1950s

Studios and the first labels

25 moments · page 1 of 2

1838–2026 · Reading moment 38 of 397

  1. January 9, 1950

    Radio Jamaica (RJR) begins broadcasting, bringing music into Jamaican homes nationwide. Radio proves essential to breaking new artists, spreading sound-system recordings, and building the audience that made ska and reggae national — then global — phenomena.

    Read more
  2. Artist
    October 24, 1950

    Paul Anthony Dixon is born in Kingston, later known as Pablove Black. A Studio One keyboardist, steel-drum player, and arranger for the Soul Defenders, he bridges ska and rocksteady session work to the Twelve Tribes of Israel band and decades of one-man-band production.

    Read more
  3. Music

    In 1951 Stanley Motta opened the first Jamaican recording studio on Hanover Street in downtown Kingston where he began to cut mento sides by local artists. The studio released records on his Motta's Recording Studio label.

    Read more
  4. Artist
    February 19, 1951

    Horace Keith Hinds is born in Kingston, later known as Horace Andy. His falsetto grace on Studio One sides such as "Skylarking" and later Massive Attack collaborations makes him one of roots reggae's most enduring and widely sampled voices.

    Read more
  5. Artist
    November 2, 1951

    Allison Anne Cadogan is born in Kingston, later known as Susan Cadogan. Her Lee Perry-produced sides and 1975 UK chart smash "Hurt So Good" make her one of the defining lovers-rock voices of mid-1970s reggae.

    Read more
  6. Artist
    December 23, 1952

    Judith Veronica Mowatt is born in Gordon Town, St Andrew. A Gaylettes founder and I Three member, her solo work from Black Woman through Protect Me captures women's spiritual and social testimony at the heart of roots reggae.

    Read more
  7. Music

    In 1954 Ken Khouri started Jamaica's first record label, "Federal Records".

    Read more
  8. Artist
    February 27, 1954

    Calton Sylvester Coffie is born in Jamaica, later lead singer of Inner Circle. His tenor anchors "Sweat (A La La La La Long)" and "Bad Boys", earning Inner Circle a Grammy and global pop recognition.

    Read more
  9. Artist
    October 12, 1954

    Leval Alphonso Thompson is born in Kingston, later celebrated as Linval Thompson. A conscious roots vocalist, dub producer, and Studio One alumnus whose self-produced work and Greensleeves catalogue helped define the singer-producer model of late-1970s reggae.

    Read more
  10. Artist
    November 21, 1954

    Everton Dennis Williams is born in Clarendon, later known as Everton Blender. His spiritually minded Star Trail hits such as "Lift Up Your Head" and "Ghetto People Song" bridge roots reggae and dancehall for audiences at home and abroad.

    Read more

  11. Harry Belafonte recorded "Day-O" (later changed to "The Banana Boat Song (Day-O)") for RCA Victor on this date in 1955.

    Read more
  12. Artist
    October 29, 1955

    Basil Glendon Gabbidon is born in Buff Bay, later a founding guitarist and vocalist of Steel Pulse. His Birmingham-based band carries Jamaican reggae into the UK punk-era rock circuit and global festival stages.

    Read more
  13. Artist
    November 17, 1955

    Fitzroy Edwards is born in Chapelton, Clarendon, later known as Edi Fitzroy. Discovered through his JBC accounting job and Mikey Dread's radio show, he scores late-1970s dancehall hits such as "Miss Molly Colly" and "The Gun."

    Read more
  14. Artist
    November 17, 1955

    Fitzroy Edwards is born in Chapelton, Clarendon Parish, later known as Edi Fitzroy. His 1978 hit "Miss Molly Colly" and Mikey Dread-produced catalogue carry conscious dancehall storytelling from JBC radio into the Clash era and beyond.

    Read more
  15. Music

    "My Boy Lollipop" was originally released by Barbie Gaye in late 1956. Millie Small released a cover of the song in March 1964 which was a massive hit, reaching number two both in the UK Singles Chart and in the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.

    Read more
  16. Artist
    April 6, 1956

    Stephen "Cat" Coore is born in Kingston. A child prodigy on cello and guitar, he co-founds Third World in 1973 and helps define reggae fusion with classics such as "96° in the Shade" and "Now That We've Found Love."

    Read more
  17. Music

    Laurel Aitken's first recording was 'Roll Jordan Roll' voiced in 1957 for Caribbean Distributing. It sounded similar to ska but it had a more spiritual feeling. In fact, it was recorded long before Coxsone and Duke Reid started recordings of ska. The song can be found on Aitken's album ' The Story So Far'

    Read more
  18. Artist
    October 9, 1957

    Cecil Campbell is born in Saint Mary Parish, later known as Ini Kamoze. His 1994 worldwide hit "Here Comes the Hotstepper" crowns a roots-to-dancehall career that begins with early-1980s Channel One sides and Taxi label work.

    Read more
  19. Artist
    November 19, 1957

    Ripton Joseph Hylton is born in Kingston, later known as Eek-A-Mouse. His singjay style and eccentric stage persona yield 1980s dancehall novelties from "Wa-Do-Dem" through "Ganja Smuggling," influencing a generation of humorous toasters.

    Read more
  20. Movement

    King Tubby formed his own sound system 'Tubby's Home-Town Hi-Fi' in 1958. It was famed for its high quality and innovation.

    Read more