LMS

Vocalists <a href="spotify:artist:6er2OGPUAcuwfECtUDi19S">Laza</a>, Shy-Poo, and <a href="spotify:artist:27pbtwDJU76TUtS47OeRVd">Miriam</a> are the sons and daughter of reggae luminary <a href="spotify:artist:3c4YM7n144AgnZskYxraYe">Denroy Morgan</a>, a roots rock journeyman and founding father of the successful reggae group <a href="spotify:artist:3VV18HyGcfLTqNjSjbROA1">Morgan Heritage</a>. For the many offspring of <a href="spotify:artist:3c4YM7n144AgnZskYxraYe">Denroy</a> (29 all tolled), the music industry is a family business as the vast majority of his foal followed in their father's footsteps. After performing with their older sibs in <a href="spotify:artist:3VV18HyGcfLTqNjSjbROA1">Morgan Heritage</a> throughout the '90s, <a href="spotify:artist:6er2OGPUAcuwfECtUDi19S">Laza</a> and Shy-Poo broke off from the pack and became a duo (the Dredz) and signed with <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22MCA%22">MCA</a>. After a falling out with the label, the duo brought in kid sister <a href="spotify:artist:27pbtwDJU76TUtS47OeRVd">Miriam</a> and continued the Morgan family affair as the incarnation, LMS. The group brought a youthful and cross-genre format to the Morgan musical pedigree, espousing the spirit of both modern rap and R&B under the umbrella of the reggae/dancehall style. The siblings were born and raised in Springfield, Massachusetts but were brought up in accordance with Rastafarian ethics so their music is reflective of a bi-cultural upbringing. <a href="spotify:artist:6er2OGPUAcuwfECtUDi19S">Laza</a> took on the DJ'ing role within the group, taking cues from a host of hip-hoppers (<a href="spotify:artist:3PyWEKLWI0vHPmoNrIX0QE">Rakim</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:1P8IfcNKwrkQP5xJWuhaOC">LL Cool J</a> ,and <a href="spotify:artist:3CQIn7N5CuRDP8wEI7FiDA">Run-DMC</a> among them) as well as the hardcore dancehall toasters of the early '90s (<a href="spotify:artist:7hHDN8REbPLpv46ROortOM">Super Cat</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:4wLAjfeqAsV66AocWNcowA">Buju Banton</a>). The singing duties were assumed by Shy-Poo and <a href="spotify:artist:27pbtwDJU76TUtS47OeRVd">Miriam</a>, who looked to R&B (<a href="spotify:artist:3fMbdgg4jU18AjLCKBhRSm">Michael Jackson</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:3dkbV4qihUeMsqN4vBGg93">Al Green</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:6XpaIBNiVzIetEPCWDvAFP">Whitney Houston</a>) and gospel (<a href="spotify:artist:3WNUkxJcJeliFx9KXWXMgs">Bebe & CeCe Winans</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:4akybxRTGHJZ1DXjLhJ1qu">Kirk Franklin</a>) for their inspiration. The group produced their first album in 1999, Reality Check, with a sophomore follow-up in 2001, Zion's Gates. A third release, Straight from Da Root followed in 2003. The Rasta-conscious albums are invariably backed by the strong production presence of such reggae studio stalwarts as <a href="spotify:artist:40MCkoSBYKZmJokhYEiVJb">Donovan Germain</a>, Phillip "Fatis" Burrell and their very own paternal overseer, <a href="spotify:artist:3c4YM7n144AgnZskYxraYe">Denroy Morgan</a>. ~ M.F. DiBella, Rovi