National Library of Jamaica

DUKE REID (1915 - 1975)

After spending ten years as a policeman in Kingston, Reid and his wife Lucille bought the Treasure Isle Liquor Store in the 1950s, and in a sponsorship deal, Reid hosted his own radio show “Treasure Isle Time” airing US R&B. He also operated his own sound system – Duke Reid The Trojan – rivalling persons such as Coxsone Dodd. He took up record production in 1962 scoring ska hits with Stranger Cole, the Techniques, Justin Hinds and Alton Ellis & the Flames. As ska evolved, developing a slower beat which would eventually become known as ‘rock steady’, Reid found much success with hits such as the Paragons – Ali Baba and Wear You To The Ball; Alton Ellis – Cry Tough, Breaking Up, Rock Steady and Ain’t That Loving You; The Melodians – You Don’t Need Me, I Will Get Along among many others. 

Reid struggled when Rock Steady began to wane in popularity by the late 1960s but found success briefly with U-Roy, a toaster with whom he arguably founded the modern DJ era with hits such as Wake The Town, Wear You To The Ball, Everybody Bawlin’ and Version Galore. However, by 1973 his popularity began to wane as a result of his refusal to record ‘rasta’ lyrics in an environment increasingly dominated by ‘conscious’ reggae music.  

He died in 1974.

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