Lynval Golding (born 24 July 1951) is a Jamaican-born British musician. His family moved from Jamaica to Gloucester, before moving to Coventry when he was eighteen. He is currently living in Gig Harbor, Washington. He is best known as a rhythm guitarist and vocalist with the British 2-tone band, the Specials.
He went on to co-found Fun Boy Three with Terry Hall and Neville Staple., and then joined the Coventry group After Tonite. He was also in the short-lived group Pauline Black With Sunday Best, which also included Neville Staple and members of After Tonite. https://marcoonthebass.blogspot.com/2013/01/rare-2-tone-spin-off-pauline-black-with.html
In 1990, Golding joined former members of The Specials and The Beat to form Special Beat. He joined a reconstituted Specials lineup from 1993 to 1998.
In 2006, he toured the U.S. with The Beat, a reunion version of another second wave ska band. He started a band in Seattle, Stiff Upper Lips, and also started playing with UK group Pama International.
In 2007, he appeared live at the Glastonbury Festival on the Pyramid Stage with Lily Allen and fellow Specials / Fun Boy Three band member Terry Hall. He also played on the Park Stage, once again with Terry Hall and also Blur frontman Damon Albarn and beatboxer Shlomo, playing a version of The Specials hit "A Message To You, Rudy". These appearances led to a full-fledged Specials reunion, and Lynval remained with them until their dissolution in 2022.
Stiff Upper Lip broke up along the way, but was re-formed as Gigantor in 2013.https://www.liveone.com/artist/lynval-golding/67105? He continues to tour with both Gigantor and Pama International.
Personal life In 1982, Golding was stabbed in the neck in a nightclub in Coventry, leaving him in intensive care.
Discography See also The Specials Discography, Fun Boy Three, Pama International
ArtistTitleReleasedateLabelDetailsThe Special AKAIn the Studio19842 Tone RecordsLynval Appears on "Free Nelson Mandela"Pauline Black With Sunday BestPirates On The Airwaves (Single)1984ChrysalisBand member, producerRobert Wyatt with The SWAPO SingersThe Wind of Change / Namibia (single) 1984Rough TradeLynval plays guitar – also features Jerry Dammers and Dick CuthellAfter TonightTime For A Change (12" Single)1986IDK RecordsBand member, producerAfter TonightThe Polish Man Who Sits In The Corner (album)1988BGP (Beat Goes Public)Band member, producerThe PoguesLive At The Town And Country1988Warner BrothersLynval sings and plays guitar on "Rudi: A Message to You"Various ArtistsThe Shack1993BiB Records "Why?" and "Wear You to the Ball" credited to Neville Staple and Lynval Golding (both tracks actually Specials/Fun Boy Three demosPaul Williams; You're Wondering Now: The Specials from Conception To Reunion – Part Two "Neville Staple" and "Lynval Golding" chapters)The Soup DragonsHydrophonic1994PolygramLynval plays guitar on "Rest in Peace", with Neville Staple toastingVarious ArtistsSpare Shells: A Tribute to the Specials2001Pork PieAppears with Skanic on "Do Nothing"Militant Rhythm SectionMexican Weed Dub2005UtmostGuestLynval Golding and Contra CoupKnow Your Rights (12" Vinyl)2016Mossburg Know Your Rights! / Know Your Rights – MA Mix / The Same / The Same – MA MixThe Notables Featuring Lynval GoldingChildren Children / Good King (7" Vinyl) MossburgVarious ArtistsGifted: Ska Tribute To The Jam2018Jump Up! Records Lynval Golding and Contra Coup perform "Tales of the Riverbank"
References