Third World is a Jamaican reggae band formed in 1973. Their sound is influenced by soul, funk and disco. According to Billboard's Jim Bessman, Third World is considered by some reggae purists to be overly commercial.
Third World started when keyboard player Michael "Ibo" Cooper and guitarist (and cellist) Stephen "Cat" Coore, who had originally played in The Alley Cats then Inner Circle, subsequently left to form their own band. The original drummer, Cornel Marshall, arrived via one of Jamaica's most renowned groups of the sixties, Tomorrow's Children. The lineup for their first album as Third World also included a singer named "Prilly" and percussionist Irving "Carrot" Jarrett. The album included a cover of Satta Massagana, originally performed by The Abyssinians, which became a local hit.
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Third World's greatest success came in the late 1970s and early 1980s, peaking with their cover version of The O'Jays' Now that We Found Love, a hit single on both sides of the Atlantic in 1979. This song brought them to the attention of Stevie Wonder, who worked with them and wrote, along with Melody A McCully, their hit Try Jah Love. They were also guests during the third season of SCTV.
