Reggae Chronology

194X

• Tom The Enchanter starts first UK Sound System.

 

1952

• Count Shelly starts his sound system in Swindon
• Duke Vin starts his sound system in London.
• The first ever sound clash takes place. The contestants are Tom the Great Sebastian (who won) and Count Nick.

 

1960

• The Blue Beat label is started by Melodisc in the UK.

 

1961

• Chris Blackwell starts the Island label in the UK.

 

1962

• First Ska Record released, 'Royal Charlie' by The Randy's Group released on Randy's produced by Victor Chin. Source Roger Dalke
• Jamaica becomes independent.

 

1963

• Coxsone Dodd opens up Studio One.

 

1964

• The Skatalites form in may.

 

1965

• Don Drummond incarcerated in the Belleview Asylum following the murder of his girlfriend Anita 'Marguerita' Mahfood.
• The Skatalites break up in August.

 

1966

• The birth of rocksteady
• Haile Selassie visits Jamaica on April 21.

 

1968

• The birth of reggae. Leslie Butler's 'Revival' released on Gayfeet produced by Sonia Pottinger is considered to be the first 'reggae' tune source - Roger Dalke.

 

1969

• Desmond Dekker's »Israelites« tops the UK pop charts and becomes the first reggae song to do so.
• The Harder They Come film starring Jimmy Cliff goes into production.
• Don Drummond dies in May.

 

1971

• In August the producer Lesley Kong died.

 

1972

• The Harder They Come is released. Jamaica's first feature film is hailed as a great success, likewise the soundtrack on Island Records.
• King Tubby's first dub is released - Tubby's At The Control - King Tubby - Pantomine produced by Glen Brown.
• Jamaican elections bring Michael Manley and the PNP to power.

 

 

1973

• Bob Marley's Catch A Fire with the famous zippo-cover is released.
• Channel One studio opens up, owned by Hookim Brothers.
• Lee Perry opens up the Black Ark studio.
• First Dub album 'The Message' produced by Prince Buster is released in the UK.
• Also released is »Aquarius Dub« produced by Herman Chin Loy and »Blackboard Jungle« produced by Lee Perry.
• Chris Lane begins to write for Blues And Soul.
• Carl Gayle begins to write for Black Music.
• Penny Reel begins to write for International Times.

 

1974

• Pressure Drop the world first reggaezine published in London - England, by Penny Reel and Nick Kimberley
• The Gun Court is established in Jamaica as a result of rising violence.

 

1975

• Emperor Haile Selassie dies.

 

1976

• The first reggae 12" discos is released, Truly by The Jays on Channel One (the exact first release may be disputed).
• In June Jamaica is declared State of Emergency by the PNP.
• Rockers the second major feature made in Jamaica is released, starring Leroy'Horsemouth' Wallace the film is another great success. The soundtrack is released on Island Records.
• A General Election marred by widespread violence returns Michael Manley's PNP to power once again.

 

1977

• Ital Rockers - Published by Dougie Thompson in Edinburgh - Scotland
• The Wailers - Exodus album released (Time's Best Album of the Century)

 

1978

• The infamous Green Bay Massacre.
• The One Love Peace Concert is held in Kingston, Jamaica on 22 April.
• Record Selector - The first discographies book on reggae music published by Roger Dalke.
• Small Axe published by Ray Hurford in London - England
• Jah Ugliman published by Carl Gayle - in Kingston - Jamaica

 

1979

• Junjo produced and releases an album for the youthman singer Barrington Levy thus creating the classic dancehall music mostly associated with the early 80's.

 

1980

• General Echo, Leon »Big John« Johns and selector Flux are shot dead by the police.

 

1981

• The 11th of May, Bob Marley passes away due to cancer.

 

1982

• Is the year of Connection Lyrics in the dancehall.
• The first live dancehall album Live at Aces is released.

 

1983

• The famous Black Ark of Lee Perry is burned down.

 

1984

• Papa Levi is the first UK artist to score a #1 hit on the JA charts with his song »Mi God, Mi King« (Taxi). It is also the first song to feature the Fast Chat style created by Peter King.
• King Tubby releases Anthony Red Rose's 'Tempo' on his Firehouse label-first all digital reggae tune.

 

1985

• Wayne Smith, Noel Davy and King Jammy release »Under Mi Sleng Teng« a seminal release in digital reggae

 

1988

• Large swathes of Jamaica are badly hit by Hurricane Gilbert.

 

1989

• The 6th of February King Tubby is murdered.

 

1994

• Garnett Silk died in December.

 

1995

• Delroy Wilson died in March.

 

1998

• Founded Liquidator Music.

 

2004

• On May 4th Coxsone Dodd died.

 

2007

• Jah Cure was released from prison in Jamaica in July, he served eight years after being convicted of rape.

 

1) Source Roger Dalke.