In commemoration of Jamaica’s 50th anniversary of independence from Britain, the Jamaica Observer’s Entertainment section recognises 50 persons who made significant, yet unheralded contributions, to the country’s culture. We begin with musician/singer Theophilus Beckford.

NOT many Jamaicans were familiar with Theophilus Beckford when he was murdered near his St Andrew home in February 2001. He died a forgotten, broken man at age 65.

Known as Snappin’, Beckford’s name is etched in history books as the man who recorded the first hit song out of Jamaica. That distinction goes to Easy Snappin’, which was released in 1959.

Produced by Clement ‘Sir Coxsone’ Dodd, Easy Snappin’ was a hit in Europe.

Beckford sang and played piano on the song which was built around his American boogie-woogie influences.

Beckford died six months after he was honoured for his contribution to Jamaican music at Tribute To The Greats, an annual event produced by Kingsley ‘King Omar’ Goodison. It was just recognition for an unheralded pioneer.

“He was a true contributor to the music, Easy Snappin’ was the first ska song,” said Goodison. “Snappin’ always spoke about music from New Orleans. He loved music from that region.”

Though he had minor hits with the self-produced Good Morning Miss Clara and Tell Me Little Lady, which was produced by Dodd, Beckford never had another duplicated the success of Easy Snappin’.

However, the piano skills he learned while growing up at Boys’ Town never left him. His playing can be heard on three classic songs from the 1960s: Desmond Dekker’s Honour Your Mother and Father, and Prince Buster’s Blackhead Chiney Man and You Got To Go.

In the 1970s, Beckford was plucked from obscurity by guitarist/producer Earl ‘Chinna’ Smith to play on Fade Away, done by singer Junior Byles. He also had a small role in the 1978 low-budget film, Rockers.

Sadly, Theophilus Beckford never earned substantially from his trailblazing song. In the early 1990s when a European denim company reportedly used Easy Snappin’ for its ad campaign, lawyers for Beckford contacted them on the matter of royalties. A spokesman said they thought he had died!

Beckford’s son, Lloyd, said he was at odds with Dodd over royalties at the time of his death. Easy Snappin’ is used for reggae compilation albums mainly in Europe.

— Howard Campbell