Studio One

"Studio One is one of Jamaica's most renowned record labels and recording studios, having been described as "the Motown of Jamaica."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 and recording studio were founded by Clement "Coxsone" Dodd in 1954 on Brentford Road in Kingston. Dodd had previously issued music on a series of other labels, including World Disc, and had run Downbeat, one of the largest and most reputable sound systems in the Kingston ghettos. The label and studio were closed when Dodd relocated to New York City in the 1980s." (wikipedia.org)




Alton Ellis

"By 1966 the red-hot double-time ska beat had given birth virtually overnight to a much slower, hiccupping rhythm dubbed "rocksteady," and it was Alton who was to be its midwife. "One evening in the studio," Alton recalls, "the bass man didn't show up. So Jackie Mittoo, the keyboardist, had to play the bass pattern on the piano with his left hand, but he couldn't hold it steady, and we all thought the line was so fresh and nice. When the bass player turned up next time, Jackie insisted that he play what Jackie was playing with his left hand. That's how rocksteady was born; we called it so that night." (reggaetrain.com)

Alton Ellis - Don't Know Why
Alton Ellis - Play it Cool
Alton Ellis - La La Means I love You




Jackie Mittoo

"He first began playing professionally at the age of thirteen with various bands such as The Rivals and The Sheiks and it was around this time that he started hanging out at Fedral Studios and playing with the cream of Jamaican's musicians who from June, 1964 would become known as the Skatalites. The Skatalites played a potent mix of jazz arrangements and horn solos over their version of the American R'n'B rhythms so beloved of Jamaica's sound system followers. As the R'n'B style gave way to soul in the USA so the sound system bosses became Jamaica's first record producers, recording one off 'specials' for their exclusive use, to satisfy the demand for R'n'B from their followers. Such was the popularity of these recordings the top 'sounds' began releasing these records to the general public and the Jamaican recording industry was launched into action."(reggaemovement.com)


Jackie Mittoo - Killer Diller




Horace Andy

"In January 1970, Horace Hinds showed up at Studio One to audition for labelhead Coxsone Dodd, this time as a duo with friend Frank Melody. Dodd wasn't keen on the pairing, but later that week, Hinds tried again on his own with the self-composed ballad "Got to Be Sure," and this time the producer was sold. That song was cut as the singer's debut single. However, the producer was wary of releasing it under Hinds' own name, concerned that the family relation with Justin and Horace's similar singing style might count against the teen. Dodd insisted on a name change and decided to throw out a red herring by rechristening him Horace Andy, a tribute to the equally legendary former Paragon-turned-solo star Bob Andy."(studio1style.free.fr)

Horace Andy - Skylarking
Horace Andy - Youth Of Today




Prince Buster

"In the late 50s, both Scratch and Prince Buster worked together for Coxsone Dodd, helping to run his Downbeat Sound System. One legendary story has some of Duke Reid's thugs mashing up a Coxsone dance, knocking out Lee Perry in the process. Buster, an amateur boxer, single-handedly took care of the rudies until the police arrived. Eventually, Buster walked out on Coxsone and started his own sound system, the Voice Of The People, giving Coxsone and Duke Reid their first serious competition."(upsetter.net)

Prince Buster - Wash Wash
Prince Buster - Earthquake




Freddie McGregor

"Born on 27 June 1956 in Clarendon, Jamaica. Freddie McGregor's career began at the age of 7. In 1963 he joined with Ernest Wilson & Peter Austin to form The Clarendonians , and began to record for the legendary Studio One label. Freddie worked with producer Niney The Observer during the late 1970s & early 1980s."
(bigupradio.com)

Freddie McGregor - Bobby Bobylon




Dennis Brown

"Known as the "Crowned Prince of Reggae", Dennis has been one of Jamaica's top vocalists for many years. His career began as a young teenager with Coxsone Dodd's Studio One Records where he recorded two albums. He really hit his stride in the subsequent years though as he recorded album after album for Joe Gibbs. Dennis, like many other reggae artists, began to spread out and start recording for many other producers, including Gussie Clark, Flabba Holt, and Sly and Robbie, among others. He began a prolific release schedule that sometimes would amount to as many as six albums in one year. Dennis was in demand, and the producers were lining up at his door."(rasrecords.com)

Dennis Brown - Money In My Pocket
Dennis Brown - Things In Life