The band was formed in London in 1978.[3] They were originally a forerunner of the late 1970s/early 1980s British jazz-funk movement. The band's name is taken from the 1974 Kool and the Gang album, Light of Worlds.[1][4] The original line-up consisted of Jean-Paul Maunick, drummer Everton McCalla, bassist Paul Williams, guitarist Neville McKreith, percussionist Chris Etienne, keyboardist Peter Hinds, trumpet player Kenny Wellington and saxophonist David Baptiste.[3]
The band's debut single "Swingin'", peaked at No. 45 in the UK Singles Chart. This was later followed up by two top 40 hits: a cover of the Bob Marley and the Wailers song "I Shot the Sheriff" (#40), and the double A-side single "I'm So Happy" / "Time" (#35).[5][6] Their debut album was released in 1979 on Ensign Records. Their second album Round Trip was released in late 1980 and peaked at No. 73 in the UK Albums Chart.[5]
In 1981 Baptiste, Wellington, and McKreith left the group to form Beggar &Co.[3] In 1982, the band released a third album titled Check Us Out.[3] A greatest hits album was issued by Ensign Records in 1985.[3] In 1999 Light of the World briefly reunited and recorded an album titled Inner Voices with Richard Bull as producer and Kenny Wellington as co-producer.
