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Fatman Hifi

This version was saved 16 years, 11 months ago View current version     Page history
Saved by PBworks
on April 11, 2007 at 1:56:41 pm
 

Fatman Hifi, a Sound System from Tottenham, North London. Fatman, real name Kenneth Gordon, moved from the Waterhouse area of Kingston to the UK in 1962. Initially he worked with Sir Fanso before forming his own Sound System in 1974, initially it was called Wild Bells and then Imperial Downbeat before finally settling on the name Fatman.

 

The selector from the sounds start to the early 80's was Ribs (Robert Fearon), when he left Fatman Ribs formed Unity Hifi. By 1977 the sound had residencies at Club Noriek on Seven Sisters Road, the Nightingale in Tottenham and Phebes in Stoke Newington (which ended in the summer of 1977) and in 1979 at the Queens Head Hall, Turnpike Lane. In 1977 Fatman opened a record shop in West Green Road, Tottenham.

 

Fatman Hifi won the best Sound System Vote at the Black Echoes British Reggae Awards in 1979, the top placings were as follows (previous years placing in brackets);

1.(2) Fatman

2.(3) Jah Shaka

3.(6) Moa Anbessa

4.(1) Sir Coxsone

4.(-) Jah Whitey

5.(12) Soferno B

 

In the early 80's MC's Raymond Naptali and Roy Ranking were regulars on the sound and were releasing records on Fatmans KG Imperial Record label.

 

In 1981, in an interview with Black Echoes, Ken Gordon described the sound

"Weight section: thirty eightenen inch speakers.

Mid Range: four fifteen and four twelve inch units.

Top end, tweaters; two in each mid range unit.

Fully transistorised amplification; and yes it's all three noughts!

Record deck: single auto changer."

 

The sound built a strong relationship with Prince Jammy in Jamaica. This relationship saw them obtain Jamm''s dubs before UK sounds and eventually to some of Jammy's productions being released on KG Imperial.

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