-Playlist-

01 Lonesome Feeling
02 What's New Pussycat?
03 Maga Dog
04 There She Goes
05 Rhythm
06 Freedom Time
07 Black Progress
08 Bus Dem Shut (Pyaka)
09 Send Me That Love
10 Donna
11 Milk Shake & Potato Chips
12 Down By The River - demo
13 Heat Of The Day - demo
14 Mellow Skank
15 Comma Comma
16 Selassie Is The Chapel
17 I Left My Sins
18 Play Play w/ Rita Marley
19 I Want Justice w/ Delroy Wilson
20 The Train Is Coming w/ Ken Boothe
21 Let The Lord Be Seen

A little bit of music has died, a bit that influenced a band - a band that went on to influence so many other bands. Yet some in the music world didn't know that little bit of music's true name, and if they did, they were not sure whether she was still alive. She was born Ermine Ortense Bramwell, in Jamaica in August 1943. But really, she was known as Cherry Smith, and sometimes Cherry Green. She had been a member of the Wailers during their early years recording at Studio One. After spending just 3 years with the group, she left in 1966, and finally left Jamaica in 1969 and moved around from Miami, to New York, to Southern California before retiring in West Palm Beach, FL from being a nurse. Sadly, most of the group's members have since passed on. Marley died in 1981, Tosh in 1987, Braithwaite in 1999, and recently Smith in 2008. Bunny Wailer and Beverly Kelso are the only surviving members of the group. Our thoughts and prayers go out to her family. We hope you enjoy and thanks for the listen. Love and respect.

-Playlist-

01 Play It Cool (Aka Rock On Time)
02 Dance Crasher w/ The Flames
03 Tonight (Aka Feeling Inside) w/ The Flames
04 My Time Is The Right Time
05 Give Me Your Love w/ David Issacs
06 Ain't That Loving You (For More Reasons Than One) w/ The Flames
07 Something You've Got w/ The Flames
08 Big Bad Boy
09 Alton's Official Daughter
10 You Said It Again (Aka I'll Make It Up To You) w/ The Flames
11 Don't Trouble People w/ The Flames
12 Remember That Sunday w/ Phyllis Dillon
13 Harder and Harder
14 Oowee Baby (Baby I Love You) w/ The Flames
15 Wide World w/ The Flames
16 Cry Tough w/ The Flames
17 Cry Tough = Dennis Alcapone
18 Keep On Yearning
19 I'm Still In Love With You
20 You've Made Me So Very Happy
21 Be True (To Yourself)
22 Back To Africa

Alton Ellis was born into a musical family. He initially sought fame as a dancer, but after winning a couple of competitions, he switched to singing, starting his career in 1959 as part of the duo Alton & Eddy. During the late 1960s and early 1970s, Ellis recorded for some of Jamaica's top producers, as well as starting his own record label, Alltone. He continued to be active on the reggae scene until his health began to deteriorate, and in 2006 was inducted into the International Reggae & World Music Awards Hall of Fame. The great Alton Nehemiah Ellis, a man who brought great joy through both his music and his presence. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family. We hope you enjoy and thanks for the listen. Love and respect.

-Playlist-

01 Duke Reid's All Stars = Judge Sympathy
02 The Three Tops = The Sound Of Music
03 Alton Ellis & The Flames = Shake It
04 The Jiving Juniors = Dearest Darling
05 Stranger Cole & Patsy Todd = Miss Dreamer
06 Oliver St. Patrick & Phyllis Dillon = Tulips (From Heaven)
07 Dobby Dobson = Loving Pauper
08 Tommy McCook & The Supersonics = Zazuka
09 Tony & Dennis = Folk Song
10 Chuck & Dobby w/ Duke Reid & His Group = 'Til The End Of Time
11 Dennis Alcapone = D.J.'s Choice
12 Derrick Morgan & Patsy Todd = My Lover Has Left
13 The Melodians = You Don't Need Me
14 Alton Ellis & Phyllis Dillon = Why Did You Leave Me
15 The Jamaicans = How Can I Unlove You
16 Errol Dunkley = Where Must I Go
17 Lloyd Clarke w/ Duke Reid = Parapinto Boogie
18 Ken Parker = I Should Have Known
19 Denzil Dennis & Milton Hamilton = Going Down To Canaan
20 Lord Tanamo = Come Down
21 Dice The Boss = Teahouse From Emperor Rosko

Since its creation in 1968, Trojan Records has led the way in presenting the very best in classic Jamaican sounds, from the Rocksteady and early Reggae sounds that dominated in the years of its launch, up to the modern styles of Dancehall and Jungle. The Trojan story began on July 28, 1967 when the first incarnation of the label was launched by Island Records as a showcase for the productions of Duke Reid. The name itself derived from the seven ton trucks that were used to transport the producer‘s huge sound system around Jamaica, and which had emblazoned upon its sides, ’Duke Reid, The Trojan King Of Sounds‘. In fact, long before Island launched their version of the imprint, Reid had used the name on a series of 78s he produced. After making the selection of tunes for this episode, I noticed how many love songs that were on the playlist. It was unintentional, but we still hope you enjoy and thanks for the listen. Love and respect.

-Playlist-

01 Duke Reid's All Stars = What Makes Honey
02 Laurel Aitken = Honey Girl
03 The Jiving Juniors w/ Duke Reid & His Group = My Heart's Desire
04 The Mellowlarks w/ Kenneth Richards & His Band = Album Of Memory
05 Rico & Duke Reid's All Stars = Magic
06 Lloyd Clark w/ Smithie's Sextet = You're A Cheat
07 The Magic Notes w/ Drumbago & The Jazz Band = Rosabel
08 Rico w/ The Matador All Stars = Continental Shuffle
09 Derrick Morgan w/ Pauline Morgan = Do You Love Me
10 The Blues Busters w/ Luther 'Wee Willie' Williams & His Orchestra = Pleading For Mercy
11 Owen Gray = Midnight Track
12 Rico & Duke Reid's All Stars = Duke's Cookies
13 The Jiving Juniors w/ Duke Reid & His Group = Lollipop Girl
14 Alton Ellis = What Does It Take (To Win Your Love)
15 Roland Alphonso w/ The Matador All Stars = Bridgeview Shuffle
16 Laurel Aitken w/ Kenneth Richards & His Harmonisers = Judgement Day 17 Theo Beckford w/ Sir Dee's Group = Walking Down King Street
18 Keith & Enid w/ Trenton Spence & His Group = Worried Over You
19 Reco Rodriguez & His Blues Band = Blues From The Hills
20 Derrick & Patsy = Oh My Love
21 Owen Gray & The Jets = Nobody Else
22 Sir D's Group = The (Grandfather's) Clock

In the 1950's, giant, bass-heavy mobile discos known as sound systems became the principal medium of popular entertainment on the island. The music they blasted out was principally American Rhythm and Blues. Sound systems vied to spin the latest, hottest, and rarest tunes, often scratching off the label details so that rivals wouldn't know who they were playing. By 1958, however, the supply of records that were musically satisfying and danceable was drying up as tastes in the US changed. Duke Reid, of The Trojan sound system, was determined to stay ahead of the opposition, he gathered some local musicians and cut some singles mainly for exclusive play on his sound. These "groups" of musicians were often drawn from the same nucleus, and would simply change their name according to which sound system producer they were working for that day. By 1962, R&B was on the wane in Jamaica. The nation demanded a new sound to accompany the new era of independence, which ska filled and carried the swing for the next 4 years. We hope you enjoy and thanks for the listen. Love and respect.

-Playlist-

01 Move All Day
02 Musical Train
03 Dance Arena
04 On Board (aka Ethiopians)
05 Don't Do That
06 Jamaican Girls
07 I Like Your Smile
08 Bright Life (Think About The Future)
09 Freedom Festival
10 Music Field
11 Don't Be A Loser
12 Calling w/Ken Boothe
13 Bright Life
14 Dance The Reggae
15 A Sugar
16 Melody Street
17 Thank You

I apologize for our absence, but we are back, unfortunately on a very sad note. We lost one of the greats and one of my favorites, King Roy Shirley. As with many of Jamaica’s foundation singers, Roy got his start singing in talent contests in the late 1950s and was still touring up until his passing in August. Roy Shirley was one of Jamaica’s most original vocalists, his unique approach and peculiar delivery ensuring a place apart. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family. We hope you enjoy and thanks for the listen. Love and respect.

-Playlist-

01 Theophilus Beckford = Easy Snapping
02 Freddie McGregor = Wine of Violence
03 Dennis Alcapone = Run Run
04 Peter Tosh and The Wailers = Rasta Shook Them Up
05 Delroy Wilson w/ The Wailers = Jerk All Night
06 Rita Marley/The Soulettes/The Wailers = That Ain't Right
07 The Wailers = Rolling Stone
08 Ken Boothe = Live Good
09 Jackie Mittoo = Freak Out
10 The Maytals = Just Got To Be
11 The Termites = It Takes Two To Make Love
12 The Gladiators = So Fine
13 Derrick Morgan = It's Alright
14 Burning Spear = Free (aka We Are Free)
15 Tommy McCook = Tunnel One
16 The Abyssinians = Declaration of Rights
17 The Cables = What Kind of World (extended)
18 Carlton and The Shoes = Love Me Forever
19 Alton & Hortense Ellis = Breaking Up Is Hard To Do
20 Sound Dimension = Real Rock
21 Slim Smith = Keep That Light

Studio One was involved with most of the major music movements in Jamaica during the 1960s and 1970s, including ska, rocksteady, reggae, dub, and dancehall. The label was founded by Clement "Coxsone" Dodd in 1954, and the first recordings were cut in 1957 on Brentford Road in Kingston. It's amazing the sheer volume of great recordings which were produced at Studio One by owner Dodd, a true legend himself, who passed away in 2004, doing what he loved, working in his Brentford Road studio. He was awarded Jamaica’s Order of Distinction, was inducted into the Reggae Hall Of Fame, and Brentford Road was renamed Studio One Boulevard; yet nothing speaks more eloquently of his contributions than the music of Studio One. We hope you enjoy and thanks for the listen. Love and respect.

-Playlist-

01 Hopeton Lewis = Take It Easy
02 Alton Ellis & The Flames = Girl I've Got A Date
03 Roy Shirley = Hold Them
04 The Valentines = Sock It To Me Baby
05 Desmond Dekker & The Aces = Bongo Gal
06 Bobby Ellis & The Crystalites = The Emperor
07 The Gaylads = It's Hard To Confess
08 The Groovers = You've Got To Cry
09 The Silvertones = Whoo Baby
10 The Gaylettes = Silent River (Runs Deep)
11 The Versatiles = Trust The Book
12 Alton Ellis = Rock Steady
13 Justin Hinds & The Dominoes = Time Pass By
14 Phyllis Dillon = Tulips (And Heather)
15 The Jamaicans = Ba Ba Boom
16 The Paragons = Wear You To The Ball
17 U-Roy = Wear You To The Ball
18 The Black Brothers = Baby Come Back To Me
19 Austin Faithful & The Hippies = Miss Anti-Social
20 Lester Sterling = Super Special
21 Lee "Scratch" Perry = I Am The Upsetter
22 Honey Boy Martin = Dreader Than Dread
23 Stranger Cole = Life Can Be Beautiful

A successor to Jamaican ska, and a precursor to reggae, rocksteady came with an increase in the number of solo and group performers. As a musical style, it was shortlived, and existed only for about two years. It differs from ska musically as the tempo is slower and more relaxed. The bass is heavier and more prominent in the mix and in addition, the bass lines abandon the earlier "walking" style of the ska period in favor of more broken, syncopated figures. Rocksteady lyrics mainly dealt with love and the rude boy culture, but most of the songs are simply music for dancing. We hope you enjoy and thanks for the listen. Love and respect.

-Playlist-

01 Derrick Morgan = No Raise No Praise
02 Jimmy Cliff = Miss Jamaica
03 Drumbago's Orchestra = Duck Soup
04 The Spanishtonians = Rudie Get Plenty
05 The Maytals = I'll Never Grow Old
06 Desmond Dekker & The Cherry Pies = King of Ska
07 Eric "Monty" Morris = Strongman Sampson
08 Owen Gray = Jezebel
09 The Dreamletts = Really Now
10 Justin Hinds & The Dominoes = Carry Go Bring Home
11 Don Drummond = Dragon Weapon
12 Lord Tanamo = Iron Bar
13 Roland Alphonso = Blackberry Brandy
14 Frank Cosmo = My Days Are Lonely
15 Clive and Naomi = You Are Mine
16 The Rulers = Wrong Embryo
17 Hopeton Lewis = Run Down
18 Winston & George = Denham Town
19 The Valentines = Blam Blam Fever
20 Alton Ellis & The Flames = Blessings of Love
21 Ewan McDermott & The Vibrators = Don't Bring Me Your
22 Don Drummond = Don D Lion
23 Sound Dimension = Hail Don D

Ska is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1950s and was a precursor to rocksteady and reggae. It combined elements of Caribbean mento and calypso with American jazz and rhythm and blues. It is characterized by a walking bass line, accented guitar or piano rhythms on the offbeat, and in some cases, jazz-like horn riffs. Upon the granting of independence from Britain in 1962, a wave of national pride swept Jamaica. The public were quick to embrace anything affirming Jamaica's cultural sovereignty whether it be an ideology (Garveyism), a religion (Rastafarianism), or a music (Ska). We hope you enjoy and thanks for the listen. Love and respect.

-Playlist-

01 Judge Not
02 One Cup Of Coffee
03 Simmer Down
04 Do You Remember
05 It Hurts To Be Alone
06 What's New Pussycat
07 And I Love Her
08 Wages Of Love - rehearsal
09 One More Chance w/ Rita Marley/The Soulettes
10 Where's Sammy Gone w/ Lord Brynner
11 I've Got To Go Back Home w/ Bob Andy
12 Don't Cry Over Me w/ Joanne Dennis
13 What Am I Supposed To Do
14 Don't Ever Leave Me
15 I Need You So
16 Destiny
17 Nobody Knows
18 Who Feels It (Knows It)
19 One Love

This first podcast of Damfino Reggae is dedicated to The Wailers, and is part I of at least one more episode to come featuring the group. Beginning with Bob Marley's first recordings in 1962, we then hear a few songs the group sang back up on, some ska, and love songs from 1963 to 1966. We hope you enjoy and thanks for the listen. Love and respect.