https://www.cbc.ca/television/fromthevaults/jackie-mittoo-and-the-golden-age-of-canadian-reggae-1.4903386?fbclid=IwAR3yGxp3IrnmzIW-60jU7Xt-30WJfw0_RLSK0wmHVKSkvvbIy4Xe0dA0WQ8
Canadian Reggae is always Golden
CBC did a lovely piece on the genius that is Jackie Mittoo
"Jackie Mitto and the golden age of Canadian reggae"
Really?
How inaccurate
Jackie was great and forever will be great... and golden too
CBC could use a conversation with those within the reggae community sometimes
There are and have been many golden occurrences within the reggae scene in Canada
They went through their archives to dig up performances with Jackie and Lord Tanamo, 2 original members of the legendary Skatalites, the foundation band of ska back in the 1960s in Jamaica
That Jackie Mittoo talent was quite unique and of virtuoso quality and deserves even greater accolades for said genius
Yet there is more
Bob Marley may well be considered as "the king of reggae" based on his vast accomplishments, body of work and talent but reggae has many, many, many, other sons and daughters. It ain't just about Bob
Reggae is a voice
A spiritual frequency that reaches conscious souls globally
It is not only about a single person
It is always a blessing to see the past honored as this doc has done for Jackie yet I wonder when the CBC or any other Canadian program will take the time to tell the world about The Sattalites, Messenjah, Exco Levi, Blessed, Ammoye, Tasha Tee, Kirk Diamond, Lazo, Jones and Jones, concerts at The Opera House, more about Jason Wilson or Carl Harvey who has toured with Toots Hibbert for the last 40 or so years
I managed IBADAN for over a decade and had many golden moments at Lee's Palace, The Bamboo, The El Mocambo, The Opera House and many other spots
CHRY 105.5, CKLN 88.1 with only CIUT 89.5 remaining of community radio through the 80s and the 90s. These were golden years for reggae as well. The radio personalities were as significant as many of the artists within the genre
Continue to support CIUT for many things including reggae. Patrick Roots and DB Hawkes have been at it, on air, probably 30 years each, spinning reggae music from vinyl / cassette to laptop
Point the lights and the cameras towards some of the people above. One will find lots of gold there
Too often reggae is viewed as nostalgia when we, Canada, have had this vibe, ongoing daily for over 50 years now
Daily
When is it given its value or it's due within its own time?
Where there is an ability to earn as opposed to token documentaries years after the artists are dead and buried?
I am proud to see Joe Issacs, Carol Brown, Jay Douglas, Jason Wilson, Lord Tanamo, Willi Williams and film of the reggae past. A source of pride for me as well as all who have lived it
Yet if the talent is good enough to be glorified, why is it so difficult to invest in the genre and pay its participants
Sad
Always accolades then excuses then always excluded from the fiscal table
Pride to watch heroes, friends, contemporaries on screen in our living rooms yet there is no fiscal value to this genre inna Canada
Back in the day the excuse was, "reggae is indigenous to Jamaica, so it can't get support here". You could hear that from grant applications to radio people to music heads, booking agencies, major and minor record labels across the industry
Lots of accolades yet loads of exclusion
That is a truth about reggae Canada
Always grateful for the pat on the head yet being paid for ones talent and work is far more rewarding in my eyes
Before you go with another age old story / myth, "we have no budget", please remember that in 2017, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra was awarded $7.5 MILLION grant for ONE celebration in Canada 150
One celebration
Reggae Canada received... Wait for it...
Zilch
I take this opportunity to speak on those who still do it today, continually at the highest level
Tokenism is one of the strategies of our colonial masters inna Canada
Track the royalty payments of some of those performing today or over the years and I bet you the least amount of royalties paid to Canadian performing reggae artists, come from Canada
The least amount
How come?
We still only talking about the late, great, Jackie Mittoo
There are others
There is much more to reggae music than one person
Yet always proud of Jackie... and Bob
Canadian Reggae is always Golden
CBC did a lovely piece on the genius that is Jackie Mittoo
"Jackie Mitto and the golden age of Canadian reggae"
Really?
How inaccurate
Jackie was great and forever will be great... and golden too
CBC could use a conversation with those within the reggae community sometimes
There are and have been many golden occurrences within the reggae scene in Canada
They went through their archives to dig up performances with Jackie and Lord Tanamo, 2 original members of the legendary Skatalites, the foundation band of ska back in the 1960s in Jamaica
That Jackie Mittoo talent was quite unique and of virtuoso quality and deserves even greater accolades for said genius
Yet there is more
Bob Marley may well be considered as "the king of reggae" based on his vast accomplishments, body of work and talent but reggae has many, many, many, other sons and daughters. It ain't just about Bob
Reggae is a voice
A spiritual frequency that reaches conscious souls globally
It is not only about a single person
It is always a blessing to see the past honored as this doc has done for Jackie yet I wonder when the CBC or any other Canadian program will take the time to tell the world about The Sattalites, Messenjah, Exco Levi, Blessed, Ammoye, Tasha Tee, Kirk Diamond, Lazo, Jones and Jones, concerts at The Opera House, more about Jason Wilson or Carl Harvey who has toured with Toots Hibbert for the last 40 or so years
I managed IBADAN for over a decade and had many golden moments at Lee's Palace, The Bamboo, The El Mocambo, The Opera House and many other spots
CHRY 105.5, CKLN 88.1 with only CIUT 89.5 remaining of community radio through the 80s and the 90s. These were golden years for reggae as well. The radio personalities were as significant as many of the artists within the genre
Continue to support CIUT for many things including reggae. Patrick Roots and DB Hawkes have been at it, on air, probably 30 years each, spinning reggae music from vinyl / cassette to laptop
Point the lights and the cameras towards some of the people above. One will find lots of gold there
Too often reggae is viewed as nostalgia when we, Canada, have had this vibe, ongoing daily for over 50 years now
Daily
When is it given its value or it's due within its own time?
Where there is an ability to earn as opposed to token documentaries years after the artists are dead and buried?
I am proud to see Joe Issacs, Carol Brown, Jay Douglas, Jason Wilson, Lord Tanamo, Willi Williams and film of the reggae past. A source of pride for me as well as all who have lived it
Yet if the talent is good enough to be glorified, why is it so difficult to invest in the genre and pay its participants
Sad
Always accolades then excuses then always excluded from the fiscal table
Pride to watch heroes, friends, contemporaries on screen in our living rooms yet there is no fiscal value to this genre inna Canada
Back in the day the excuse was, "reggae is indigenous to Jamaica, so it can't get support here". You could hear that from grant applications to radio people to music heads, booking agencies, major and minor record labels across the industry
Lots of accolades yet loads of exclusion
That is a truth about reggae Canada
Always grateful for the pat on the head yet being paid for ones talent and work is far more rewarding in my eyes
Before you go with another age old story / myth, "we have no budget", please remember that in 2017, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra was awarded $7.5 MILLION grant for ONE celebration in Canada 150
One celebration
Reggae Canada received... Wait for it...
Zilch
I take this opportunity to speak on those who still do it today, continually at the highest level
Tokenism is one of the strategies of our colonial masters inna Canada
Track the royalty payments of some of those performing today or over the years and I bet you the least amount of royalties paid to Canadian performing reggae artists, come from Canada
The least amount
How come?
We still only talking about the late, great, Jackie Mittoo
There are others
There is much more to reggae music than one person
Yet always proud of Jackie... and Bob
BUJU
Thoughts on Buju Banton’s release from a decade of incarceration
What is your excitement level, 1 – 10, 10 being the most excited and 1 being the least?
Which artist {s} would like to see him do collaborations with? Beres? Damian and Stephen? Chronixx? Beenie Man and Bounty?
I hope and prayer is that Buju finds some levels of peace and harmony within and that this harrowing experiences has not darkened his spirit. I hope is that Buju will shine that light from within as only he has
Buju’s light
Thoughts on Buju Banton’s release from a decade of incarceration
What is your excitement level, 1 – 10, 10 being the most excited and 1 being the least?
Which artist {s} would like to see him do collaborations with? Beres? Damian and Stephen? Chronixx? Beenie Man and Bounty?
I hope and prayer is that Buju finds some levels of peace and harmony within and that this harrowing experiences has not darkened his spirit. I hope is that Buju will shine that light from within as only he has
Buju’s light
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