Before reggae, dancehall and ska, sound systems ruled the island. Meet an original Kingston sound man and the man hoping to keep it going, one box at a time.
Alpha Boys School Radio (click here), the home for foundation Jamaican music online, and Jamaica Nice. are pleased to present two key voices on sound system culture in Jamaica. Sound systems emerged in the late 50s in downtown Kingston before creating a foundation for the development of ska, reggae and dancehall. Separated by about 50 years, Count C and Tony Myers are linked by their love for the music and the uniquely Jamaican culture of sound system performance that sent the music worldwide. Listen to both, then and now...
THEN:
COUNT C, THE WIZARD OF THE WEST
Cyril 'Count C' Braithwaite (1925-2011) was an original Jamaican sound system success story. From his yard at 6 Wellington Street in West Kingston, Count C helped to shape modern pop culture and personally mentored more than a few international music careers. A contemporary of Tom the Great Sebastian and a rival to Duke Reid, Count C was the Wizard Of The West.
AND NOW:
TONY MYERS, JAM ONE SOUND & INNOVATION
Tony Myers, founder of Jam One International sound system, based off Chisholm Avenue in Kingston, describes the ways a sound system is different from anything else. Myers is the go-to source for locally built speaker cabinets and components which are made and tuned at his yard. Myers is also the current and founding Chair of the Jamaica Sound System Federation, a trade association for sound system owners and operators.
THE ONLY GOOD SYSTEM IS A SOUND SYSTEM TEE
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