Alton Ellis was born in 1938 in Kingston, Jamaica. Original recorded for Coxsone Dodd at Studio One. He also recorded with his younger sister Hortense. By the mid 60s, ska was moving on and the beat was slowing down to rock steady beat. His hits included Don't Trouble People, Dance Crasher, and Cry Tough. Girl I've Got a Date, issued on Treasure Isle, recorded with Gladstone Anderson on piano, Paul Douglas on drums, Hux Brown on rhythm guitar, Lynn Taitt on guitar, and Jackie Jackson on bass is considered one of the foundational songs of the rock steady genre. The release of Rock Steady (1967) backed by Tommy McCook and the Supersonics, the first song to refer to the name of the new genre, heralded the new direction Jamaican popular music was taking. Alton Ellis continued to have hits for Treasure Isle. Alton Ellis toured the United Kingdom in the 1967 with Ken Boothe and Studio One session band the Soul Vendors and on his return to Jamaica he worked again for Coxone Dodd. Alton Ellis was awarded the Order of Distinction by the Jamaican government in recognition of his achievements in 2004. Alton Ellis died of cancer on 10 October 2008 at Hammersmith Hospital, London.
Justin
Hinds and the Dominos. Justin Hinds was born
in Steertown, Saint Ann Parish, Jamaica in 1942. He started his musical
career singing in bars and on the beach in Ochos Rios. Justin
Hinds moved to Kingston, Jamaica where he became influenced by
Rastafari. He was turned down as a singer by Coxsone Dodd, but
signed with Treasure Isle Records. By this stage, the
Dominoes consisting of Dennis Sinclair
and Junior Dixon had become his backing vocalists. His
first recording with Duke Reid was Carry Go Bring
Come, made in late 1963. It became a big hit topping the Jamaican
chart for two months. Over the next couple of years, he would
release singles including King Samuel, Jump Out of the
Frying Pan, The Ark and Rub Up Push Up. In 1966,
he became active in rock steady. several more hits in Jamaica including
The Higher the Monkey Climbs, No Good Rudie",
On a Saturday Night, Here I Stand. Justin
Hinds was a great example for his younger cousin,
Horace Andy, who would become a reggae artist. Justin
Hinds worked with producer Sonia Pottinger in
the 1970's. Justin Hind died in March 2005, at the age
of 62.
Tommy McCook was born in 1927 in Havana, Cuba and moved
to Jamaica in 1933. He took up the tenor saxophone at the age of eleven,
(he also learned to play the flute) when he was a pupil at the Alpha School, and eventually
joined Eric Dean’s Orchestra. His first ska recording
was Exodus, recorded in November 1963 with musicians who would soon make
up the Skatalites. He was a
founder member of the Skatalites. His Ska hits included,
Freedom Sounds, Latin Goes Ska, Ska Ba, Goldfinger, Peanut Vendor. When they disbanded
in 1965 he later formed the Supersonics, including bassist
Jackie Jackson and drummer Paul Douglas and
joined Duke Reid at Treasure Isle Studios
to be the musical director. It was his brass horn sound that made
Duke Reid's Rock Steady sound so distinctive. He had
many instrumental hits on Treasure Isle such as
Down On Bond Street, Real Cool,
Soul For Sale, Our Man Flint, and Black Power.
Tommy McCook died, on 5 May 1998 he was aged
71.
The
Paragons were originally Garth Tyrone Evans,
songwriter Bob Andy, Junior Menz, and
Leroy Stamp. In 1964 Stamp was replaced by singer and
songwriter John Holt, and Howard Barrett
replaced Menz. Beginning in 1964, they recorded on the
Treasure Isle record label with record producer
Duke Reid, songs such as Memories By The Score, "On The
Beach", Only A Smile" and "Wear You To The Ball, which were later
covered by UB40. In 1967 they recorded The Tide Is High, later
covered and taken to the top of the UK and US charts by
Blondie in 1980. After John Holt left
the group they reformed in the late 1970s and released further
albums in the late 1970s and early 1980s. John Holt
died in October 2014.
Gareth Evans died in 2000, and Bob Andy
died in 2020.Judge Sympathy – The Birth Of Trojan (2008) 11 x 7” Vinyl 7” Box Set. Trojan Records TJLBX376.
Singles box set from Trojan featuring replicas of all eleven singles that originally appeared on the label back in 1967, featuring classic Rock Steady produced by the legendary Duke Reid. The Trojan label was originally formed to issue Duke Reid’s productions in the UK, but later changed to Treasure Isle.
| Single 1: A. Judge Sympathy – Duke Reid’s All Stars B. Never To Be Mine (O Solo Mio) – Roland Alphonso & The Supersonics |
Single 2: A. Folk Song – Tony & Dennis B. Starry Night – Tommy McCook & The Supersonics |
| Single 3: A. It’s Raining – The Three Tops B. The Sound Of Music – The Three Tops |
Single 4: A. Ain’t That Lovin’ You – Alton Ellis B. Comet Rock Steady – Tommy McCook & The Supersonics |
| Single 5: A. I Want To Be Loved (I Need You) – Boris Gardener & The Diamonds B. Tulips (From Heaven) – Boris Gardiner & Phyllis Dillon |
Single 6: A. This Is A Lovely Way To Spend An Evening – Phyllis Dillon B. Thing Of The Past – Phyllis Dillon |
| Single 7: A. Dedicate My Song To You (aka Dedicated To You) – The Jamaicans B. How Can I Unlove (aka Things I Said To You) – The Jamaicans |
Single 8: A. Why Birds Follow Spring – Alton Ellis & The Flames B. Soul Rock – Tommy McCook & The Supersonics |
| Single 9: A. Love Is A Treasure – Freddie McKay B. Zazuka – Tommy McCook & The Supersonics |
Single 10: A. (I’m A) Loving Pauper – Dobby Dobson B. Sir Don (aka Yeh Yeh) – Tommy McCook & The Supersonics |
| Single 11: A. Make Me Yours – Phyllis Dillon B. Leave It In The Hands Of Love – Phyllis Dillon |
There are many collectors items including: The Techniques / You Don't Care. Tommy McCook And The Supersonics Band / Down On Bond Street, Real Cool, Soul For Sale, Our Man Flint, Black Power. The Jamaicans / Baba Boom. Justin Hinds And The Dominoes / Here I Stand, Carry Go Bring Come, Alton Ellis And The Flames / Rock Steady, Ain't That Loving You. The Moving Brothers / Darling I Love You. The Techniques / Queen Majesty. The Melodians / The Last Train To Expo '67, Come On Little Girl Come On. The Techniques / Love Is A Gamble. The Silvertones / Midnight Hour. Lloyd Williams / Funky Beat. The Conquerors / Lonely Street. Boris Gardner / Hooked On A Feeling. The Melodians And Hugh Roy / Everybody Bawling. Phyllis Dillon / Midnight Confession. Ken Parker / Help Me Make It Through The Night.
Treasure Isle Record Label 45 Listing
Duke Reid 60's Productions on CD
Duke Reid Bio
