Sir Coxsone AKA Sir Coxsone Outernational was a UK Sound System named after Jamaica's Coxsone Dodd.

Sir Coxsone (AKA Lloyd Coxsone, real name Lloyd Blackford(1)) came to the UK in 1961(2) from Morant Bay, St Thomas, Jamaica, had started out with his own Lloyd The Matador this folded because of lack of funds and he went on to work with the Duke Reid Sound. Upon splitting from Duke Reid in 1969 it was a natural choice to name his sound Sir Coxsone, in recognition of the Jamaican rivalry between Studio One and Treasure Isle.

Initially Sir Coxsone had a residency at the Roaring Twenties Club in London's West End - having I Roy as a resident deejay in the club 1973. He later moved to the Four Aces in Dalston, East London circa 1974. He was back at the Four Aces doing regular Sunday night sessions in 1979.

In late 1974 he set up his own record shop at Peckham Rye. He also launched the label Ital Coxone together with Leonard »Santic« Chin - the first release being »Only For A Time« by the Royals in november 1974. In February 1975 he produced the song »Caught You In A Lie« with the 15 year old Louisa Marks - it was released on Safari Records and was a best seller. He would also release acclaimed albums such as the King Of The Dub Rock and the sequel titled simply King Of The Dub Rock Part 2. The former was awarded fifth place in the Black Echoes list of the best dub albums ever to be released up to 1977(3). In 1977 Coxson started his own Tribesman label.

Coxsone was featured in the 70's BBC documentary Aquarius focusing on reggae where he spoke about the scene.

In April 1978 Sir Coxsone won the Best Sound System category in the first Black Echoes Reggae Awards. The votes were as follows:

• Sir Coxsone 568
• Fatman Hifi 337
• Jah Shaka 307
• Dillinger Hifi 209
• Admiral Ken 152
• Moa Anbessa 128

In 1980 the sound travelled to Amsterdam, Holland and played two sessions. By this time the Sound featured Blackadread alongside Festus and Lloydie at the controls and MC's Levi Roots, Skeeroy and Bikey Dread.

Bikey Dread and Blacka Dread in 1981

In the mid 80's the sound kept it's position in the top flight by building a strong rosta of deejays including Tenor Fly, Bikey Dread and Daddy Freddie, Daddy Ip and singers like Levi Roots and Penfold.

Sources

• Black Echoes Magazine, 15 April 1978.

(1) Blackwood according to Tighten Up! by de Koningh and Griffiths.

(2) From the liner noter of the album King of the Dubb Rock LP (Safari, 1975)

(3) Black Echoes - The Story Of Dub Part 2 - (16/7/1977)