It’s hard to imagine White Plains Road in the Bronx without Earl Moodie. He was a pillar of that area for over 40 years, helping to build the New York City reggae scene. Moodie died at age 69 in New York on September 17. His son, Earl Moodie Jr., said he had been ailing for some time. Moodie operated Moodie’s Records and other reggae stores in the Bronx. His headquarters at White Plains Road was ground zero for reggae aficionados, particularly those hunting rare vinyl records. He opened the store during the early 1980’s after nearly a decade working for Brad Osbourne, who operated the successful Brad’s Records along White Plains Road.
Sound system veteran Tony “Downbeat The Ruler” Rookwood was a lifelong friend of Moodie’s. They are from the Papine/August Town area of St. Andrew in Jamaica, and attended the same primary and high schools before migrating to the United States in the late 1960’s.”He’s going to be missed, ’cause is him really hold up di record store thing after everybody close,” said Rookwood.
He described Moodie as a “quiet an’ humble” man with a dedication to vinyl records, stacks of which were stored at his legendary shop.” Is a store where yuh can get anything. An’ if Moodie don’t have it, him going to find it,” Rookwood added. Earl Moodie moved to the Big Apple at a time when West Indian communities were taking shape in the Bronx and Brooklyn. His music career started as lead singer of the Stepping Stones, a reggae band; he also helped manage the groundbreaking Brad’s, the largest retail reggae outlet in the United States during the 1970’s.Earl Moodie Senior is survived by 10 children, several grandchildren, and one brother.
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