They Still Make Fine Gems : The Mighty Diamonds Keep On Jammin’ With New, Relevant Reggae Sounds

You wouldn’t know it from from reading Rolling Stone, but there’s a notable 25th anniversary in rock music this year that has nothing to do with old hippies or mud-cakedteen-agers.

Operating on a considerably smaller scale than Woodstock ‘94, veteran Jamaican reggae band the Mighty Diamonds is boarding the tour bus this week, a quarter-century after it first started spreading its soulful, rootsy sound.

The fact that this anniversary has generated little fanfare is typical of the Diamonds’ career. According to band member Lloyd (Judge) Ferguson, its business affairs have left the group disappointed and, at times, angry.

“It’s frustrating that we have not gotten the recognition we should have,” said the 45-year-old Ferguson during a recent phone interview from Kingston, Jamaica. Reggae music critic Randall Grass agrees, writing in the New Rolling Stone Record Guide: “Since their 1977 classic ‘Right Time,’ they have not enjoyed the international recognition they deserve.”

Said Ferguson: “Some of it might be our own fault, but I truly believe our past revolving door of management has been our downfall. When we were making hit tunes we had people making decisions who didn’t know the business.”

“The promotion and marketing just wasn’t there,” he added. “But now Marc (Marc-Antoine Chetata, their current manager) is really trying hard to straighten things out so we can enjoy the fruits of our labor.”

Despite such past problems, the group--whose RAS Posse Tour ’94 plays the Coach House tonight--carries on making new, relevant reggae. In fact, the band has been busier than ever, having released both “Paint It Red” in the United States and “Moment of Truth” in Europe last year, while its new “Speak The Truth” album is slated to hit stores next week. Known for their mix of sweet, soulful harmonies and harder-edged, socially con scious material, the trio--Ferguson, lead singer Donald (Tabby) Shaw and vocalist Fitzroy (Bunny) Simpson--grew up listening to a variety of reggae, soul and R&B.;

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Their favorite performers ranged from the Stylistics and Impressions to Donna Summer and Deniece Williams to Peter Tosh and Toots & the Maytals, wide-ranging influences that lend flavor and depth to the Diamonds’ musical personality.

Over the years, they scored international hits with the singles “Jailhouse,” “Have Mercy,” “Why, Me Black Brother, Why” and “Them Never Love Poor Marcus.”

These days, Ferguson said, “we still sing about the realities of life, the experiences of youth. . . . We sing the truth as we see it. The new songs are all originals . . . spiritually inspired . . . based on our culture and experiences. We encourage people to read the Scriptures, and keep your head about you during tough times.”

In a separate interview, Simpson said that with the new album, “we wanted to create some of today’s more modern sounds, without losing the feel and emotion behind them. We were getting too far away from the basics of music: melody, rhythm and the beat.”

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How has the threesome managed to stay together for so many years with so little financial reward?

“We’re like brothers; we stick together no matter what,” Simpson said.

“Music is our life,” Ferguson added. “We’re looking ahead to producing some other young musicians that Bunny’s been working with. Nobody’s seeking unknown talent and promoting original music, so that’s what we’re going to get into soon.”

“But we still love to play and perform . . . sharing with our audience, and feeling the participation of men and women--young and old, black and white--all singing and dancing together at our concerts. Isn’t that what it’s really all about?”

* The Mighty Diamonds and ex-Black Uhuru singer Don Carlos perform tonight at the Coach House, 33157 Camino Capistrano. 7:30 and 10:30 p.m. $19.50. (714) 496-8930.