2 Tone Ska revival group formed in 1978 in Birmingham, England by guitarist/vocalist Dave Wakeling with artist (bass) and Andy Cox (guitar) along with rapper/toaster Ranking Roger (Roger Charlery), drummer Everett Morton and veteran Jamaican saxophonist Saxa (Lionel Martin). Keyboardist and songwriter David Wright (22) (Dave Blockhead) joined the group in 1980. As there was an eponymous power pop US group (later known as Paul Collins' Beat) emerging at the time they were forced to use the names The English Beat on their North American releases and The British Beat briefly in Australia.
The band enjoyed immediate chart success and established their own record label Go-Feet Records. After the split in 1983, Steele and Cox went on to form Fine Young Cannibals and later 2 Men A Drum Machine And A Trumpet while Wakeling, Ranking Roger and Saxa formed General Public. Saxa and Everett Morton also formed International Beat, with some guest appearances by Ranking Roger who also joined members of The Specials in Special Beat.
Until recently, two different versions of the band toured fairly frequently: "The English Beat starring Dave Wakeling" (a.k.a. The Beat (8), based in California, U.S.A.) and "The Beat with Ranking Roger" (a.k.a. The Beat (6), which also featured Ranking Roger's son artist, and was based in the UK.) The latter group ended with the death of Ranking Roger at 26th March 2019 at the age of 56.