Alton Ellis – 1 Minute Jamaican Music Biography

RawHTML: Alton Ellis first came to prominence as part of the Ska duo Alton and Eddie and then with Alton Ellis and the Flames. One of the premier stars of the Rock Steady and early Reggae eras, Alton was one of only a handful of Jamaica’s top singers to take a stand against the rude […]

The Melodians – 1 Minute Jamaican Music Biography

RawHTML: The Melodians began to come into their own as a vocal phenominon just between the Ska and Rock Steady phases of Jamaica’s musical development. That was the Rude Boy era. But it was with Rock Steady and their association with Duke Reid’s Treasure Isle label that they really made their mark. Along with the […]

Black Uhuru – 1 Minute Jamaican Music Biography

RawHTML: Black Uhuru have been called the most dynamic and progressive Reggae act of the late 70s and early 80s. Their militancy, it seems, prevented them from reaching higher heights. Compromise was not a part of the group’s vocabulary. Whether with Don Carlos, Michael Rose, or Junior Reid handling lead vocals…Black Uhuru delivered the goods. […]

Jacob ‘Killer’ Miller – 1 Minute Jamaican Music Biography

Jacob ‘Killer’ Miller made his mark fronting the group Inner Circle. He was so popular in Jamaica that, prior to his untimely death due in a motor vehicle crash in 1980, he sat behind only Bob Marley as the island’s top singer. His stage act oozed excitement and his starring role in the classic Jamaican […]

Third World – 1 Minute Jamaican Music Biography

RawHTML: Third World is one of the few self-contained bands in Jamaica. Not only are they renowned for playing their own instruments…they do it with the utmost of ability. Their high level of musicianship and top-notch vocal harmonies are truly international in terms of quality. As a result, in spite of numerous personel changes, Third […]

King Tubby – 1 Minute Jamaican Music Biography

RawHTML: King Tubby is famous for being instrumental in blazing a whole new trail in terms of the evolution of Jamaica’s unique music scene. Tubby was one of the founders of the hugely popular genre known world-wide as Dub. In 1972 Tubby’s HiFi was one of Kingston’s BIG sound systems. A key reason why was […]

Ernest Ranglin – 1 Minute Jamaican Music Biography

Ernest Ranglin is the best guitarist to ever emerge from Jamaica. [Lynn Taitt and Dwight Pinkney are also VERY talented] He began to make his mark with Clu J’s Blues Blasters. He was there when the very first Ska recordings were made. He would go on to play an important role with the Skatalites, help […]

Sir Coxone Dodd – 1 Minute Jamaican Music Biography

RawHTML: Clement ‘Coxone’ Dodd is a legendary figure in terms of Jamaica’s music industry. From the late 50s his Downbeat Sound System was one of a select few that ran things in Jamaica and he turned its success into one of the most respected record companies ever—Studio One. Born in 1932, Dodd was young, hip […]

Duke Reid – 1 Minute Jamaican Music Biography

RawHTML: Arthur ‘Duke’ Reid was a pioneer in terms of the technical side of music in Jamaica. His Trojan multi-set Sound System alongside that of Tom the Great Sebastian’s and Sir Coxone Dodd’s Downbeat pioneered the early days of Jamaica’s fledgling industry. His success through the 50s gave birth to his most excellent ‘Treasure Isle’ […]

Tony Rebel – 1 Minute Jamaican Music Biography

RawHTML: Tony Rebel is famous for his ‘Rebel Salute’, the annual tribute to his friend, the late Garnett Silk, each January in St. Elizabeth [originally it was held in Mandeville, Manchester]. Roots and Culture have been his ‘stock-in-trade’ since the days when he linked with Silk on the Destiny OuterNational Sound System in Manchester. Combining, […]