Greetings Reggae Massive. Welcome to Dave's update on whats
going on in Foundation Reggae. Three the hard way will be in Europe
for the first time this Dec and throughout Jan. This will be great
for reggae fans on the other side of the globe who heard about
Josey, Chaplin, Brigadier but never see them as yet. The only
bad thing about this tour is King Sturgav sound is not on hand.
Otherwise this would be history in the making. Jack Ruby sound
in 1985 was the only foundation sound I know who have been to
Europe. I know Stone Love have been all over the world. I was
wondering when are they going to Africa.
The Sound system Book.
Most dancehall fans remember Madoo from the mid 70's and early
80s who had hits like Joe Grine/Jamming So/ Coming From Town.
In October I completed a hour long interview with Madoo he is
one of three remaining crew from the Champion sound Stereophonic.
The line up were: selector Flux, Madoo, General Echo, Donovan,
Jah Scott & others. In the interview Madoo said he started
out on a disco sound called Plusses and later joined Stereophonic
in 77. He said General was dee jay on Ray Symbolic & then
started his owen sound Echotone before joining Stereophonic around
1977. News to me is that Welton Irie & Lone Ranger were the
leading dj's on Stereophonic before Echo came along. More info
in the upcoming book.
King Sturgav dates in America
The month of August saw the sound returning to Florida once again,
with Chaplin, Rankin Joe, G Washington, L John, U Roy, selector
ILawi. This dance was great from what I hear of the cassettes.
Rankin Joe took the lead in this dance and mash up the place with
his Y2k style. I know Josey is the DJ boss on the sound before
but I am glad to hear other DJ shock out for once. Josey is no
longer on Sturgav for the time being. You can't stop thinking
while listening to the cassettes how would this dance turn out
with Josey ruling the mike. Josey does add a bit of flavour to
Sturgav dance. Most of the time I know some time he push his dee
jaying style to the limit.
September 5th 1999, King Sturgav was in Texas for the first time.
This is the only dance and I am yet to get flyers or the cassettes.
The Crowning of King Sturgav in Miami on November 5th 1999 will
feature in my next update.
Here is some info on Sturgav in Toronto in 1983. Josey's first
time in Toronto as far as I can remember was Sept 83 on Upsetter
sound. few months later on Dec 24/83 King Sturgav
with Josey Chaplin and inspector willy tour Toronto it was the
first time Sturgav came here. The show was great and to my surprise
the next morning I got a copy of the tape which I still have.
King Sturgav played a few more dances in Toronto but the best
was yet to come. In January 1984 they were guests on Reggae Showcase
with lord selector David Kingston 88.1 FM for what was to be two
hours of Josey & Chaplin live on the radio dee jaying. After
40 minutes the studio mike chipped out. The folks at the CKLN
Radio 88.1 FM never got the mike fixed until the ending of the
program a few minutes before midnight.
I must say admission of $18 Canadian to Sturgav dance on December
24th 1983 was the most expensive admission I had ever seen in
that time for a dance.Inspector Willy spent a few months in Montreal
Canada selecting on Jah Man sound back in 1987. King Sturgav never
returned to Toronto until 1994 with Early B, U Roy & Willy
and then in July 1998 with L Thompson, Chaplin, U Roy, U Brown
& others.
That about it until I have more to say
Nuff respect
Dave Foundation collector Canada Dec 99