The Heptones is a jamaican rocksteady and reggae vocal group which was formed in Kingston in 1965. The original members include Leroy Sibbles, Earl Morgan and Barry Llewellyn. In 1978 Sibbles left the group to start his solo career. He was replaced by Dolphin “Naggo” Morris. The Heptones has made significant contribution to the defining sounds of […]
Phyllis Dillon was a Jamaican Rocksteady and Reggae singer. She was born in Linstead St Catherine on December 27, 1944 and died April 15, 2004. Launch of Career She started recording during the dawn of the Rocksteady genre in the year 1965 with producer Duke Reid. In 1966 she released her first single “Don’t […]
Marcia Llyneth Griffiths (born in Kingston Jamaica on 23 November 1949). She is a singer of Jamaica’s Rocksteady and Reggae genres. She is often called the “Queen of Reggae”. She started her career in 1964 performing at shows with a popular band called Byron Lee and the Dragonaires. Later that year she initiated her first […]
Bob Marley, born Robert Nesta Marley (February 6, 1945 – May 11, 1981), Nine Miles, St Ann, Jamaica. He was a singer, songwriter and guitarist. He was one of the most popular musical icons of the 20th century. Marley’s Debut While living in Trench Town, Marley along with Bunny Wailer received vocal training from […]
The Early Years 1961- 1967 | Ska Era The Wailers Early Years features several of the Ska compilation of the Wailers group between 1961 and 1967. The Judge Not compilation features the first single ever produced by Bob Marley, “Judge Not”. It also includes early songs produced by Leslie Kong. The original album The Wailing […]
Welcome to Rocksteady: The Golden Era of Jamaican music. During the late 1960’s Ska music began to evolve into a slower, more relaxed and soulful tempo called Rocksteady. The bass became heavier and prominent, horns took a supporting role in the background and was replaced by the electric guitar,organ and piano. It is believed that the genre […]
Stranger Cole, born Wilburn Theodore Cole in Kingston in the year 1945. He is a singer and songwriter of Ska Rocksteady and Reggae genres. He debuted in music as a songwriter with the song “In and Out the Window”, which was written for the Ska legend, Monty Morris. In 1962 he did his first singles with […]
Toots Hibbert, born Frederick Nathaniel Hibbert is a Jamaican songwriter and singer . He was lead singer of the group called The Maytals. He was born on December 8, 1942 in May Pen, Clarendon. In 1961, he formed and became the lead vocalist of the vocal group, Toots & The Maytals, which was originally called The […]
John Holt, a legendary Ska, Rocksteady and Reggae singer and songwriter was born John Kenneth Holt, In Kingston (July 11,1947 – October 16, 2014). In 1963 he initiated his musical career with the single “I Cried A Tear” produced by Leslie Kong. He also recorded duets with Alton Ellis that same year. In 1964 he joined the […]
Ken Boothe born Kenneth George Boothe, is a vocalist and songwriter of Ska, Rocksteady and Reggae genres. He was born in Kingston on March 22, 1948. Musical Career The year 1963, Boothe began his musical career when he formed a Ska Duo with Winston Stranger Cole called Stranger and Ken. The first song made by […]
