Third World started when keyboard player Michael "Ibo" Cooper and guitarist (and cellist) Stephen "Cat" Coore (son of former Deputy Prime Minister David Coore), who had originally played in The Alley Cats and then Inner Circle, subsequently left to form their own band along with Inner Circle singer Milton "Prilly" Hamilton.

[2][3] They recruited bassist Richard Daley, formerly of Ken Boothe's band and Tomorrow's Children, and added drummer Carl Barovier and former Inner Circle percussionist Irvin "Carrot" Jarrett before making their live debut in early 1974.

Notable among its eight tracks were "1865 (96° in the Shade)", a reference to the 1865 Morant Bay rebellion, "Rhythm of Life" and the album's only cover, "Dreamland", written by Bunny Wailer.

[2] In 1977, the band collaborated with psychiatrist Frederick Hickling on the Explanitations show that was performed at Kingston's Little Theatre early the following year.

[4] Third World's greatest success came in the late 1970s and early 1980s, peaking with their cover version of The O'Jays' "Now That We Found Love" from their third album Journey to Addis.

In 1983, Third World had crossover success on the UK jazz-funk scene with their reggae single "Lagos Jump" largely thanks to Robbie Vincent[10] and Jeff Young who played the 12-inch version on their Radio London shows.

Telstar Records released a double-album compilation in 1983 which collected up all the mainstream club extended versions and remixes by artists and groups that had enjoyed relatively good UK chart success between 1981 and 1983.

Entitled In the Groove, the compilation's lead track on Part Two was Third World's extended version of "Dancing on the Floor (Hooked on Love)".

[2] The resulting five-piece band then went on to record more commercial albums such as Sense of Purpose, Reggae Ambassador, Forbidden Love, and Committed.

Illness forced Clarke to miss the European shows, with AJ Brown standing in as lead vocalist.

[16] Their 21st album, Under the Magic Sun, was released in June 2014 on Cleopatra Records, featuring vocals from past members, including Bunny Rugs, Brown, Coore, and Maurice Gregory.

[6][8][21] The band have played also folk-pop, hard rock, bossa nova, rap, light pop-jazz, doo-wop and calypso.