Owen Gray

Just heard by way of Big Stone that Owen Gray passed. Truly a foundation pillar of the music, along with Coxsone, Duke Reid, Leslie Kong, Prince Buster, Derrick Morgan and Eric Morris. From what I call the foundation I believe only Derrick Morgan and Eric “Monty” Morris are still among the living.

Owen Gray dead at 86. RIP. He deserves recognition.

In reply to CWW
Wow! One by one we depart. Well done Owen.

In reply to CWW

Sorry to hear. Owen was a wonderful performer in the 60s genre along with those two you
mentioned..Derrick Morgan and Monty Morris. Glad to know those two are still with us.
Some older relatives once told me Owen was a relative. Did not explore that but enjoyed
his songs back then hope he is remembered with some recognition.
Those guys laid a wonderful foundation for our music and entertained us very well.

RIP Owen.

Walk Good Foundation Man.
ProperYard Music Museum needed.
Best way to fund it???

In reply to CWW

You certainly couldn't call all names, but even within the constraint you applied here, Maas Ernie haffe mek it in deh. And him still among the living tuh! Yes, the Hon. Ernest Ranglin, OJ, is now in the nervous 90s and still batting.

RIP, Owen Gray. You did a truly great turn, sah. Sorry, but no more "dancing to Sir Coxsone's Dowmbeat on the beach"... at least not here on Earth.

You know, CWW, the name Owen Gray is stored in an area of the brain right alongside folks like Higgs & Wilson, Keith & Enid, Laurel Aitken, Bobby Aitken, Theophilus Beckford, and The Blues Busters. Something else is stored in that area of my brain too: The Friday or Saturday Star with its weekly Top Ten Hit Parade. My senior sister would clip them out every weekend and save them in a scrapbook. How I wish I could lay my hands on that now.

--Æ.

In reply to JayMor

Thanks Jay Mor. Would agree that all the names you mentioned are foundation people. The one other name I would add is Derrick Harriott whether as solo or as a member of the
Jiving Juniors. Remember “Sugar Dandy” by the Jiving Juniors? My feeling is that anyone who recorded a Jamaican pop in the period 58/59 to 1961 is a foundation pillar of our music. Note that I said Jamaican Pop because as far as I can remember the music did not have a name until 1964 when the name Ska was coined.
Jay you mentioned the Great Ernest Ranglin. Know who else was involved in some of those early 60s recordings? None other than Monty Alexander.
By the way Derrick Harriott is still alive.

In reply to CWW

I concur. Nice to know Derrick Harriott is still with us.
Is there a Hall of Fame on the Island for Jamaican musicians ?

In reply to hubert

As far as I know no Hall of Fame yet. A gentleman by the name of Herbie Miller had plans for one. Mr. Miller, I believe, was at one time Peter Tosh’s manager.

In reply to CWW

Maybe such things do not fall under any Ministry of Government
What a country /////

But Culture falls under a Minister, aint ? ?????/

In reply to CWW


Didn't really know this, but it makes sense. Even lends credence to what I've heard some folks claim... that the word "Ska was merely a back formation from The Skatalites, they being such great proponents and practitioners of the genre.

Brezerk: "Proper Yard Music Museum needed."
Maas Hubie: "Is there a Hall of Fame on the Island for Jamaican musicians?"

Lots of work yet to be done.

--Æ.

In reply to CWW

The joyous memories of childhood and two eldest sisters prompted by the last two posts made me shed couple happy tears. Thanks gents and Walk Good Owen.

 
  I edited my post above, changing one letter ("them" to "they") and got the result now seen. BBC!

--Æ.