The group initially attracted attention as a sound system some years prior to 1988, run by founder Jazzie B, playing at nights including their own at the
Africa Centre, London. Though the venue's capacity was limited to approximately 300 people, weekly attendance often exceeded that number, with crowds gathering outside. According to Jazzie B, speaking in an interview featured in
What Do You Call It? From Grassroots to the Golden Era of UK Rap (2024), the growing popularity of the nights drew increasing attention: “All the controversy that went with it only made it more popular.” By 1988, the official lineup was Jazzie B,
Caron Wheeler,
Nellie Hooper,
Simon Law,
Doreen Waddell,
Rose Windross,
Daddae, Aitch B, and Jazzie Q. They released their first single, "Fairplay", with Rose Windross on lead vocals, recorded at the Africa Centre. where the collective hosted a regular Sunday-night residency. The song charted at number 63 on the
UK Singles Chart, while their follow-up single "Feel Free", which featured Doreen on lead vocals, charted at number 64. The weekly club night, having grown ever more popular, moved to the much larger
The Fridge Nightclub in
Brixton, South London, where it would remain well into the 1990s. The collective used the venue to test their musical composites on the dance floor. Together with an eclectic mix of “Funki Dredd" – "A happy face, a thumpin' bass, for a lovin' race!" – themed club classics that combined British, Caribbean, African, and African American influences. One night in 1988, the residency hosted a personal appearance by the nascent rap group
N.W.A. who were briefly in the UK promoting their album
Straight Outta Compton. A plaque now commemorates the collective's significant influence on the original venue, which closed in 2010 but which was subsequently renamed and reopened as the
Electric Brixton. During the late 1980s, Jazzie B and several other members of the group became involved in the local
pirate radio station movement. Jazzie B hosted a show on
KISS-FM. In March 1989, their label released the group's single "
Keep on Movin', featuring Caron Wheeler on lead vocals.
1990: Volume II A New Decade and lineup changes In early 1990, Wheeler officially left the group to pursue her solo career. To fill out the group's dynamic, Jazzie B turned to a few singers he had performed with in the past. This led to the brief addition of
Kym Mazelle,
Lamya, and
Victoria Wilson-James to the new lineup. With a new official lineup, the group released their second album,
Vol. II: 1990 – A New Decade, which peaked at number one on the
UK Albums Chart. The album featured the singles "Represent" and "Pleasure Dome".
1998–2006: Disbandment and aftermath In 1997, Daddae teamed up with Joey Jay and
Norman Jay to produce the
roots reggae dub reggae album "I n I Deal With Roots" under the collective moniker, The Truth, which was successful with
Jah Shaka followers. The album reworked drum and bass structures and production techniques from
King Tubby,
Prince Alla,
Yabby You,
Big Youth's
iconic
Screaming Target album, as well as sampling bass lines from The Palmer Brothers
Step it Out of Babylon In 1998, the group officially disbanded with each member pursuing solo careers. Following their disbandment, several members including Wilson-James, Mazelle, Lamya, and Kelly would release solo albums which would each garner success, respectively. Marcia Lewis and Kym Mazelle would also go on to become educators. In 1999, Kelly released her self-titled debut album, which spawned the number-one
Dance chart single "Skin". The group often reunited and performed for a few selected dates over the course of their hiatus. In March 2002,
Doreen Waddell, who had been living in
Hove following her departure, died at 36 after being hit by three cars while she was fleeing from a shoplifting incident. The Soul II Soul Sound System featuring Caron Wheeler toured Australia nationally in February 2009. They performed at the Playground Weekender Festival near Sydney. Soul II Soul performed live at the Yasalam free concerts in conjunction with the 2009 Formula 1TM Etihad Airways
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix celebrations in October 2009. In 2010, Soul II Soul reunited for their reunion tour with the lineup consisting of Jazzie B, Caron Wheeler, Rose Windross, Kym Mazelle, Charlotte Kelly, Aitch B, and MC Chickaboo. The group toured until the end of 2011. Following the tour, Kelly and Wheeler performed on-and-off as the featured vocalists for Soul II Soul. In 2012, Soul II Soul performed at the Lovebox Festival in which Kelly performed as the featured vocalist. In June 2012, Soul II Soul received the honorary PRS Heritage Plaque award. Jazzie B, Wheeler, Daddae, Mazelle, Kelly, Aitch B were among the members present. They also performed during the ceremony. In August 2012, Soul II Soul (Jazzie B, Jazzi Q, Aitch B, Caron Wheeler, and MC Chickaboo) performed at Channel 4's "House Party". In December 2012, Soul II Soul performed "Keep on Movin and "Back to Life (However Do You Want Me)" on
Later... with Jools Holland with Caron Wheeler as the lead vocalist. They also confirmed to be working on a new album.
2013–present: Later years In April 2013, Jazzie B and Charlotte Kelly launched the Soul II Soul "Classics" Collection at
Harvey Nichols in London, England. The Classics Collection features T-shirts and sweatshirts with Soul II Soul's Funky Dred logo. In the same year, Kelly left the group again and Wheeler rejoined. In 2014, Soul II Soul performed at the Lovebox Festival. In 2016, Soul II Soul released a single, "A New Day", credited to Caron Wheeler, which features production from Jazzie B and
Louie Vega. Soul II Soul released their live album
Origins: The Roots Of Soul II Soul on 9 December 2016. In May 2017, Soul II Soul performed at
Electric Brixton, with Caron Wheeler and Charlotte Kelly as the lead vocalists. On 28 August 2017, Melissa Bell died after suffering from
kidney failure. The group appeared on ''
Jools' Annual Hootenanny'' on New Year's Eve in 2017. ==Members timeline==