Coxsone Dodd - Was he good or bad for reggae music?

[Jackie P]

Jamaica was (and still is) a third world county in terms of poverty, financial hardship and the general suffering this brought, surely **people like Coxsone Dodd** had a responsibility to put back into the community some of the rewards he was reaping.

What other people had you in mind?

Coxsone's music company put Jamaican music somewhere no-one managed to. Everyone involved in Jamican music not only knew that but should have learned from it.

[Rootsman]

I agree, Coxsone music company did put Jamaican on the map and give Jamaican music its appeal to audiences outside of jamaica.

But so did Prince Buster with Ska and Duke Reid with Rocksteady. But these guys paid fair and put back into the Ghetto helping those less fortunate. Generally they were held in much higher regard than Coxsone Dodd.

Don`t confuse a persons achievements in terms of musical output against that of the person himself.

I am aware that Studio One was more important in the progression of jamaican music than any other label. But, like I mentioned previous, it was the people around him and not coxsone who had the artistic musical input that was the Studio One Sound.

Coxsone was the moneyman behind the Studio, the financial brains and not the artistic brains. And didn`t he too eventually quit Jamaica and move his money to Brooklyn even further from the people who bought his records and made him wealthy.

And to name other people, two spring to mind,

Sugar Minott who has never forgotten his roots and through his Youthman Promotions has funded many ghetto projects to help better the lives of the Ghetto youths and give them a direction in life.

And Tappa Zukie who gave up his profitable music production work to concentrate on running the youth centres which he set up also to help the ghetto kids.

Dave

[Jackie P]

Don`t confuse a persons achievements in terms of musical output against that of the person himself.

Don't you worry about that. I won't confuse music I like with business that is none of my business.

[bullit]

Interesting thread, though i cant give a decent answer its interesting to see others answers. Im not sure why some of the responces have been so negetive towards the subject

[Funkyfred]

I agree with Bullit.....

InI dont have enough knowledge to comment with or against Mr.Coxsone.....

[daCENSOREDone]

And didn`t he too eventually quit Jamaica and move his money to Brooklyn even further from the people who bought his records and made him wealthy.

well... he left jamaica after someone came to his studio with a gun to rob him... it wasn' the first time and it is also the end of the "real" studio one.

He had a Studio which was at the cutting edge in Jamaica at that time and releasing music that is still recycled today.

it took time to have this studio. he began playin records at his mother shop, went to the usa as a worker, then got a soundsystem. after that he brought some artist to the studio (not his own!) to cut his own records and play them at the dance, then he bought some second hand material to record himself... etc so many steps before he reached this level.

But the truth is Coxsone Dodd was the money man and not the artistic force behind Studio One.

I can't agree with that. coxsone picked up the greatest talents in jamaica. no coxsone no skatalites... he recruited jackie mitto when he was a schoolboy, gave the chance to lee perry, a young countryboy who didn't know a thing about music, to work for him as a talent scout then as a singer and mixing technician. he treated bob marley very well and helped his family when he was no one. even if he let the others do the job, he was the one who took the risks... dub experiments, discomixes, custom dubplates, rasta percussionist at the dance then in the studio

But so did Prince Buster with Ska and Duke Reid with Rocksteady. But these guys paid fair and put back into the Ghetto helping those less fortunate. Generally they were held in much higher regard than Coxsone Dodd.

duke reid was a cop and wasn't much appreciated. did he put back money in the ghetto? as far as I can remember you're the only one to say that

[selecta bing]

He was probably good for the MUSIC by providing the opportunity for artists to record, that can't be bad.

But I was dissapointed to discover he sucker punched and nearly blinded JOE HIGGS for demanding royalties !

For every artist that praises a producer there is often one who will say how glad they were to get away from them.

This includes the Wailers (among others) who were more than pleased to get free of Coxsone Dodd.

It is not unique to Dodd or Jamaican producers or producers in general past or present.

maybe that is why some people feel it is a silly quetion.

[Rootsman]

I only post on things that I have read, I am not jamaican and was not there, so I wouldn`t know first hand.

I have read many artist interviews and books and the impression I received is what I have tried to put forth on this thread

Yes, Jack Ruby was a cop who used his contacts made in hs previous employment to intimidate and vandalise the sound systems around him to become the number one sound man. He neverwent anywhere without his crew and carried about 3 guns. But from what I gathered he paid fair and put money back into the ghetto to help support the poor. He may well have done this to benefit his own cause and probably did.

Prince Buster was am ex boxer employed by Coxsone on his sound system as a bodyguard to help protect him against people like Duke Reid. That is how he got his start in music and went on to be the famous person we know. He was known to the poor ghetto folk as "The voice of the people" who also spoke up on their behalf and also help try and support those less fortunate. When he was in England during the 60`s Blubeat period he would often send help home to those back in the ghettos.

I have never read such things about Coxsone Dodd and my remarks were not intended to offend. I am aware of his beginnings and how he evolved his studio into what it became. But like I said, from what I have read, my impression is that he was not held in great esteem by those around him. Lee Perry & Bob Marley both left him because of the person he was and so did almost every other artist that recorded for him at one time or another left because he DID NOT play fair. Surely this fact alone bears testiment to that.

Again, sorry, none of my words were intended to offend, it is a forum for people to share views, opinions and knowledge and that is all I have tried to do. If my facts are wrong then please share your knowledge and re-educate me

Dave

[selecta bing]

DUKE REID was a former cop BUT I don't think JACK RUBY was !

[Rootsman]

Sorry, I meant Duke Reid, I was actually playing Jack Ruby Black Foundation Dub when I was typing and obviously got kerfuddled.

PS, Dont get me wrong, I think Studio One got some superb music and the 12 dub albums on the whole are marvellous. But I read Leggo`s thread as being more to do with than the man than the music.

Dave