Initially teaming together in 1978 as members of a Channel One studio session group, dubbed the Revolutionaries (and later Channel One Stars).

After the main Channel One rhythm section of drummer Sly Dunbar and bassist Robbie Shakespeare left to launch their own label Taxi Records, the Revolutionaries evolved into the Roots Radics. The genesis of the Roots Radics traces back to Morris "Blacker" Wellington's band, the Morwells, a group that featured future Roots Radics members Errol 'Flabba Holt' Carter on bass and Eric 'Bingi Bunny' Lamont on guitar.

Over the years they have been joined by Dwight Pickney, Wycliffe 'Steely' Johnson, Lincoln 'Style' Scott, Gladstone 'Gladdy' Anderson, Christopher 'Sky Juice' Burt and Noel 'Scully' Simms. Other musicians filled in when needed. Some of these included Noel 'Sowell' Bailey, Eric 'Fish' Clarke, Carlton 'Santa' Davis and Carl 'Bridge' Ayton. When a horn section was required, David Madden, 'Deadly' Headley Bennett and Dean Fraser were brought in. As a combined force the Roots Radics became spearheads of the dancehall style that dominated reggae music in the first half of the eighties.

The Roots Radics have supported artists like Bunny Wailer, Gregory Isaacs, Barrington Levy, Israel Vibration, Sugar Minott, Wailing Souls, and Prince Far I, and have several albums to their name as well.