A BOOMING INDUSTRY
56 YEARS IN THE MAKING
WHAT IS it about Jamaicans that makes us so especially talented? In our 56 years of Independence, our people have continuously been frontrunners on the global entertainment scene, whether it is with the release of a mega hit song or the takeover of an internationally recognised talent contest. Locally, too, our journey to present day has seen many strides in the entertainment industry, and of course, we had to discuss a few.
1962 – The beginning of the Marley era
It all began in 1962 with the recording of four songs for local music producer Leslie Kong. Little did the teenager behind those tracks know that he would one day become a global icon and the trailblazer for a very grateful industry. Robert Nesta ‘Bob’ Marley is today one of the most recognised names in music and is probably the first name that comes to mind when some foreigners hear of Jamaica. His brief career in music saw him receiving multiple global awards, including Album of The Century for Exodus by Time Magazine, induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and several others. Marley died in 1981 after battling cancer for some time.
1964 – Millie Small releases ‘My Boy Lollilop’
The Clarendon-born Millie Small surely did make our hearts go ‘giddy up’ when her rendition of Barbie Gaye’s My Boy Lollipop, released in March 1964, became a massive hit across the world. The catchy tune reached number two in both the UK Singles Chart and the US Billboard Hot 100 and eventually sold over seven million copies worldwide! Small received later successes in music, which led to her, in 2011, receiving the Order of Distinction from the governor general for her contribution to the Jamaican music industry. She currently resides in England.
1966 – Festival Song Contest takes off
Around this time of year, many Jamaicans look forward to all that the national Independence celebrations have to offer, and within that range of activities, the National Festival Song Competition, formerly the Popular Song Competition, is usually a highlight. Who could forget the slow and smooth sounds of Bam Bam by The Maytals, the first-ever winners of the contest in 1966? Since then, other standouts have included Eric Donaldson’s 1971 mega track Cherry Oh Baby and his 1978 release, This Is the Land of My Birth. What’s your favourite festival song?
1993 – Reggae Sumfest
Dubbed the greatest reggae show on earth, there is no denying that Reggae Sumfest has played a pivotal role in our musical identity since its takeoff in 1993. Over the years, the Sumfest stage has been graced by some of the biggest stars in music like Rihanna, Jennifer Hudson, Lionel Ritche, Kanye West, Usher, Chris Brown, Nicki Minaj, Miguel and others. Sumfest prides itself on being not only the largest music festival in Jamaica, but also the most authentic reggae and dancehall festival in the world.
2013 – Tessanne Chin wins The Voice
Her honourable mention of music being her “bread and butter” cannot nearly complete the list of things that make songbird Tessanne Chin a gem in her own right. Most of us can remember her journey on American talent contest The Voice, and the excitement of her Season 5 victory in 2013. Chin’s win was especially significant as Jamaicans and the diaspora connected efforts in soliciting the votes that eventually led to her obtaining the highest number of votes in Voice history! Talk about teamwork!