Clement Seymour Dodd was born in Kingston, Jamaica on 26 January 1932. His Father was a builder and he got the nick name "Coxsone" due to his aptitude for cricket after the famous bats man for Yorkshire in the 1940's .His passion for music began as he played records in the Bar owned by his parents. Whist in the USA he would hear the Jazz and R&B records he was to bring back to Jamaica and play on his equipment at parties and dances. He later called himself Sir Coxones Downbeat sound system, this was around the early fifties. The music played was imported from the USA and unheard of on the island. Many of the records were 'raped' had the titles and artists names scratched out. This made the records more exclusive and lead to rival sound system battles, as with Duke Reid the Trojan and other leading sound systems.  At around this time C.S.Dodd began to record local artists and he opened Coxsone's Muzik City in East Queens Street. In 1960 he began his own productions, recorded at Federal Studios, it is claimed that Clue J and the Blues Busters were his first production artists. His recording were played on the sound systems. In 1963, the now famous Jamaican Recording and Publishing Studio,  was opened at 13 Brentford Road, Kingston. Sid Buchmor, C.S.Dodd's cousin installed the one track facilities, which was later converted to two-tracks in 1965.

Bob Marley and The Wailers, The Maytals, The Skatalites, Soul Brothers, Alton Ellis,  Jackie Mittoo, The Gaylads, John Holt, Ken Boothe, Marcia Griffiths, Delroy Wilson, Stranger Cole, Freddie McGregor, The Heptones, Slim Smith, Ken Parker all recorded at Studio One in Brentford Road, Kingston.
 
 
 

In the UK he had two label, Coxsone and Studio One which issued his productions from 1967. This was the Rock Steady period with a prolific number of releases. Today all are very collectable and in particular the LP's on Studio One and the Coxsone labels.

Eventually he moved his studio and record shop to the USA at  Coxsone's Music City 3135 Fulton Street, Brooklyn, New York, 11208 (now closed). Many of his albums (200+) have been reissued on CD by his company in the USA.

Heartbeat records of Massachusetts have issued Studio One productions to the highest standards since 1983, under Chris Wilson. Check out the availability of the Heartbeat catalogue. In the UK recently Studio One music has been issued on CD by  Soul Jazz Records  in Soho, London.

Sadly, Clement 'Coxsone' Dodd passed away on Tuesday 4 May 2004 in his studio in Jamacia. Brentford Road was renamed Studio One Boulevard in a ceremony which paid tribute to the accomplishments of the producer. This took place a few days before his death.
List of Studio One CD's