Possessing a system that’s hailed as the classic model and influence for many of the systems that came later on. The first real big name in Jamaican Sound System history was ‘Tom the Great Sebastian’ (below). A prosperous era was being anticipated and it was the size and volume of these systems that provided its slick soundtrack, which in turn became central to the whole scene. This new way of life mirrored the new found belief and confidence which Independence had brought the people of Jamaica, who’d been worn down from the years of colonial grind by the British.
It was a constant battle between DJs to find the most recent and ‘baddest’ tunes which some of were played some times more than 10 times in a night by DJs all vying for the crowds to dance to their sets and their records which was the fuel that burnt within the scene – to be heard the loudest with the hottest tunes. Rising from the down-town areas of Kingston to the world these pioneers took it to every club, party and music event in the world setting the scene for DJs, MCs and sound systems for ever.ĭuring World War 2 American troops that were posted in Jamaica brought with them the new hip sounds from the states with the energetic jitterbug becoming favourite among Jamaica’s youth, which encouraged some to start up their own big bands playing the many dances that sprang up across the island to its new found audience.īut by 1950 a more cooler/slicker sound was breaking through from the DJs who’d play the new bop-rhythm and blues records, which was again from the States.īeing so close to Jamaica the US was the islander’s main source for all things new and due to the heavy commuting by Jamaicans, to and from the US working in the growing motor industry, the latest ‘hot’ new 78s would be snapped-up and brought back to the island as prize possessions. Born out a time of change in a country who’s people were beginning to find their own identification comes the amazing story and history of Jamaica’s frontline sound systems.
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