In the mid 1970's Toronto Ontario experienced an influx of immigration from Jamaica that resulted in the development of a thriving reggae scene with bars and bands sprouting up in the new communities and throughout the city. Growing up I was probably exposed to more reggae than most people outside of Jamaica and the British Isles. While most people's experience with reggae doesn't extend past Bob Marley, Jimmy Cliff, Peter Tosh and Third World at best, I'd come across people like Toots and the Maytells, Leroy Sibbles and the Heptones, 20th Century Rebels, Truth and Rights, and Burning Spear.
But compared to what was happening in Kingston Jamaica this was only the tip of the iceberg. Bands, singers, and musicians whose names have remained completely unknown outside of Jamaica or a few aficionados, had been making the music that either preceded reggae, like Ska and Rock Steady, or the music itself, for over fifty years. It's only been through record companies like Heartbeat Records that audiences around the world have even been exposed to these performers.
The sheer volume of music Heartbeat has released tells how much the rest of us have been missing out on for so long. The source for their material was one small studio in Kingston and that it existed at all was due primarily to the efforts of one man, is even more amazing.
Clement Dodd and his Studio One recording facilities was the Jamaica equivalent of Berry Gordy and Motown for American Black R&B performers in the sixties and Sam Phillips of Sun Records for American rockabilly stars in the fifties. Dodd provided the facilities that gave up and coming singers like Bob Marley and Peter Tosh their first recording experiences and guided them through the transition from being imitators of the American R&B scene to being at the forefront of reggae.
Clement Dodd started out working as a DJ for music parties where the man spinning the records was judged on his abilities to provide music that was not only danceable but new on a weekly basis. Realizing that being dependant on foreign markets for his music meant he could never really get ahead of his competition he started producing his own music.
Article comments
1 - Vern Halen
I was never a fan of reggae or ska until I found a Studio One Ska compilation disc a few years ago. And of course, you can't un-love this music once you're into it.
2 - Snarkattack
Yeah, I agree with above. This will most likely be a great compilation. I grew up listening to reggae because my father was so fond of it (living in London, late 70s, good place to absorb it too), and he's got a John Holt record/vinyl. It's good stuff.
3 - Humphrey McDonald
Sir Dodd is the BEST!!! anything called MUSIC, MUST be STUDIO ONE none stop at the MUSIC CITY. Ruler of Orange Street or Beat street.
I'm still short on some selection that was stolen from my archive, which I hope to recover if available, can anyone help "Fever" Horace Andy "You can't Be Happy" the Claredonians drop me a line
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