The Jamaica Observer continues its reflection on the year 2018 in entertainment. This daily column looks on the achievers, trendsetters, those who died, and the controversies.

THE bad Boys of Reggae turned 50 in 2018 and celebrated that landmark in style in October with a grand bash at their north Miami complex. Brothers and co-founders of Inner Circle, Roger and Ian Lewis, led the festivities with past and current members.

At times, the event resembled a house party from the 1970s, a decade many associate the band with. Then, their line-up included the flamboyant lead singer Jacob Miller, whose unique style made songs like Tenement Yard, Forward Never, Backward Never and Tired Fi Lick Weed Inna Bush, classics.

Miller died in an auto accident in 1980 at age 27, but the Lewis siblings marched on by moving to Miami where they restructured the band. Their persistence was rewarded in the early 1990s with two massive songs, Sweat and Bad Boys, as well as a Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album.

Tommy Cowan, who managed them during the 1970s, attended the Miami party. He spoke glowingly of their resilience.

“All they did was to love the music and love to play, but at the same time they were humbling themselves for a higher calling,” he said.

Early members, keyboardist Ibo Cooper, guitarist Stephen “Cat” Coore, vocalist Prilly Hamilton and drummer Willie Stewart, were part of the jam session that rocked into early morning. Inner Circle’s current line-up also includes stalwarts, Bernard “Touter” Harvey on keyboards and drummer Lancelot Hall.