August 1, 1838 marked the end of the apprenticeship period and the official emancipation of all slaves in British colonies. As such this day, Emancipation Day, is observed as a public holiday in Jamaica to provide Jamaicans with the
Tommy McCook (3 March 1927 – 5 May 1998) Perhaps the most innovative and influential tenor saxophonist in Jamaican popular music; founding member of The Skatalites band; leader of The Supersonics band and member of The Revolutionaries.
Don Drummond (12 March 1932 – 6 May 1969) One of the greatest trombonist in the history of Jamaican music. He was one of the original members of The Skatalites, and composed many of their tunes.
Possibly, the first ska single was "Little Sheila" by Laurel Aitken, recorded in 1958.
Byron Lee is known to have introduced the electric bass guitar to Jamaica in late 1959. The bass guitar soon gained popularity throughout the country and became the standard. The electric bass' louder, clearer, and more 'in your face' sound soon changed the entire sound of Jamaican music entirely, especially after Skatalites bassist Lloyd Brevett took a liking to it.
The duo Keith and Enid had probably the most popular and best remembered recording during the ska era - Worried Over You, which climbed to number one on the Jamaican charts in 1960.
Happy Birthday to one of Jamaican music's most legendary producers, the late Leslie Kong.
Kong is perhaps best known for producing some of the finest records in the late-rock steady / early-reggae period in the late 1960s including Bob Marley's very first song "Judge Not" and Jimmy Cliff's first hit "Miss Jamaica".
Prince Buster
He is regarded as one of the most important figures in the history of ska and rocksteady music. The records he made on the Blue Beat label in the 1960s inspired many reggae and ska artists. He also dominated the local sound system scene rivaling Duke Reid and Sir Coxsone Dodd
Bob Marley recorded his first song in Kingston entitled 'Judge Not' recorded by legendary reggae producer Leslie Kong (Beverley's Record) in 1962
Clement 'Coxsone' Dodd opened Studio One studio at 13 Brentford Road, one of the most endowed studios in Kingston Jamaica in 1963. Artistes who have recorded at Studio One include: The Skatalites, The Ethiopians, Bob Marley and the Wailers, Lee "Scratch" Perry, Burning Spear, Toots & the Maytals, John Holt, Horace Andy, Ken Boothe, Freddie McGregor & Dennis Brown.
The Wailers's first single, 'Simmer Down', reached Number 1 in Jamaica's JBC Radio Chart in January 1964.
Vintage Poster: 1966 'The Sparkling Stage Show' featuring Derrick Harriott, The Techniques, The Maytals & more
Roy Shirley recorded "Hold Them" in 1966, which became the first 'one-drop' recording, providing the cornerstone of the rocksteady beat.
"Fattie Fattie" was The Heptones first Studio One single in 1966
Toots and the Maytals won the first-ever Jamaican Independence Festival Popular Song Competition with their original song "Bam Bam" in 1966
“Red, Red Wine” is a song written and performed by Neil Diamond in 1968. Tony Tribe covered the song in 1969 in a reggae-influenced style, and UB40 covered the song in 1983 in a lighter reggae-style. It became the first reggae hit by a pop musician.
The word Reggae first appeared in print in 1968 hit 'Do the Reggay" by Toots & The Maytals.
When Coxsone Dodd, the STUDIO 1 owner, traveled to England in 1968, he brought some gadgets with him, among them an electronic device called an ECHOPLEX, a delay box. And this very kind of box changed music forever. This new dimension, which later would emerge as DUB, would not have been possible without REGGAE - and the Echoplex of course.
American artist Johnny Nash's 1968 hit "Hold Me Tight" has been credited with first putting reggae in the American listener charts. Johnny Nash was the first non-Jamaican to record reggae music in Kingston, Jamaica.
1969 we would lose one of the greatest trombonist to ever walk this earth. We remember and celebrate the life of Don Drummond, a pioneer of Ska.
Rest In Peace Don...
Rest In Peace Don...
"Soul Rebels" was the first album by Bob Marley and The Wailers to be released outside of Jamaica. It was produced by Lee "Scratch" Perry and released in December 1970.
Bob Marley and the Wailers cut the first reggae album, "Best of the Wailers" produced by Leslie Kong in 1970.
1972 ad for Dennis Brown's "Silhouettes" record, available at Derrick's 1Stop Record Village owned by Derrick Harriott
John Holt's biggest success came with his album "1000 Volts of Holt" released in 1973 on the Trojan Label.
Bob Marley performed at the National Heroes Park on December 5th, 1976 for the Smile Jamaica Concert, two days after a shooting incident at his home in which he and others were injured.
Photo Memory: Bob Marley on The Exodus Tour in 1977
The Heptones' 1977 album Party Time proved to be the group's biggest-selling album in the international market. It included an eye-opening cover of Bob Dylan's "I Shall Be Released."
Bob Marley's 1979 hit 'One Drop' was named after the musical term defined by the sound of a drum pattern that emphasized the bass drum dropping at the 3rd count of the 4/4 signature beat. This sound is generally said to define the sound of reggae.
Singer Bob Marley made history during the One Love Peace Concert at the National Stadium in Kingston, Jamaica. During a performance by Marley and his group the Wailers, the reggae singer joined the hands of political arch-rivals prime minister Michael Manley (of the People’s National Party) and Edward Seaga (of the Jamaican Labour Party) at a time where tensions between the parties and their supporters had reached their peak. Seaga became the fifth prime minister of Jamaica in 1980.
Super Cat's first single, the Winston Riley-produced "Mr. Walker", was released in 1981
The very first Grammy award for Best Reggae Recording was awarded to Jamaican group Black Uhuru in 1985 for their 'Anthem' album
acknowledge the passing of renowned Jamaican saxophonist Cedric Brooks.
Rest In Peace Cedric
Rest In Peace Cedric
Shabba Ranks won two Grammy awards for the Best Reggae Album category twice in a row- in 1992 and 1993 for his albums “As Raw As Ever” and “X-tra Naked.”
Jah Cure’s debut came in March 1997 when he released the single "King in this Jungle" with Sizzla which was produced by Beres Hammond.
One Love, the Bob Marley all star tribute concert was given on December 04, 1999 a rainy night in Oracabessa Bay, Jamaica by a range of major rock, pop, hip hop, and reggae talent invited by the Marley family (wife, sons and the Wailers) including Lauryn Hill, Chrissie Hynde, Jimmy Cliff, Erykah Badu, Queen Latifah, Busta Rhymes, and Tracy Chapman.
BeenieMan's 'Art & Life' was the first Grammy Award winning Reggae album of the new millennium, 2000. It featured Mya, Arturo Sandoval and Wyclef Jean (The Fugees).
Damian Marley is the only Reggae artiste in history to win two Grammy Awards in one night and also the only Jamaican to win the 'Best Urban/ Alternative Performance' category at the Grammy's (2006)