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Carlton and the Shoes, also known as Carlton & His Shoes, is a Jamaican vocal group that gained significant popularity in the late 1960s during the transition from rocksteady to reggae. The group remains active as of 2008, particularly in Japan and Jamaica. Led by Carlton Manning, the original line-up included his younger brothers Donald and Lynford, both of whom were members of The Abyssinians, along with Alexander Henry. Initially named Carlton and his Shades, the group's name changed to Carlton and the Shoes due to a printer's error on their debut release for Sonia Pottinger. Although their first release did not achieve much success, they later collaborated with Clement "Coxsone" Dodd at Studio One, where they found a major hit with "Love Me Forever" in 1968. "Love Me Forever" has been re-released and covered numerous times, and its B-side, "Happy Land," served as the foundation for The Abyssinians' "Satta Massa Ganna," which is one of the most covered songs in reggae history. After Donald and Lynford formed The Abyssinians, Carlton continued to work at Studio One, recording and serving as a session guitarist. He remained active in music throughout the 1970s and early 1980s, although he never replicated his initial success.
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