In the patois of Jamaica's Rastafarians, the word 'ital' means pure, natural and unprocessed. These adjectives also describe the sound and message of the Itals, one of reggae music's premier vocal groups. Hailing from the beautiful countryside of Jamaica's Westmoreland Parish, lead singer Keith Porter explains, "Well, we really not like the environment of the city. We like to live in a the country and come into the city and do our work and go back. You get more better food fe eat out there, you know…more fresher food and fresh air and t'ing like that."

The Itals first appeared on record when Keith and Ronnie Davis re-voiced a riddim that had been a number one hit for Ronnie on the SpiderMan label. That tune, "Won't You Come Home," was released in 1975. The new version, "In A Dis A Time," became a number one hit in 1976, and the first recording by the Itals. Originally released as by 'Keith & Ronnie,' pro- ducer Lloyd Campbell quickly renamed them The Itals, repressing the record to meet demand. Today the song remains the Itals' signature tune.

    The success of "In A Dis A Time" saw the group returning quickly to the studio with the addition of Lloyd Ricketts singing the third harmony part on a series of superb recordings for the SpiderMan label. Tunes like "Don't Wake The Lion," "Brutal," and "Temptation" followed on 45 in Jamaica and New York releases in 1977 and 1978, establishing the Itals among the best of Jamaica's singers and songwriters.

    The Itals were finalists in the Jamaica Festival Song Competition in 1981 and 1982. Their 1981 tune, "Jamaican Style," earned them a place on the Reggae Sunsplash that year. The group's exceptional performance was described as a "show stopper" by Randall Grass, in the book Reggae International. In 1981, the Itals began working with Nighthawk Records. Their first appearance on LP was the various artist anthology, "Wiser Dread," now highly sought after by collectors. In 1982, Nighthawk released the first Itals' album, "Brutal Out Deh." The record caught the ears of New York Times music critic, Robert Palmer, who praised the album as "a stunner."

    The Itals first toured the US and Canada in 1983, backed by the Roots Radics. Their second album, "Give Me Power," was released in 1984 to critical acclaim and took the number one position on CMJ's Reggae Route chart. In 1985, they were among the top 100 artists of the year in the rating of Pollstar Magazine.

    In 1987, the Itals' third recording, "Rasta Philosophy," won a Grammy nomination for best reggae album. Their 1989 release, "Cool And Dread," proved once again "that the Itals remain at the heights others are still trying to reach" (Pulse Magazine critic, Doug Wendt). Their fifth album for Nighthawk, "Early Recordings," gathers together all the Itals' early singles and several rare pre-Itals tracks for a collector's feast.

    Over the years, the Itals have performed in more than 15 countries and have given hundreds of shows in the US and Canada. These include headline dates at the Fillmore, in San Francisco, the Apollo Theatre, in New York, and the Montreal Jazz Festival, broadcast coast-to-coast on Canadian radio and television. Critics agree that, on stage, the Itals' live performances create the same level of excellence and excitement as their recordings.

In 1995, the Itals became a duo when founding member Ronnie Davis left to form a new group. Lead singer Keith Porter and harmony singer Davis Isaacs carried on until 1997 when, joined by Keith's daughter, Suan Porter, the Itals became a trio once more. As one of the hardest working groups in reggae today, they continue to reach new, young audiences. With their timeless message and sweet harmonies, the Itals have created a sound that is, at once, both classic and fresh, reaching listeners of all ages.