| | The 1970s saw the intensification of political violence and gang warfare in Jamaica, fuelled by the drugs trade, a time replicated in the Willie Williams song Armageddon Time (1979), a powerful, prophetic track which equate the street fracases of Kingston to a biblical Armageddon. During the Jamaican ballot vote crusade of 1980, in which 800 people died, the area around Coxsone Dodd's studio in Kingston became a war zone. Ultimately and unenthusiastically, it was time to leave. Dodd reposition his studio and record shop to Brooklyn, New York. The musicians who worked with Coxsone during 60's ska era and over the years were those which ultimately formed The Skatalites band we all know and love as the greatest Jamaican musicians ever assembled. Roland Alphonso, Lester Sterling (sax), the gifted Don Drummond (trombone), Jah Jerry (guitar), Lloyd Beverett (low), Lloyd Knibbs (battery), Johnny Moore (trumpet), and Jackie Mittoo (piano). Yes! Mr Clement Seymour Dodd had all those musicians in his recording studio. Clue J and The Blues Blasters was one of the first group of musicians to be recorded by Coxsone Dodd. Lord Tanamo (vocals), Carl McLaughlin (sax), and Tommy McCook joined this group of musicians a while later. These session musicians could be heard on almost every Jamaican producers recordings heard during the ska era. On the 4th May 2004 Jamaica lost the founding father of her music industry. Coxsone was a tainted genius as sound system proprietor and an intellectual cerebral music producer whose sounds from the Studio One Recording Stables was loved, and cherished by all who got acquainted the unique Studio One sound. Clement Seymour Dodd born 26th January1932 in Kingston died on the 4th May 2004 of heart attack aged 72. We the music lovers of all nations of the recording music world will always remember Clement Seymour "Coxsone" Dodd as one of the first founding father of the Jamaican Music Industry. | |
