Connecticut, of course, isn't the first place that comes to mind when one thinks of reggae; most of the major reggae stars have come from Jamaica and, to a lesser degree, England (home of Aswad, Linton Kwesi Johnson, and Steel Pulse). Nonetheless, the United States does have its share of reggae activity, especially in areas that have attracted a lot of Caribbean immigrants over the years. Anthem, in fact, includes some Jamaican immigrants as well as some musicians who were born and raised in the U.S.; Rob Williams (lead vocals), Donald Rose (keyboards, background vocals), and Courtney Coozie Mellers (guitar, background vocals) are among the members who were born in Jamaica. Anthem includes more than one member of the Mellers family; Carey Mellers (keyboards, background vocals) and Jermaine Mellers (bass, background vocals) are nephews of Courtney Mellers (whose non-Anthem activities have included producing material for Sugar Minott, Max Romeo, Lee Scratch Perry, and other well-known reggae artists).
One of Anthem's U.S.-born members is East Coast drummer Leslie Ming (b. November 17, 1951, Brooklyn, NY), a veteran session player who has backed Evelyn Champagne King, Freddie Jackson, Melba Moore, the O'Jays, Randy Crawford, Gladys Knight, and quite a few other major RB singers. Ming is also a former member of the Brooklyn-based B.T. Express, a '70s/'80s disco-funk band along the lines of Brass Construction, Mass Production, and the Crown Heights Affair; B.T. Express enjoyed several major hits when they were together, including Do It 'Till You're Satisfied, Express, Shout It Out, Give It What You Got, and Can't Stop Groovin' Now, Wanna Do It Some More.
In 2003, Anthem signed with Mack Avenue Records (which is best known for jazz but has had some non-jazz artists as well) and recorded Are You Ready? Produced by the flexible Eric Schilling -- whose credits range from Frank Sinatra to Barry Manilow to rock en Español/Latin pop star Shakira -- Are You Ready? was released in February 2004. ~ Alex Henderson, Rovi