Tag Archives: Jamaican music

RIP Tyrone Downie (1956 – 2022)

“Organ D” door Tyrone Downie, een versie van de Slaving riddim.

In Jamaica stierf toetsenspeler Tyrone Downie. Tenminste, ik ga ervan uit dat Downie daar stierf maar hij kan ook ergens anders gestorven zijn.

Hij was vooral bekend omwille van zijn werk bij Bob Marley and the Wailers maar bracht ook wat solowerk uit. Zo is er een single met een instrumental van de “Slaving” riddim. Een ‘riddim’ is een melodie en een ritmepatroon. De Jamaicanen springen daar creatief mee om en een bepaald ‘riddim’ wordt soms tot meer dan honderd keer geherinterpreteerd. Bekende riddims zijn “Sleng Teng”, “Stalag”, “Diwali”, “Real Rock”, “Mad Mad” en “Full Up”.

Copyright?

Niet zo belangrijk in Jamaica.

Als u wil weten van wie de “Slaving” riddim juist is, moeten wij u het antwoord schuldig blijven.

RIP Tyrone Downie

RIP Mikey Chung (1950 – 2021)

 Mikey Chung (1950 – 2021) was a Jamaican musician who played keyboards, guitar and percussion instruments.

“Breezing” (1972) by Mike Chung & The Now Generation

Here with a cover of “Breezin'” (1970) by Bobby Womack.

“Breezin'” (1970) is a musical composition by Bobby Womack, originally released with Gabor Szabo on Blue Thumb Records as a seven inch single.

On the b-side was “Azure Blue”. The song was later released on Gabor’s album High Contrast.

RIP Bunny Lee (1941 – 2020)

Bunny Lee was a Jamaican record producer and one of the major forces in the Jamaican music industry, producing hits throughout his long career.

“Wet Dream”

His song “Wet Dream”, interpreted by Max Romeo, became popular in 1968 despite being banned on the BBC; and Eric Donaldson’s “Cherry Oh Baby” would be covered by the Rolling Stones.

“My Conversation”

Lee also produced the perennial riddim “My Conversation”.

‘If Deejay Was Your Trade’ (1994)

The compilation ‘If Deejay Was Your Trade’ (1994), which was the debut release of the reggae compilation label Blood and Fire, consists of a selection of his productions from the period 1974-1977.

The documentary ‘I Am The Gorgon – Bunny ‘Striker’ Lee and the Roots of Reggae’ is in full on YouTube.

RIP Toots ‘Maytal’ Hibbert (1942 – 2020)

“Funky Kingston” (1972)

Toots Hibbert was a Jamaican singer and songwriter, leader for the band Toots & the Maytals. He is best-known for such songs as “54-46 That’s My Number” (1968), “Pressure Drop” (1970) and “Funky Kingston” (1972).

Hibbert was one of the first artists to use the word “reggae” in 1968’s “Do the Reggay”.

RIP Millie “My Boy Lollipop” Small (1947 – 2020)

Millie Small was the singer of “My Boy Lollipop” (1964), her only hit.

She was the first Jamaican artist to break through to an international audience.

Did this mean international recognition for ska and reggae?

Well, not exactly, “My Boy Lollipop” was considered a novelty song rather than ska or reggae.

Thus reggae’s invasion into the mainstream actually only began that same year in the United Kingdom with songs such as “Al Capone” (1964) and “Guns of Navarone” (1964).

But in the United States, the wait was for 1969 with “The Israelites” (1968) to give reggae international repute and recognition.