Multi-instrumentalists Dwight Pinkney and Carl Ayton formed Yard Beat after spending a number of years working as a backing band for the likes of Bunny Wailer, Dennis Brown, Gregory Isaacs, Barrington Levy, and Prince Far I. Accompanied by trumpeter Bobby Ellis -- who previously worked for Bob Marley and Tommy McCook -- the three-piece took their efforts of '60s Jamaican ska and released their debut album Straight From Yard through Beatville in 1997. ~ Mike DaRonco