Stories by Roy Black

The imprisonment of Frederick 'Toots' Hibbert shortly after he won the inaugural Festival Song Competition is viewed by the singer as a deliberate attempt to sabotage his career.The singer was imprisoned at the Richmond Farm prison on a marijuana...

Another year in the life of Johnny Nash slipped by without much fanfare or flamboyant celebrations on August 19. However, at 78, Nash remains active, albeit on a subdued basis, with occasional tours.Although not born in Jamaica, his contribution to...

The impact of the high exchange rate of the United States dollar in relation to the Jamaican dollar has been described by government and banking sources as having no real negative effect on the Jamaican economy. Be that as it may, the stark reality...

When Trinidad-born Kenrick Patrick, better known as Lord Creator, was passing through Jamaica in 1962, making Jamaica his home was the furthest thing from his mind.He was actually on a Caribbean tour with a group of musicians when he stopped in...

The years following Jamaica's inaugural Independence in 1962 were turbulent ones, especially in Kingston.One would have expected that with attaining Independence, the nation would be in a united state, and crime would be on the decline. But quite...

Falsetto singers were an integral part of early Jamaican music. Some of the more popular exponents of that style of singing, along with their signature recordings, included Pat Kelly (You Don't Care For Me), Derrick Harriott (Sugar Dandy), Ken...

Today is International Reggae Day, and again, we pay tribute to the pioneers who made it possible.Andrea Davis conceptualised the idea in 1993, following a speech by Winnie Mandela, wife of former South African president Nelson Mandela, while the...

Growing up along Orange Street in downtown Kingston - the heart of Jamaica's popular music during its embryonic stage - I was privileged to be among some of the greats who created the foundation music of ska and rocksteady. Music Street and Beat...

The Drifters vocal group of the early 1960s was easily the most exciting and popular group of singers in popular music during that period. Those who were around at the time will well recall the impact they had on the music scene and on the charts,...

Blindness is often looked at as an impediment to progress by the sighted, but for some blind persons, it is more of a motivational tool.One person who has used blindness for motivation is Steveland Morris, better known as Stevie Wonder, who, for 55...

Although Derrick Morgan is reputed to have worn several hats in Jamaican popular music, his good friend and competitor, Prince Buster, may not be very far behind. Buster excelled as a sound system operator, record producer, recording artiste,...

While Carnival revellers were jumping and gyrating to the rhythms of street bands at Jamaica Carnival 2018 Road Marches last Sunday, it became obvious that there was one notable absentee among the bands - Jamaica Carnival.A creation of the late...