Despite not enjoying live performances with sound systems, Triston Palmer became a leading voice in 1980s dancehall. “I was mostly a recording artist, rarely performing live with certain sounds,” he recalled. His hit “Entertainment,” produced by Jah Thomas, became an iconic anthem for dancehall, addressing issues like violence and disunity in dance spaces with lyrics […]

In the 1970s and 1980s, two dominant styles emerged in dancehall music, each embodying a distinct outlook: “Culture” and “Slackness”. Slackness was known for its edgy lyrics, often explicit or dealing with themes considered taboo. This style was not entirely new; Jamaica had a history of risqué lyrics, evident in early genres like Mento, Ska,

The Roots Radics Band transformed reggae music in the early 1980s with a minimalistic yet powerful rhythm style. Their approach was clean, energetic, and made for a new era, moving away from the dense, layered sounds of the past. Collaborating with innovative engineers like Scientist, Soljie, and Peter Chemist, the Radics pioneered what would become

Barrington Levy was one of the most influential voices to emerge from the 1980s dancehall scene. Known for his distinct, youthful “canary” voice, his singing has only improved over the years, with a clarity and range that truly stands out. His voice is both powerful and flawless in pitch. As a young man, Barrington left

Wackies, the reggae record label founded in 1976 by Lloyd “Bullwackie” Barnes, holds a significant place in the history of reggae music. Jamaican music producer Lloyd Barnes opened Wackies in the heart of the Bronx: his studio quickly started shaping a unique sound that bridged the roots of Jamaican reggae with the gritty, urban energy

When you talk about the golden age of Jamaican music, one name that always stands out is Delroy Wilson. A pioneer in the development of ska, rocksteady, and reggae, Delroy was much more than just a singer – he was a voice that defined an era and one of Jamaica’s most soulful vocalists. At only

Roberto Sánchez, a.k.a. Lone Ark, is a name synonymous with reggae music in Spain, and his influence has spread far beyond the Iberian Peninsula. Born in 1977 in Santander, Cantabria, Roberto has dedicated his life to the sounds of roots reggae, earning him respect as a multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter, producer, and engineer. Early days and musical

“Anything imported from England or Scotland was in high demand, no matter how poorly suited to the local weather conditions. […] In sweltering 96-degree summer days, in polluted downtown Kingston, men could be seen in pure wool ‘diamond’ sweaters and socks, lined tweed caps, knitted vests and pinstripe-suite jackets”. Canadian photographer Beth Lesser describes Kingston’s

Prince Far I, born Michael James Williams in 1945 in Spanish Town, Jamaica, became a legend in roots reggae as a producer and for his incredibly distinctive deejay style on the microphone. Growing up in Kingston’s Waterhouse area, he was deeply influenced by the local sound system culture. Early on, he joined Sir Mike the

Dillinger, born Lester Bullocks in Kingston, Jamaica, in 1953, is a legendary reggae artist known for his quick wit and humorous lyrics. Growing up in Kingston, Dillinger was influenced by DJ toasters like Big Youth and U Roy, and by local sound systems, especially Dennis Alcapone‘s El Paso Setup, to the point that he started

Bunny Lee’s “Flying Cymbals” dominated the Dancehalls and the charts during 1974 and 1975. But what are they? The flying cymbals (or flyers rhythms) style in reggae is characterized by a distinctive, rapid hi-hat pattern that mimics the sound of a cymbal flying through the air. It became a hallmark of producers like Bunny “Striker”

Johnny Clarke has influenced Jamaican music for decades. While not widely known outside Jamaica, he was among the island’s top reggae artists in the 1970s, influencing future stars like Sugar Minott. Born in Bull Bay, Jamaica, in 1955, Johnny Clarke discovered his love for singing in church as a boy. He initially put aside musical

“When you talk about Dancehall you have to talk about me; I am the founder. Even now they are talking about Dancehall, those artists nowadays not dancehall really. They need to know who is the founder for this thing; People need to know; They want to know.” Little John (John McMorris) asserts his place as

In the late 1960s, Kingston was a vibrant city fueled by the rhythms of ska and rocksteady. Against this backdrop, the four Hoo-Kim brothers – Joseph (Jo Jo), Ernest, Paulie and Kenneth – laid the foundation for what would become a reggae mecca: Channel One. History of Channel One Studios The Hoo-Kim (sometimes also spelled

Dennis Emmanuel Brown was born in Kingston, Jamaica, on February 1, 1957. His father, Arthur Brown, was a prominent Jamaican actor, while his brother Basil was a popular radio personality when Dennis was a child. Surrounded by art and music, Dennis Brown started singing at school early. Byron Lee soon discovered him, booking ‘Little Dennis

In the vibrant world of reggae music, the legacies of iconic artists often extend beyond their earthly presence through posthumous releases that echo their profound musical contributions. Here are five reggae albums released after their singers’ untimely death.

In the realm of reggae, Barry Brown stands out as one of the few singers who gracefully navigated the transition from the late roots phase to the emerging dancehall style. Blessed with a distinctive high tenor, Brown’s voice was instantly recognizable, leaving a lasting impression every time it echoed through the airwaves. His lyrics blended

Renowned as a record producer and entrepreneur, Duke Reid was a crucial figure in the inception of the Jamaican music industry, an enigmatic character with a lasting impact on the music scene. According to some sources, Arthur ‘Duke’ Reid was born in the parish of Portland, Jamaica, in 1915, while others claim it was in

Culture is an iconic Jamaican reggae group, a vocal trio that helped shape the sound and style of Rastafarian roots reggae. As suggested by the name, Culture’s lyrics focused mainly on spiritual, social, and political themes. The group is best known for its legendary album “Two Sevens Clash” and its charismatic leader, singer and songwriter

John Holt, one of Jamaica’s superb vocalists and enduring songwriters, was born in the Greenwich Farm area of Kingston in July 1947. His talent was evident as soon as he was 12 when he won his first singing contest. He won 28 titles over the next four years and then launched his recording career in

Kenneth George Boothe, known simply as Ken Boothe, has left an indelible mark on the music industry for over five decades. He has garnered local and global acclaim over artistic prowess, vocal talent, dancing skills and versatility, spanning genres from ska to reggae to R&B. Ken Boothe was born in the Denham Town area of

Born David Sinclair in 1955 in Kingston, Jamaica, Tapper Zukie (also known as Tappa Zukie) became a singer, producer, and dub master in London in the early ’70s. He was immersed in Kingston’s sound system scene as early as his pre-teen years, but by age 17, he was getting in trouble to the point where

Nkrumah Manley Thomas – a.k.a. Jah Thomas – was born in 1955 in Kingston, Jamaica, and grew up between the districts of Trench Town and Rose Town. He was named after Kwame Nkrumah, the African nationalist who secured Ghana’s independence from the British in 1957. After completing his education, Jah Thomas started working in a

Jah Shaka is considered the father of sound systems in the U.K. and hailed for his forward-thinking style with dub experimentalism incorporating electronic elements without losing any heaviness. Born in Jamaica around the 1950s, Jah Shaka moved to Southeast London with his parents at the age of eight. Jah Shaka’s real name is not known

Dub mixer and record producer Lloyd James – better known as Prince Jammy or King Jammy – was born in 1947 in Montego Bay, Jamaica. He moved to Kingston and took to music at an early age, also thanks to the fact that he lived in the Waterhouse district on the same street as the

Donat Roy Mittoo, a.k.a. Jackie Mittoo, was born on March 3, 1948, in Browns Town, Jamaica. Mittoo was taught to play the piano by his grandmother from age four and began performing in public before he was ten. As a teenager, Mittoo performed professionally in groups including the Vagabonds and the Vikings and hooked up

Born Cecil Campbell in a seaside shack in Jamaica on 9 October 1957, Ini Kamoze was the son of an authoritarian police superintendent dubbed “The Scorpion” and a factory worker mother. In a fit of anger over not hearing from his father, his mother placed the baby in a cardboard box and left him at