News : Winston Riley invests $50m in studio, museum project

[Roots Archives]

Veteran producer, **Winston Riley**, is investing just over $50 million in a studio and museum he intends to open before year-end on Orange Street, downtown Kingston.

The building is being constructed on the same site that housed Riley's record label, Techniques Records, which he said was burnt down by arsonists last month. The new property, Riley told Splash, will be rebranded Techniques Records and Museum, which, in addition to producing songs, will be a depository showcasing the history of reggae and dancehall music.

"We're going to teach everybody the history of reggae music, from when it started, come right up," said Riley. "Nothing will be like this in Jamaica."

Riley, who was founder of rocksteady vocal group The Techniques before he became a successful producer, is funding the venture out of pocket. He said the aim is to turn the location into a tourist attraction and help re-establish downtown Kingston, the once vibrant commercial district which attracted many overseas vistors, as part of the island's tourism product.

"All type of persons come (to Jamaica) and ask questions - white, black, brown etc. We are going to have books, displays, graffiti etc outlining to them all the top musicians who built this thing," said Riley, adding that locals are being targeted as well.

The successful musician, who was born and bred in downtown Kingston, said he is unphased by the negative perception of the crime-torn district, dismissing suggestions that his multimillion dollar investment may be too risky for that part of town.

"This is my place," he said of downtown. "It can go back to where it once was...it starts here."

Indeed, a few decades ago, along the same road on Orange Street where Riley's new studio and museum is being built, used to be a corridor of record shops and studios. The 'beat-street', as it was known, was home to Studio One, Rockers International, Niney the Observer and Joe Gibbs to name a few.

Riley is originally from neigbouring West Street, where he formed The Techniques in 1962. The group left the Treasure Isle label in the late 1960's, after which Riley set up his own Techniques Label - originally based on West Street but relocated to Orange Street in 1991. He went on to become one of the most successful Jamaican producers of all time, producing a string of hits in the 1980's. The producer said it was always his intention to remain in downtown and invest in the area through reggae music.

"This is my dream," he said to Splash, while watching labourers do work on his new site.

By Julian Richardson

*source : [jamaicaobserver.com](http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/)*

[Han]

I assume those are Jamaican dollars ?

[Jah Chicken]

Wow! That sounds amazing. Thanks for the post.

Roots,
Jah Chicken

[kalcidis]

Yeah, probably $JA. But that would still be equivalent to €400000 or something. Quite a sum.

[Daddy Lion Chandell]

Indeed, I am proud to be one of the first to get the news of this new venture when I interviewed Riley four months ago for the *Winston Riley: Quintessential Techniques* Reggae Anthology from **17 North Parade/VP Records** (which, by the way, is currently available for those who are unaware).

It's about time everyone who toiled and practically starved to bring Reggae to the forefront of the social, secular, and spiritual consciousness be paid their proper respects... in ALL aspects!

Throughout the interview, his diligence and passion was prevalent, heartfelt, and pretty obvious. After the recent arson attempt on the Techniques facility, the fact he just gets up and and starts all over again is a living testament that Papa Riley is indeed one of "the fittest of the fittest", a TRUE WARRIOR!

Ride on, Souljah... RIDE ON!


Always Watching,
"The Roots Warrior"
**DADDY LION CHANDELL**
*DLC IndustryWatch/
Roots Dynamic / Black Moses Soundsystem
17 North Parade
The Meditations*

[JoLong]

Hi Daddy Lion,
love your enthousiasm but you were not the first to get the story of this new venture. Some had the info printed years before you : http://www.nattydread.fr/magasine.php?num_mag=45

[Daddy Lion Chandell]

Greetings and Blessings from The Roots Warrior, JoLong.

Give thanks for the corrective information regarding the **Techniques Records & Museum** project, although I must say I sense a hint of condescension in the tone of your writing.

I never claimed to be THE FIRST to get this information, and I never would, all things considered. I said I was proud to be ONE of the first. The fact of the matter is:
a) This was info I heard for the first time direct from the mouth of Winston Riley himself, and he clearly told me that he would be more than likely finished by the year's end.
b) *Natty Dread Magazine* is a major Reggae publication based in **France** and printed **strictly in FRENCH** language, whereas I am based in the U.S. What little French I DO know probably would only help me but so much in that regard. Either way, how many people have spread this news across the globe until now? Why did the French get this news before the rest of us did?
c) When it comes to news of Reggae legends, artists, pioneers, and trendsetters, it only carries but so far. Unless you just happen to do a random online search for such information, including (and especially) a Reggae celebrity obituary, you'll almost never find it. No one outside the Reggae community cares as much about past, present, OR future events in Reggae history, unless it has to do with Bob Marley or another crucifixion of a conscious artist.

How many people of the Generation-X crowd who happen to have **Sean Paul & Sasha's** "I'm Still In Love With You" (from 2003) in their portable media devices, or even on CD, realize that it was originally an **Alton Ellis** tune from 1966?
How many of them know that that song is one of the ONLY Jamaican tunes to become a major hit THREE TIMES OVER?
How many of them have HEARD of Alton Ellis?
How many of them can appreciate how GREAT he was as "The Godfather of Rocksteady and Reggae Soul"?
How many of them are even aware he's no longer with us?

Enough said.

You can trust and believe, JoLong (and I think you know this as well) that not everything WE as the Reggae community receive as news, is as widespread to the masses as we would love it to be, unless it's fodder for gossip or sensationalism.

All in all, stay cool. Thanks again for the information.


Always Watching,
"The Roots Warrior"
**DADDY LION CHANDELL**
*DLC IndustryWatch/
Roots Dynamic / Black Moses Soundsystem
17 North Parade
The Meditations*

[JoLong]

Daddy,
can't see your point. Because you're based in the US, a french magazine has no existence to you - as a journalist (or affiliated) ? Get out of Plato's cave asap !
Plus, you should ask at VP, man - you'll surely find someone who can read this ancient language, those days, don't ? Could be helpful...

Anyway, "to be one of the firsts " is nice enough... Two years after the first. Keep on watching, papa, for the blind's sake !

PS : I'm just pushing you around a bit, jamaican style. Hope you don't take it too serious. Read your stuff in the VP CD (where did they get this wicked idea ?), love it, mon !

[Daddy Lion Chandell]

Everything's cool, JoLong, but don't get me wrong.

Just because a magazine is from a foreign country doesn't mean it has no value to me. Truth be told, just about anything in literary form coming from outside the U.S., ESPECIALLY when it comes to Reggae, tends to have greater value than that IN the U.S. Being the journalist that I am indeed, I must take all various elements and sources into consideration for everything I cover.

As you already know, England, France, Japan, and Germany are among the largest non-island markets for Reggae outside of Jamaica. Why should I discredit that fact, which I clearly don't.
Unfortunately, just as well, publications from these countries such as *Natty Dread*, *Gargamel* *(NO RELATION to **Buju Banton**)* or *Blues & Soul* don't tend to reach these shores quite often, if at all. That's the gist of my point. America is not a nation deep-rooted in peace, love, harmony, spirituality and/or culture, and as such are not likely to import such publications on a large scale if there's not a major demand for it, especially if it's in a foreign language, seen? Only the select amount of people who dwell in America embrace such important elements and take on the responsibility.

I actually HAVE (or USED TO have) a copy of *Natty Dread Magazine* from approximately a year ago. When I play Reggae, I play the best of the best, the Rootsiest of the Roots, and the sweetest of the sweetest from ALL directions. And I wouldn't have it any other way.

I think you get the picture now.
Ga'lang, JoLong! One Love.


Always Watching,
"The Roots Warrior"
**DADDY LION CHANDELL**
*DLC IndustryWatch/
Roots Dynamic / Black Moses Soundsystem
17 North Parade
The Meditations*


P.S. By the way, which CD were you talking about?
Hit me back.

[tron]

at the last grammys they did honour alton ellis slightly(as well as other artists passed away during that year),wich i was kinda surprised when i seen his picture and respective dates flashed on my tv,in the middle of a mainstream gen x targeted corporate broadcast.