One thing for sure the world should know. Jamaican record producers had never intended for their records to be popularized, as they was only interested in producing sound that could blow away the opposition. One cannot mention Coxsone name without bearing reference to the Duke. Duke Reid as a record producer perfected the the art of Rock Steady. In the 1960s when rude boy tunes was all the rage, Duke Rude an ex-downtown police tough guy refused to get involved with rude boy lyrics. Duke Reid will always be fondly remembered for his harmonising Rock Steady tunes such as "Wear You To The Ball," the sweet sounding "My Girl," I'll get along without. Before the Rude Boys and the Rock Steady era, Soul Music came to the fore taking over from R&B. Sound systems were playing tunes by the Impressions, Ben E. King, loads of Mowtown Music, along with Clyde McPhatter and Drifters! And it came the past Jamaican singers began modelling themselves on the American group soul singers which you will find in the very early Rock Steady music. Harmonising groups such as the Techniques, The Melodians, The Gaylads and The Paragons with John Holt made tunes that mash up the dance halls so to speak and after the reign of Coxsone Downbeat and Duke Reid the Trojan sound system days, along came "The Voice of the People," Prince Buster in the 1960's with his seminal Judge Dread series of recording. Prince Buster's creation was indeed a magnum opus of satirical theatrical tunes such as Judge Dread! | | Mr Coxsone Dodd began developing a unique type sound of his own that was liken to the American Mowtown sounds! Reggae as music genre was coming of age in Jamaica with a style of its own and one of the first tunes that brought about the notable change from Ska and Rock Steady was Lee Perry "People Funny Boy." With the reggae sounds, the Rastaman could express himself on the recording platter. Rastafarian groups such as the Gladiators and Burning Spear sprang out from Coxsone Dodd's Studio One Recording Studio with some of the greatest Reggae music ever heard! |
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