Issue 09
THE LEGENDS OF SKA
By Joey AltrudaPhotography By David Jiro
Illustration By Kristian Henson
Derrick Morgan
In the early days of ska, 1959, we started by imitating people like Smiley Lewis and Rosco Gordon. They called it riddim blues, and we call it ska music. The singing guitar player named Lynne Tait from Trinidad came to Jamaica. When he start playing our ska, he changed the bass line and slow it down. Everybody took after that and called it rocksteady. We called it reggae ‘cause we were tryin’ to look for a real name for Jamaican music. We didn’t like the name ska or rocksteady.
No one had the imagination that after so many decades we’ll have our music still roamin’ the town. I’m proud to know that in Europe and the United States, even in Japan, you’ll find Jamaican music being played. It helps our industry in the reggae music business. Without the White people, we wouldn’t reach nowhere in our music.
I met Bob Marley just about the time I was gonna migrate to England. I shared a bill with him on my farewell show. He danced more than he sing, and he would tire before he’d finish the first song. I used to take him back and tell him, “Calm yourself, sing two verses before you start dancing. You know, dance during the solo.” I remember Bob in those ways.
I’m playin’ packed shows all over—Holland, Italy, Scotland, Newcastle—and pure youth turnin’ out for me! At 66, I feel good entertaining those youth, you know what I’m sayin’. It’s a great thing for me. I’m feelin’ on top man, right on top of cloud nine.
Desmond Dekker
Derrick Morgan
Alton Ellis
Owen Gray
Rico Rodriguez