He is known as the father of our popular music, the man who, more than any single individual, developed the recording business in Jamaica. Sir Clement "Coxsone" Dodd is one of the pioneers of Jamaican pop music - from ska to early dancehall, spanning over four decades and involving almost all of the significant figures in Jamaican music. Sir Dodd began in the sound system business back in the '50s when he along with Duke Reid, Tom "The Great" Sebastian, Lord Koos and V Rocket began a revolution which paved the way for the recording of popular music in Jamaica on a commercial level.

The sound systems back in those days were a primitive ensemble of belt-driven turntables perched on oversized custom-made amplifiers which powered 12-inch and 15-inch bass speakers with the steel horns and small transistor radio speaker carrying the mid range and treble. This was poor man's entertainment, as poor inner-city folks in the western and eastern belts of Kingston could not afford to go to upscale dancehalls to hear the top live bands play the big band favourites from the United States. Famous dancehalls such as Bournemouth Club in the east and Chocomo Lawn in the west were the arenas where sound system gladiators battled for supremacy of the dancehall.

In no time it was established that the two top sounds were Coxsone Downbeat and Duke Reid. The two systems had many epic battles with each tasting victory and defeat.

After outdoing each other and exhausting the collection of r&b songs that were available, they took it to the next level by doing their own recordings. These were used at the dances to defeat each other. Prince Buster soon came in the mix with his "voice of the people" concept and used a lot of his local recordings to battle with the two established giants of the dancehall.

The first set of songs were done at Stanley Motta Studio, the Jamaica Broadcasting Corporation (JBC) radio studio and Federal recording studio, but after a while Coxsone found it necessary to build his own studio as he realised that money could be made from recordings. Duke Reid followed suit and in no time our recording business had been born.

Studio One at 13 Brentford Road soon became the music mecca of Jamaica. All the great musicians of the time began to work at Studio One. Don Drummond, Johnny Moore, Lester Sterling, Tommy McCook, Roland Alphanso, Ernie Ranglin, Denzil Laing, Lenny Hibbert were among the great musicians that made the distinctive sound of Studio One the enduring phenomenon it now is. Famous bands, such as the Skatalites and studio bands like the Soul Defenders, Dub Vendors, recorded what many consider the best music out of Jamaica to date. Along the way "Coxsone", with the help of many of these musicians, helped to develop the distinctive sounds of ska, then rock steady and reggae.

While the musicians and some of the talent moved freely between Studio One and Treasure Isle, owned by Duke Reid, it was clear that the creative post was Studio One. They had the bigger stable of talent and produced more music than anyone else. Coxsone was the unassuming general of this musical army, charting this remarkable course in history.

Dodd discovered or exposed most of the talent of the time, including Delroy Wilson, Higgs and Wilson, Ken Boothe, Stranger Cole, the Heptones, the Gaylads, the Wailers, Burning Spear, Winston Francis, Lord Creator, Tony Gregory, Marcia Griffiths, the Paragons, the Sharks, the Hamlins, Alton Ellis and Hortense Ellis.

The list also includes Jacob Miller, John Holt, Jackie Mittoo, Dennis Brown and Bob Andy. Studio One quickly became the Motown of Kingston where new talent gathered daily to audition for Dodd or his assistant producers and arrangers that included B B Seaton, Jackie Mittoo, Leroy Sibbles, Clancy Eccles and Lee "Scratch" Perry.

Along with the general "Coxsone", who had the last say in talent and recordings, these pioneers created history by unearthing the best talent we have seen in modern history.
Despite his many detractors, Dodd was indeed the mastermind behind the success of the studio and the many talented performers it managed to produce. Dodd was instrumental in the change from ska to rock steady and also reggae. He guided many of the stars of Studio One to fulfil their potential and to expose their particular styles. It was Dodd who insisted that the Wailers do a song patterned off the Impression's People Get Ready. The result was One Love which was dubbed the song of the millennium by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).

Many artistes, including Freddie McGregor and Dennis Brown, have attested to the guidance which Dodd gave to them during the formative years of their career. He gave many of the artistes, songs from r&b artistes from the US that suited their voices and style to cover. The performers made these songs their own, so much so that we forget that they are covers.

Some of these include Love I Can Feel - John Holt, Rain From The Sky - Delroy Wilson, No No No - Dawn Penn, Feel Good All Over - Delroy Wilson, Change My Mind - Alton Ellis. Dodd had an ear for talent and gave many new acts with new styles the time to be heard when most did not want to hear them.

He knew a good hit had to have good lyrics, great bass line, catchy arrangement and a solid hook. This was passed on to all his staff musicians and arrangers as he had the final say on every song that came out of the studio.

Many of the all-time best albums of Jamaican music were done at Studio One. Dennis Brown - No Man Is An Island, Ken Boothe - Mr Rock Steady, Heptones - On Top, Bob Andy - Song Book, Michigan and Smiley - Rub A Dub Style, John Holt - Love I Can Feel, Horace Andy - Skylarking, and Freddie McGregor - Bobby Babylon.

In every decade of his career "Coxsone" managed to unearth great talent even after the dominance of Studio One in the 1960s and early 1970s. "Coxsone" came back in the 80s with talents such as Michigan and Smiley and Lone Ranger, heralding the beginning of the dancehall era. In the '90s during the onslaught of dancehall, Coxsone did it again by introducing singer, Glen Washington whose Brother To Brother album on Studio One is on its way to being another Studio One classic.

An astute businessman, "Coxsone" learnt the finer points of the recording business early; establishing one of the first music publishing companies (Jamrec Music) in Jamaica. Most if not all of his artistes were under contract and his musicians were on staff.

He was very careful as to who he licensed his music to, and so even today the Studio One catalogue is the biggest catalogue that is still owned by Jamaica. The catalogue includes not only ska, reggae and rock steady but jazz, gospel, blues, soca and calypso.

The influence of Studio One on our music is unparalleled; almost every rhythm from the catalogue has been used by all the powerhouse stables of every decade, including Joe Gibbs, Channel One, Junjo Lawes, Jammys, Penthouse, Heavy Beat and Digital B. Studio One rhythms are standard requirements for all backing bands and without fail, every year we hear new songs that borrow form the Studio One vault. Many of the songs that made it internationally and were borrowed from the Studio One vault include Pass The Dutchie - Musical Youth, Tease Me - Chaka Demus and Pliers, Sweat - Inner Circle, No No No - Dawn Penn and I'm Still In Love - Sean Paul featuring Sasha.

Many have accused Dodd of ripping them off, including musicians and artistes who signed work for hire, and 'keep and care' contracts. Many of them never had an understanding of the music business and were more interested in becoming stars, hearing themselves on radio and earning from stage shows here and abroad. Many did not understand the process of recoupment, copyright, management, advance and promotion; so some did give away their birthrights.

Whether Coxsone was an exploiter or not, it still does not tarnish his remarkable contribution to our music business and his influence in making Jamaican music, like ska, rock steady, reggae and dancehall, a global phenomenon. The music of Studio One is still as influential in today's music as it was 30 years ago and the studio is still going strong with Dodd re-launching the label last year. So far, veterans such as Brent Dowe, Alton Ellis, Sugar Minott, The Silvertones and Horace Andy have recorded new material for the patriarch of Jamaican music, Clement Dodd OD.
Rest in peace!

Shaggy & Friends take a bow

Two-day Gathering of the Peacemaker in Negril

Patrons rang in the New Year with gusto at 11:59