CLINTON LINDSAY » Entries tagged with "Clement Dodd"
JAMAICIAN MUSICIANS PLAYED AROUND WITH “TRANSITIONAL SKA!”
Delroy Wilson—- Music practitioners and connoisseurs of Jamaican popular musichave often categorised the island’s music into four main areas: ska, rocksteady, reggae, and dancehall. According to them, ska was popular from 1962 to about the middle of 1966; rocksteady from late 1966 to 1968; reggae from 1969 to 1983; and dancehall from 1983 to the present time. There were other forms of Jamaican music like version, dub, and roots reggae, which, although given due recognition, were never numbered among the main genres, perhaps because they were merely spinoffs from them. But, in all fairness, no history of Jamaican popular music could ever be written without the inclusion of mento, or what some refer to as Jamaican calypso. It holds pride of place, above all others, as being Jamaica’s most indigenous music form, having evolved from the … Read entire article »
Filed under: GUEST RUNDOWNS
JOHN HOLT CONQUERS THE UNITED KINGDOM!
By Howard Campbell— John Holt—- In tribute to singer John Holt who died on October 20 in London, England, the Jamaica Observer presents ‘Holt a Day’, a daily feature leading up to his funeral, which is slated for November 15. SINCE the 1960s when he was a member of rocksteady group The Paragons, John Holt had a strong fan base in the United Kingdom. At the time of that trio’s dominant run, the UK had a growing Jamaican community, hungry for music from back home. When he went solo in the early 1970s, Holt recorded profusely for a number of producers including Clement Dodd, Duke Reid, Bunny Lee, Harry Mudie, and Phil Pratt. They all capitalised on the singer’s popularity in the UK. Several small UK record labels distributed Holt’s music in that region. Most were … Read entire article »
Filed under: GUEST RUNDOWNS
REGGAE, DANCEHALL ARTISTS NOW BLAMING EACH OTHER FOR THE NEGATIVE IMAGE OF JAMAICAN MUSIC!
Warrior King— By Curtis Campbell— There is yet another clash of the genres brewing as some reggae and dancehall artists have come out in defence of their respective genres, while casting blame on the other for the negative light being shed abroad on Jamaica’s indigenous music. Dancehall’s duo RDX is of the view that old-school reggae artists are doing dancehall music a huge injustice abroad. According to the duo, old-school reggae artists are selling foreigners the idea that dancehall music only offers negativity. RDX member Delomar claims that journalists have confided in him during interview sessions that some old-school reggae artists have repeatedly bashed the dancehall genre because they regard it as being inferior to reggae music. The deejay further stated that dancehall music is more successful than reggae in some markets and deserves its fair opportunity to shine. “When wi … Read entire article »
Filed under: GUEST RUNDOWNS
“THE LIQUIDATOR” SEEPS THROUGH A CATALOG OF JAMAICAN COVERS!
Delroy Wilson – File The 1972 gospel-based recording I’ll Take You There by The Staple Singers soared to the top of the American Billboard charts that year. It triggered a protest by Jamaican record producer Harry Johnson, now deceased, who claimed the song’s introduction was lifted from his instrumental The Liquidator. It was an unusual break in the accustomed pattern of Jamaicans covering foreign recordings. While there is no denying that the large majority of early Jamaican recordings were original compositions, a significant portion were either copied directly or modified from other songs. In 1964, trombonist extraordinaire Don Drummond modified Johnny Cash’s country and western hit Ring of Fire to create the lasting ska instrumental Occupation. The Mexican horns that infiltrated Ring of Fire (something previously unheard of in country and western music) must have inspired Drummond. Clement ‘Sir Coxson’ Dodd, owner of … Read entire article »
Filed under: GUEST RUNDOWNS
FREDDIE McGREGOR TALKS ABOUT FESTIVAL SONG, AND STUDIO ONE!
Veteran artist Freddie McGregor— THIS year marks Freddie McGregor’s 52nd year in the music business. The Clarendon-born singer started at the legendary Studio One as a protege/ward of the label’s founder, producer Clement ‘Coxson’ Dodd. McGregor performs at the Grand Gala tomorrow at the National Stadium, to celebrate Jamaica’s 52nd year of independence from Britain. He spoke to the Jamaica Observer about the Festival Song Contest, Studio One and his career. Jamaica Observer (JO): What is your favorite Festival song and why? Freddie McGregor (FM): Toots and The Maytals’ Bam Bam. For me, it’s the most cultural, and the only Nyahbinghi song to have entered and won. JO: What’s your favorite song that never won. FM: Jacob Miller, All Night Till Daylight. JO: What is your greatest memory of Studio One? FM: My greatest memory is of … Read entire article »
Filed under: GUEST RUNDOWNS
JAMAICA’S SOUND SYSTEM CULTURE TAKES THE SPOTLIGHT IN NEW BOOK!
Burning Spear – File By Shereita Grizzle– Back in April, the Sonos Studio in Los Angeles announced the introduction of a ground-breaking exhibition highlighting the sound system element of Jamaican music culture. Now, just a few months later, the country’s sound systems are back in the spotlight, following the publication of a new book. Sound System Culture, Celebrating Huddersfield’s Sound Systems, is the title of the literature written by Paul Huxtable, a sound-systemoperator from Huddersfield, United Kingdom. The book which was published earlier this month, was conceived by co-editor Mandeep Samra, and explores the unique and rich culture of Huddersfield’s sound systems. The book traces the origin of reggae sound systems in Jamaica, to their establishment in the UK and beyond, specifically focusing on the Huddersfield scene. As part of the efforts to educate people on the … Read entire article »
Filed under: GUEST RUNDOWNS
“TRIBUTE TO THE GREATS” TO HONOR THE CHUNG BROTHERS, MIKEY AND GEOFFREY, JULY 26!
By Howard Campbell— Top: Mikey Chung Bottom: Geoffrey Chung (left) with Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones—-. The 17th staging of Tribute To The Greats takes place July 26 at the Chinese Benevolent Association in St Andrew. Dubbed ‘The Chinese Connection’, it salutes the contribution of the Chinese to Jamaica’s popular music. Today, the Sunday Observer continues a six-part series on some of the recipients. WHILE growing up at Tewari Crescent off Maxfield Avenue in the early 1960s, Mikey Chung recalls hearing the sounds of ska from a nearby club. It had an enduring impact on he and his younger brother Geoffrey. The Chungs’ love for music grew when they moved to Vineyard Town in east Kingston and attended St George’s College. Geoffrey, one of reggae’s finest producers, died in 1995 from kidney failure. Mikey, older by … Read entire article »
Filed under: GUEST RUNDOWNS
FIFTY-TWO YEARS OF FREDDIE McGREGOR!
By Kevin Jackson— Freddie McGregor— IN recognition of his 52 years in the music business, singer Freddie McGregor will be honoured by Summerfest Productions at next month’s Reggae Sumfest in Montego Bay. McGregor’s career started in 1962 at Studio One where he was mentored by producer Clement ‘Coxson’ Dodd. A decade later, he earned an underground following with songs like Bobby Babylon and Bandulu for Studio One. In the 1980s, McGregor hit his stride with a string of hits, including Big Ship, Push Come to Shove, So I’ll Wait for You, Just Don’t Want to be Lonely, That Girl, Prophecy and I Was Born a Winner. Here are some facts about Freddie McGregor. — First song recorded and released was Why Did You Do It featuring Ernest Wilson in 1963. — Was a member of the Generation Gap band. — … Read entire article »
Filed under: GUEST RUNDOWNS
“DANCEHALL ON LIFE SUPPORT” SAYS CRITIC DENNIS HOWARD!
Dennis Howard– Alkaline Diplo, founder of Major Lazer and Junior Gong— THERE have been few harsher critics of dancehall music than Dennis Howard. Since the late 1990s, Howard has written extensively in this newspaper and other publications about the genre self-destructing. Many of these observations can be found in his book Rantin’ From Inside the Dancehall, released in 2012. On Friday, one day after Vybz Kartel and three men were found guilty for the October 2011 murder … Read entire article »
Filed under: GUEST RUNDOWNS
JAMAICAN MUSIC ON THE WORLD’S STAGE: MILLIE SMALL, THE WOMAN WHO STARTED IT ALL!
Millie Small— Millie Small kick-starts Jamaican music’s popularity around the world Millie Small was reported to be 15 years old when Island Records boss, Chris Blackwell, recruited her in 1964, as part of his efforts to help set up his fledgling label. However, there are discrepancies concerning the year of her birth. On the premise of the above data, simple mathematics would mean she was born in 1949, however, some sources claim she was born in October of 1946. She was … Read entire article »
Filed under: GUEST RUNDOWNS
Recent Comments
- rubber stamps on GREGORY ISAACS TOP 100 SONGS
"Awesome post! I will keep an on eye on your blog.…" - Tory on Could Buju Walk Free?
"That's not even 10 mineuts well spent!…" - Jenelle on GREGORY ISAACS TOP 100 SONGS
"That insight's perfcet for what I need. Thanks!…" - Howdy on SEAN PAUL HOLDS FIRM IN NEW YORK!
"Was totally stuck until I read this, now back up and runnnig.…" - Janay on POLITICS IN SONGS – THE MUSIC OF POLITICS!
"You've got to be kddinig me-it's so transparently clear now!…"
You must be logged in to post a comment.