band) The Rebel Rockers. G.T. had been having some health problems, which he thought was a bleeding ulcer.

“But when he went to the hospital, they found cancer . . . . So this benefit is to help pay off some of G.T.’s medical expenses.” The G.T. Clinton Recovery Benefit--which will also feature performances by local reggae acts Jack Miller, the Rebel Rockers, Barbara Paige, and Fo Mo--is slated to begin at 9 p.m.

LIVE ACTION: Tickets are now on sale for the performance by George Thorogood and the Delaware Destroyers at UCI’s Crawford Hall March 3 . . . Fishbone will be at Fender’s Ballroom in Long Beach Feb. 15 . . . Larry Carlton will play the Golden Bear in Huntington Beach Feb. 15 and 16 . . . The James Harman Band will perform at Laguna’s White House Feb. 16 . . . Laguna Beach-based Honk will reunite once again for shows Feb. 22-23 at the Golden Bear in Huntington Beach . . . Jeff Pearson returns to the Crazy Horse Steak House in Santa Ana March 4.