Skabook: Notes on the Record
Heather Augustyn, author of eight books on ska and Jamaican music history. Dedicated to amplifying information about ska. skabook.com
- Just a big shout out to my favorite 2 Tone source, 2 Tone - Before, During & After. If you don’t have this book by Lee Morris, or his fanzine, do yourself a favor now. This guy is a 2 Tone expert more than anyone else I’ve ever read by a mile. 🖤🤍🖤🤍🖤🤍🖤🤍🖤🤍🖤 2tonefanzine.bigcartel.com
- This article in The Star from Sept. 1964 features Lloyd Knibb, a young 33-year-old master who was ranked the top ska drummer in Jamaica. Here he tells how he helped to develop the ska beat. He told me all about it too, which I wrote about in my book Ska: An Oral History at skabook.com. #ska #jamaica
- Hard to believe that five years ago, on May 5, 2020, we lost the legendary Millie Small. Read her story as she told it to me here: skabook.com/songbirds/ #SkaMusic #MillieSmall #jamaica #MyBoyLollipop
- On May 4th, 2004, Clement “Coxsone” Seymour Dodd died at the age of 72. A few years ago Tony Sarabia recorded this segment about Coxsone for WBEZ, the NPR station in Chicago. Celebrate the life of Coxsone Dodd, and celebrate public media by fighting back here: protectmypublicmedia.org/rsc-emails/
- Happy May Day, and Happy Birthday to Alpha Boys School! Alpha was officially founded on this day in 1890. Read all about this legendary institution in my book on Alpha, available here: skabook.com/alpha-boys-s... #ska #reggae #alphaboysschool #jamaica #kingston
- Cedric Im Brooks was born on April 27 1943 and attended Alpha Boys School. Later in life he performed with the reformed Skatalites and was a founding member of the Mystic Revelation of Rastafari and Light of Saba. Legend. www.alphaboysschoolradio.com #reggae #ska #jamaica
- If you ever find yourself anywhere near Coventry, the 2 Tone Village is a must see. Everyone there does this out of deep love for the music and to make sure Coventry’s history remembers the impact of ska. The memorabilia is incredible and they have shops, restaurants, and live events. #2Tone #ska
- Get your copy now! @someskaband.bsky.social
- On April 24, 1954, Winston Churchill was knighted, thus becoming Sir Winston Churchill. Commemorate the occasion by listening to the work of some real royalty—Duke Reid, Sir Coxsone Dodd, Prince Buster, Lord Creator, and King Edwards. #ska #skamusic #reggae #reggaemusic #jamaica
- This photo of Michael Manley, Bob Marley, & Edward Seaga was taken on April 22 1978 during the One Love Peace Concert, the first show upon returning from London after being shot. The photo was taken by Howard Moo Young. Read more here: emc.edu.jm/tiac/1131098... #reggae #BobMarley #jamaica #onelove
- Just saw the This Is New Tone @badtimerecords.bsky.social documentary screened by @abbeyproductions.bsky.social at the Pop Culture Association conference in New Orleans! So many familiar faces and so much fun! #ska @catbiteband.bsky.social @badoperation.bsky.social @skatunenetwork.bsky.social
- 60 years ago, this ad appeared in the Jamaica Gleaner. Lynn Taitt is a legendary rocksteady guitarist and has been credited with crafted the first rocksteady bassline on the song "Take It Easy" by vocalist Hopeton Lewis. #ska #reggae #reggaemusic #skamusic #rocksteady #jamaica
- On April 14, 1984, the Dutch pop-ska band Doe Maar played their farewell concert in Den Bosch, Netherlands. They were very popular in the Netherlands and have been called the Dutch Beatles. Check out their sound and you can definitely hear the early 80s ska revival! #doemaar #ska #skapunk #2tone
- It was on April 13, 1973 that one of the most iconic and powerful albums of all time was released--Catch A Fire by The Wailers. I've only seen one in the flesh once at a museum. Anyone own this baby? #BobMarley #reggae #catchafire #islandrecords #chrisblackwell #jamaica
- Herbie Hancock was born on April 12 1940. His song “Watermelon Man” became a popular hit by Mongo Santamaria and was also recorded by Baba Brooks as well as Byron Lee. Have a listen and tip your hat to Herbie Hancock for penning this crucial tune! #ska #jazz #herbiehancock #mongosantamaria #jamaica
- The first space shuttle was launched on April 11 1981. Remember the Columbia with Tommy McCook's Rocket Ship featuring toaster Sir Lord Comic who likely patterned these lyrics after American DJ Douglas “Jocko” Henderson's vocalizations on his radio show, Rocket Ship. #ska #jamaica #spaceshuttle
- On April 10, 2014 Cat Stevens was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. What does he have to do with ska? In 1973 Stevens recorded his album Foreigner in Jamaica at Dynamic Sounds, the studio owned by Byron Lee who popularized ska with his Dragonaires. #ska #jamaica #catstevens #byronlee
- On April 9, 2002, the funeral for The Queen Mother was held at Westminster Abbey. Did you know the Queen Mother loved ska? The Jamaica Gleaner, Feb. 25 1965 says she attended a ska performance, "her eyes lighting up as she waved her hand in demonstration." As close to skanking as we’ll get! #ska
- On April 8 2013, we lost Annette Funicello, one of the Mousketeers. She also taught Bob Hope how to dance the Jamaica Ska in 1964: www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCLY... & she danced and sang Jamaica Ska in the 1980s Back to the Beach with Fishbone: www.youtube.com/watch?v=8r_7... #AnnetteFunicello #ska
- Exciting! Getting ready to give my talk: Heaven Will Protect the Working Girl: (Re)constructing Jamaica Music History with Women's Stories.
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- Thank you so much, @unclecon.bsky.social ! Grateful. 🤍🖤🤍🖤🤍🖤🤍🖤🤍🖤🤍🖤🤍
- Sound Opinions is up! So excited! Have a listen, and thank you so much Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot! soundopinions.org/show/1009
- Tune in to Sound Opinions @soundopinions.bsky.social this Friday when I will be talking with @jimderogatis.bsky.social and @gregkot.bsky.social about Rude Girls: Women in 2 Tone and One Step Beyond! #ska #2Tone #rudegirls
- Make sure to tune in Friday at noon! Thank you so much for celebrating Rude Girls @unclecon.bsky.social !! 🖤🤍🖤🤍🖤🤍🖤🤍🖤🤍🤍
- Hard Man Fe Dead! One of the most classic tunes of all time, by Prince Buster (covered by The Toasters--Hard Band For Dead), talks about a Nine Night. Here's a piece I wrote that explains this ritual, and hopefully it will bring a deeper appreciation the next time you sing along! #ska #jamaica
- Today marks six years since we lost Ranking Roger. Beautiful soul. Celebrate his life by putting on some of his tunes and singing along. Love love love. #ska #2tone #thebeat #rankingroger
- 60 years ago today, Miriam Makeba performed in Jamaica and sold out all shows at the Regal Theatre. Two years later, in 1967, Patsy Todd recorded her version of a Miriam Makeba song, "Pata Pata Rock Steady," likely influenced by Makeba's visit. Have a listen: www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTJJ... #ska
- If you've ever seen Jimmy Cliff in The Harder They Come, then you know the character Ivanhoe Martin. But did you know that this character is based on a real one? Here's a piece I wrote about it a few years back. #skamusic #skapunk #reggae #jamaica #rudeboy #jimmycliff #thehardertheycome #rhyging
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- The return of Astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore from the International Space Station reminded me of this post I wrote about the origins of the name The Skatalites, which was inspired by the Space Race. #SunitaWilliams #ButchWilmore #skatalites #ska #skapunk #InternationalSpaceStation
- I'll be on next week's episode of Sound Opinions #1009! We recorded the show while I was at the @supernovaska.bsky.social last Sept. and it will air on Friday, March 28! We're talking about Rude Girls: Women in 2 Tone! www.soundopinions.org @soundopinions.bsky.social #ska #2Tone #skamusic #women
- Big big thanks to @unclecon.bsky.social for celebrating the women of 2Tone today! If you missed his show, you can still stream it here! Get skankin’!
- George Foreman died today at the age of 76. Celebrate with Big Youth’s song “Foreman Versus Frazier.” Here's a photo I took of Big Youth when I saw him perform years back in Kingston and a link to Big Youth's big chune: youtu.be/RpTVynKZtXs?... #georgeforeman #reggae #jamaica #BigYouth #boxing
- Lee "Scratch" Perry was born on March 20, 1936. Celebrate his life by listening to some Super Ape or whatever lights your fire—sorry, Black Ark jokes are still too soon!Here’s my article on him from a few years back. It was a fascinating interview. Legend. #reggae #leescratchperry #jamaica #dub
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- Happy birthday to Terry Hall, born on March 19, 1959. Here are two photos I took of him over the years and feel so fortunate to have seen him perform. Celebrate his life with his music! Ska wouldn’t sound the same without Terry Hall. Love love love. #Ska #2Tone #TheSpecials #TerryHall #80s
- Dance the Ska! The ska dance became part of a gov’t campaign for Jamaican tourism. I tell the story in my book Operation Jump Up available at skabook.com. Learn these moves from Red Stripe advertising I found researching in 2014. The ads ran in the Jamaica Gleaner in 1964. #ska #jamaica #dance
