Founding Fathers (Jamaican Sound System Culture) Pt. 2

The Highlight (Part 2)

… we add some names on this second part of our issue. Names that have contributed greatly to the Jamaican sound system culture. A culture that has spread all over the world. Here’s our summary of the year-end special issue. Happy reading.

As briefly noted in the first part, starting from the pioneers of sound system operators, activists, selectors, MC/Deejay/Toasters and also soundmen, the sound system culture in Jamaica still has tons of important names that helped shape this culture to become a beauty for the world through music. These names, of course, have a big important role as their legacy for music. Starting from King Tubby, a big reason for the birth of dub music through the genius work he does. He’s a great influence for many musicians of the world to this day. Then the Successor, Scientist, who shared the brilliant and major infusions for 1980s dub music. King Jammy, a figure who produced an elementary foundation into “the other side” of reggae for the world. Also iconic names with their chef-d’oeuvre such as Rudolph ‘Ruddy’ Redwood, Byron Smith, Lester Stirling, U-Brown, Keith Hudson, Yabby You and many more.

These are the following names of the pioneers we listed for the last section of our article.

Arthur ‘Duke’ Reid

This big fan and a connoisseur of Jazz and Blues is one of the important names in the realm of Jamaican music. He was not only a pioneer. He was a “cause” for the development of Jamaican music that we enjoy today. Duke Reid is also an accomplished entrepreneur with a keen business sense and a strong musical taste. Through his "Duke Reid - The Trojan King of Sounds" truck, which was massively loaded with big speakers, this former police officer started the history of this culture. The Jamaican government entitled "Commanders of the Order of Distinction" to him. But, for what was and what will happen to this sound system culture, the world owes a huge debt to Arthur 'Duke' Reid!

Clement ‘Coxsone’ Dodd

He’s known as a prominent figure within the ska and reggae world through his musical imprint, Studio One. His touch as a producer gave birth to many world legends, from The Skatalites, The Abyssinians, The Ethiopians, John Holt, Bob Marley & The Wailers to LeeScratchPerry who is said to be the producer's right hand man. He was also a pioneer who gave birth to important works in Jamaica's musical repertoire. Prior to this, Clement 'Coxsone' Dodd was a driving force for sound system culture in Jamaica. His property on Brentford road that he bought was a result of his visionary idea to produce the original Jamaican Sound. Clement 'Coxsone' Dodd is indeed a greatest principal for this culture we enjoy today!

Count Matchuki

This man is recognized as the premier toaster/deejay in the history of sound system culture in Jamaica. He is also the teacher of many legendary toasters/deejays, such as Sir Lord Comic and others. Matchuki's musicality was influenced by swing, jazz, bebop, and R&B which he listened to on radio broadcasts from America. He has supported Tom “The Great Sebastian” Wong and Clement 'Coxsone' Dodd. One of the legacies he gave to the development of sound system culture was his “chick-a-took, chick-a-took, chick-a-took”, a percussive infusion in musical performances presented through his powerful skill in toasting. In addition to his fast rhyming abilities, he is also known as a figure who pioneered the ability of many future toaster/deejays to make the show of the sound system more lively and powerful. Quoted from “Spinning Wheels: The Circular Evolution of Jive, Toasting, and Rap” journal written by Heather Augustyn, Prince Buster (another great legend) said: “He (Matchuki) was the pioneer of all Jamaican deejaying. Right up to what's going on today, it all goes back to Matchuki. He worked hard at what he did.”

King Stitt

One of another great force in the realm of Jamaican sound systems, also comes from a man who is known by the moniker King Stitt. He got this nickname because he had a stutter as a child. He began his legendary musical journey as a dancer on lots of sound system gigs. He also briefly studied with Matchuki. Because of this, he later became an important toaster for Coxsone Dodd's sound system unit in the late 1950s. One of his trademarks is toasting a solo part of a song to introduce a recording to an audience. But this ability is also an element that can make the dance floor showering with joy. Something that many toasters and deejays learned after. The man who was born as Winston Park in 1939, is indeed one of the important pioneers in the history of the sound system.

Lloyd Daley

He’s a cold-handed producer behind Matador records. He is Lloyd Daley, the man who started his journey as one of the actors in the history of sound systems in Jamaica with his Matador Sound System. His love of electronics made him known as the "Electronic Wizard". Daley seems like having a magic spell for what he has done by his hands to his own stack of giant loudspeaker sets. The use of tubes in loudspeaker sets for sound system culture in Jamaica is something he pioneered. In the book "The Matador - Lloyd Daley - Sonic Pioneer Of Jamaican Music" by Rich Opre Lowe, it is revealed that one of Lloyd Daley's work on his loudspeaker installations, can be heard well up to 300 miles away! From that time until now, Lloyd Daley and his legacy have been an important cornerstone of the pioneering culture of sound systems.

U-Roy

The development of sound system culture in Jamaica is well shaped by lots of visionaries ideas on its many lines. Starting from the building of the giant speakers that came from the domestic technology and innovations, lots of music works from the homegrown artists and singers and also various styles of the toasters/deejays in it. One of the outstanding names in the toasters/deejays line who is also an important pioneer is U-Roy. A moniker from Ewart Beckford, the man who later received the title of "Order Of Distinction" from the Jamaican government. He is known as one of the resident toasters/deejays of King Tubby's HomeTown Hi-Fi. U-Roy has played a major role in the transformation of MC and toaster/deejay in Jamaica since the 1960s. His distinctive abilities became his legacy in the term which became known as Singjay. He's the one who injects melodic style in the history of toasters/deejays within the sound system show. U-Roy is a legend who invented the “riding the rhythm” style on the dance floor!

Errol Thompson

Since he was young, the man who was born in 1948 has been familiar with electricity. This talent led him to become a sound engineer, because he thought that the recording industry was closely related to electricity. Armed with his talent, he later became one of the pioneers in the realm of Jamaican sound systems. Errol once worked in the studio Channel One, Randy's and Black Ark. He was the one who did the installation at the historical studio (Black Ark) owned by Legendary Lee 'Scratch' Perry, which later laid the foundation for dub music. His work as a sound engineer can be traced in many timeless songs. Most of Bob Marley's songs are the result of his touch. Likewise with the iconic song "Uptown Top Ranking" which led the dub spreading to England. Errol is also one of the reasons behind the productive works of King Tubby's Studio. In this studio he was involved in making history. One of the first dub albums ever created, “Java Java Java Java” was also delivered through his touch. And the all-time song by the maestro Augustus Pablo, “Java” is one of his legacies as a pioneer of the sound system culture that later led to the birth of dub!

Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry

This legend with immense charisma and a-larger-than-life persona was born as Rainford Hugh Perry, he died at the age of 85 years. Throughout his life, he always produced phenomenal works which later became a new form in music through many musicians who were influenced by him. Through his cold hands, The Wailers transformed into nearly-gods for many music lovers. We can trace his musical experiments to this day; they are spread in many genres, not just in dub music or other Jamaican sounds. From the Beastie Boys to Adrian Sherwood, from Jungle music and more. Lee was not only a pioneer, he will forever be remembered as one of the greatest heroes of this Jamaican sound system culture.
(Sam)

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