(Jamaica All Star Band circa 1949. l-r: Joe Harriott, Harold McNair, Bobby Gaynair, Tommy McCook, Wilton Gaynair)

Welcome to Part 1 of a specially extended 2 part House of Reggae show in tribute to the Alpha Boys School in Kingston, Jamaica. For the past 100 years this school has produced many great singers and musicians that have been the very foundation from where so many classic ska, rocksteady and reggae records have been created, aswell as producing legendary jazz musicians like Joe Harriott and Dizzy Reece. For all their stories and some of their greatest recordings aswell as a previously unheard interview with Sister Ignatius talking about Don Drummond then just click the Play button below....

I am also encouraging everyone who listens to this show to make a much needed donation to the Alpha Boys School to help continue the vital work the school is doing. Here are some links to make donations to the School and for more info about all its great work.

Buy an Alpha Boys School CD and Coaster Set direct from the school
http://www.alphaboysschool.com

Make a Paypal donation direct to the Alpha Boys School
http://www.alphaboysschool.com/donations

Alpha Boys School Woodwork Gallery and Shop
http://www.mercymall.com/alpha_boys.htm

UK based charity set up by Alpha Old Boys to raise money for the school
http://www.alphaboysschool.co.uk/

Alpha Boys School MySpace page
http://www.myspace.com/alphaboysschool

London club night that raises money for the Alpha Boys School
http://www.mashitup.org.uk/

UK based organisation set up by Alpha Old Boys
http://www.alphaoldboysassociation.com/

Also any donations that are made to this show through the Paypal button on this page will be forwarded on to the Alpha Boys School

And finally here’s the tracklist for Part1….

The Skatalites – Don’s Tune
Lester Sterling – Bangarang
Johnny ‘Dizzy’ Moore – Riot
Rico Rodriguez – Luke Lane Shuffle
Johnny Osbourne – Fally Ranking
Dizzy Reece – Momentum
John Martyn (feat. Harold McNair) – The Gardener
Raymond Harper – African Blood
Owen Gray – On The Beach
Sister Mary Ignatius Davies interview
Don Drummond – Eastern Standard Time
Cedric ‘Im’ Brooks – Silent Force
Leroy Smart – Ballistic Affair
Joe Harriott – Subject
Lennie Hibbert – More Creation

Part 2 will be posted up in 2-3 weeks time. To be automatically notified of all future shows then click on the subscribe button.

Thanks,
Ian