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judging by this song, is it fair to say that the Rasta movement struggled to gain acceptance at home well into the 80s and 90s after Bob had made the movement famous, internationally?

In reply to black

Keep up the good work black.

Where are our resident experts on everything, reggae?

In reply to black

May not be early to bed early to rise like yourself.

You get that discipline from working out in the gym.

In reply to black

Problemguy coming soon to say its was started in Toco by Trini's and stolen.

In reply to sgtdjones



--Æ.

In reply to sgtdjones

Still, if he mentions Lynn Taitt he would be getting warm. Nerlyn Taitt, a young guitarist from Sando emigrated to Ja in the early days of the Ska and became a much sought-after session musician. Soon he formed a band called the Comets, and later, the Jets. His success came despite many of his peers not understanding his Trini accent (I heard Gladdy Anderson say this in an interview, that he Gladdy had to do much of the translation). Lynn Taitt's guitar and his arrangement were ubiquitous in Yardie music from late Ska through early Reggae, and especially dominant in the Rocksteady period. It is said that he is the one who saw fit to slow down the tempo of Ska to make it into Rocksteady

Personally, the only musician I put ahead of Lynn Taitt in the development of Jamaican music is Tommy McCook, and that's saying a hell of a lot.

--Æ.

In reply to JayMor
Lord Creator was a good contributor to JA music too. Great songwriter. To Black's question now. Understand the nuance of the culture,religion n social reaction of the JA population to Rastafari. Like any minority religion, culture or minority group the majority will humor them whether it be light or dark humor. Then that group itself will provide self-depracating versions. That song is for humor in the same mode of Pluto's Ram Goat Liver and the part of Lovindeer's Wild Gilbert where the dread lost his roof. Surely Rasta's have been gravely persecuted. But, Ras Carby's 'Discrimination' Max Romeo's 'No Joshua' and Tosh's Must Get A Beaten being used as the theme song for Manley's '72 election Rasta was already well on his way to demanding his place in Jamaican Society. My Uncle often told the story how as a young soldier in the 50's was patrolling a Rasta Rally at Three Miles when an old wizened dread declared- 'The Rasta is presently reviled and mocked but the day will come when many will bow to the Rastaman' Uncle said he laughed and said what a damned fool only to live into the 200's where from the '70's Rastas had people bowing to them in the 'four corners' of the earth. And, he too was by then happy to see it.

Excellent stuff this. I had never before seen such an exhaustive commentary on Tommy McCook (who I did not know was born in Cuba).

I would love to see a similar one on Ernie Ranglin who is still alive and who has had tremendous impact on Jamaican music too.


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In reply to Ewart
Both he and Mortimer Planno came from Cuba to Ja as kids

In reply to Brerzerk

Roland Alphonso too (??).

In reply to Ewart
Yeah, man, great professional sketch on Tommy! "Titan" for sure since he did so much of the heavy lifting. I was a little surprised of the listed start date of the Skatalites being 1964. That probably means that the likes of Baba Brooks and Carlos Malcolm predates Tommy and the Skatalites.
    I'll see what I can find on Ernie Ranglin for you. He was a stalwart too, rounding out the top three for me, along with Tommy and Lynn.

In reply to Brerzerk

Most certainly! And you couldn't pick up any of his Trini accent when he sang (unlike Lord Lara). But, boss, if you mention Lord Creator (Kentrick Patrick, who I believe still lives in MoBay) you must also call out the late Jackie Opel from B'dos, who was no ordinary singer; even Bob Marley said that. And you may or may not know of Lord Brynner.

--Æ.

In reply to Brerzerk

Rita Marley, Rico Rodriguez and Roland Alphonso too-- yes, Drapsey.

--Æ.

In reply to JayMor
Boom Jackie OpeL- one of the best Caribbean voice Cry Me A River 'Woman!' hehehe. Real Pioneer of our recording culture

In reply to black

Yes - Rastas still face prejudice in the yard.

In reply to Chrissy
There's prejudice everywhere I can bet that more than 50yrs. after Prince Buster won his case to allow him to bring Muslim religious books into the island there's still prejudice against them too. And perhaps the poorer and and darker the skin the worse too. When Rasta reached uptown the prejudice was lessened

In reply to Chrissy

.

I knew Brerzerk was feeding me a load of BS but I didn't have time to respond.

In reply to JayMor


Lynn Tait put the swing into rock-steady. Love it!


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In reply to black Dude everywhere every minority face prejudice. The point I made is that Rastas made sure that for the most part they got respect by demanding its If that is BS to yuh then.... lemme stop

In reply to Brerzerk

Oftentimes, what singers say in these songs reflect reality (some of it exaggerated) but you're trying to gloss it over and make it look like something Stitchie pulled out of his ass, just to sell records.

In reply to Brerzerk

Gilbert was a true event, the song was just exaggerated for effect.


That is the point I'm making with the Stitchie song.

In reply to black
No Glossing, it is good to know what one doesn't know sometimes. I left school decades ago and used to hear jokes about Dread telling cops Ilallo, Umpkin n Ipa, as well as the joke about forgive I if Iman eat the 'meat'. Lt. 'Wear Yuh Size' Stitchie's mantra was humor. Of course there's Rasta prejudice even after Bob. There's White Prejudice although White Bush Stewart employ thousands of Jamaicans, There's age prejudice although we have Grandparents, There's Mormon prejudice in America although Romney was Prez candidate, Black Prejudice after Obama. Your question as framed is simplistic. I tried to give you a wider view. In Muta's memorial on Bunny (Chrissy linked it) Muta mentioned how far Rasta has come. He as a young dread boarded a bus and a Mom in the seat infront of him cautioned her young son to pull his hand from outside the window before the Rastaman chop it off. That would never be thought or said today.

In reply to Ewart
Really good stuff