evon wrote:oblique strategies wrote:evon wrote:Great Post
Never thought I'd see the day. (realy, that line should be:"I knew the day would come")
I remember back in the '60's dancing/floating to the music of King Tubbys one night in a dance at Four Roads in Barbican and thought to myself, contrary to what the status quo would have us think, that: surley this music is bigger than Yard.
Just like how I felt then, I am figuring now that so many others were thinking the same thing, and that concentration of thoughts, may have also contributed to where Dub is now, and this post also attests to that. I recall also that in those days we used to check out the various "sets" to see which "sound system" would be the first to play a Dub of popular tunes of the time. There was this tune called "Fredom Blues" sung by Roy Richards (mouth Organ Player), yes sung by him. The first sound to play that dub was a sound from Above Rocks called "Sting Ray"
I think I should stop now though, but once again...Gret Post.
Roots. Now here's a man who probably knows about Roy Shirley, Alton Ellis, & Ken Boothe!
Yes my friend, I know them. Funny you should mention Roy Shirley. He is probably even greater than Bob Marley. Just didn't get the promotion., and he just couldn't get it. It would have been different. I guess that's the way life goes. Therefore, I know I am privillaged to have witnessed someone like Roy Shirley, and to have lived my teen years during his era.
Roy Shirly was a bag of soul. He wasn't good looking by any stretch of the imaination, and I guess he knew it. He performed most of the time with a hood over his head, and cried when he sang. He didn't put much on his lyrics having any meaning, just used any word to match the mood and what he was feeling.
I saw him at many stage shows usually in a caberet format, and i have tried to see his face distinctly and never have. He was a bungle of energy on stage and would go through various contortions in time with his music when he sang. His movements were like a snake all knotted up and moving.
Thank you so much for telling me this. All I know about Roy is what I hear in his songs. And when I put his songs together with your description it just fits so perfectly.
He has a voice that is so full of emotion, & sometimes so funny & odd. I love when his lyrics just turn into weird sounds. A very original artist. I always think of little children laughing when I hear his voice -I can imagine him leading dancing little children, like the Pied Piper!
You must also be familiar with Hopeton Lewis, Pat Kelly, Larry Marshall, Horace Andy, Cornel Campbell, Freddie McKay, Slim Smith, John Holt, Leo Graham, Junior Byles, & Johnny Clarke. These are some great singers.
Did you ever get to see the harmony groups like The Bleechers (Check Him Out, Ease Up, Come Into My Parlor, You Gonna Feel It), Carlton & The Shoes (Love Me Forever), The Cables (Baby Why, What Kind of World), The Pioneers (Longshot Kick The Bucket, Samfi Man), The Kingstonians (Singer Man), The Starlights (Samfiman, You're A Wanted Man), The Termites (My Last Love), Earth & Stone (In Time To Come), The Wailing Souls (Breddah Gravilicious, You Should Have Known, Stick Together). The list just goes on & on.
I just found this video clip of Roy Shirley being interviewed & performing “Get On The Ball”:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNDXanDd8fg
This moved me to tears
You are indeed very, very fortunate to have experienced all the great music in the Rocksteady & Reggae eras. I am constantly amazed by the incredible amount of talent in the little island of Jamaica. Thanks again for writing back.
"A world without music, yes that would be a dead world"
Roy Shirley
