V.A. The Windrush Generation Helped To Build Britania (Jamaican Invasion Of Britain 1954-1966) Compiled By 6T's Soul Searcher

Hoy tengo el honor de presentaros el trabajo de un amigo acerca de la generación "Winrush", que me imagino que a muchos como a mi hasta hace poco tiempo no os dirá nada, y en resumen se trata de la música que trajeron desde el Caribe las diferentes islas, mayoritariamente Janmaica, que formaban parte del Gran Imperio Británico en todo el mundo.

Todo esto empezó cuando casualmente contacté con 60'Ts Soul Searcher, un italiano apasionado amante de la música, al que con mis hábiles maquinaciones engañé para que me realizara los "60 Italian Nuggets" en mi otro blog, y así empezó nuestra relación, y entre sus gustos me dijo que era un gran aficionado a los sonidos "mod" y a la música Jamaicana que se hizo en Gran Bretaña.

Yo a todo eso le contesté que de "mod", me defendía, pero justo y de la música jamaicana,  ni la mas remota idea. Soy de los del montón, que de Reagge y Ska solo conocemos al "Marley", a "Specials", "Bad Manners", "UB40" y para de contar. Así que me envió varias muestras y de ahí sale este proyecto.

Me habló de la generación "Windrush, y me interesó el tema, así que estuve investigando en la red y me apasionó el tema, el cual completé con información de primera mano de un buen amigo inglés y vecino, con una actitud bastante crítica hacia el gobierno británico, que en realidad llamaron a esta gente para levantar el pais después de la II Grerra Mundial, ofreciéndoles "la tierra prometida", aunque lo que encontraron fue la discriminación y el desprecio general, tardando muchísimos años el gobierno británico en reconocer la gran labor de esta gente y sus descendientes para el auge del país´.

Pero bueno, os dejo ya con 6T's Soul Searcher que os contará las cosas bastante mejor que yo:

                                                      The Windrush Generation

On 22 June 1948,the Empire Windrush ship arrived at Tilbury Docks,in Essex.It carried more than 800 passengersfrom the Carribean who had been invited to UK to rebuild "the mother country",filling a labour shortage left by the WW2. A dockside performance of "London is the place for me"by Trinadad's top calypsonian Lord Kitchener emphasised the commitment that Windrush arrivals had with the Empire through its reference to Britain as a "mother country". It's estimated that around half a million people took up this opportunity to relocate in UK.They promised jobs,the passengers were confident of their welcome,both cause of the new British Nationality Act ,conferring British Citizen status on colonial subjects and also because West Indians were needed to bolster the workforce.However they were also met with hostility,intolerance and racism and were also barred from many public venues including Pubs,Clubs,Restaurants and Churches.

Many of those who came became manual workers,drivers,cleaners and nurses in the newly NHS 

As well as Lord Kitchener,his music spoke of home and the island life they missed "Dr Kitch", was one of his most popular songs and one that also appealed to "Club going" Brits who were amused by the double entendre and sexual innuendo. With him board on ship were several musicians,they brought with them Jazz,Blues,Calypso and other styles that enriched the British music scene.What saved the Windrush generation was their enormous font of humour and the ability to turn up the collar of their coats and walk on when subjected to slights and reversal.

                                        This music was made to enjoyed : So go on let Loose !

Calypso is a style of Afro-Carribean music that originated in Trinidad,used by the slaves to ridicule their masters. Early forms of Calypso were similar to Jaz. It's characterized by rhythmic and armonic vocals,the fast pace of music led to toe tapping,finger snapping and hand clapping.

Mento,a largely acoustic brew incorporating influences that included folk songs,religious music and african percussions ("Oh Carolina"-Folks Brothers).A typical mento band would include guitars,banjo,,hand drums,a type of miniature piano called a rhumba box,and perhaps a flute and a saxophone. Bands would perform at country dances,weddings and for the tourists who were visiting the island.Mento's subjects matter included sex,romance,current events and politics.

There was also a strong "Club scene" in major tourist towns. In the late forties most Jamaican nightclubs were open only on saturday and there were limited opportunities for musicians to play live. Consequently many of the island's Top Mento or Calypso and Jazz musicians (Lord Kitchener,Joe Harriott and Dizzy Reece) left the island for the UK and the USA.

Jamaican R&B was music born of necessity and respond to the public demand,in the 50's Sound Systems became the principal medium of popular entertainment on the island. It was the Sound Systems traveling to different towns throughout Jamaica that helped in spreading the music that was originating in America. The music that Sound Systems blasted out was strictly US R&B and Jazz.However by 1958 the music of the USA was in transition. Rn'R and Teen Pop tunes replaced the shuffling sounds of R&B,so the supply of new music available to Jamaican operator was drying up...So the Sound Systems men decided to make their own  recordings,using local musicians.These groups were often drawn from the same nucleus of musicians,who would simply change their name according to which Sound Systems man.

 But in 1962 R&B was on the vane in Jamaica,the nation demanded a new sound...

The Independence came to Jamaica in 1962. The musical soundtrack of this era was the upbeat energised Ska.

Ska mixed together Jump Up R&B with the indigenous Jamaican Folk music such as Mento. The inspiration for the rhythm of Ska came from the records that Coxsone Dodd had discovered while working as a migrant farm worker in Florida in the 50's. It was here that he decided to start a Sound System on returning to Jamaica.  

Back home he began importing R&B records that soon become the staple music of any Kingston dance.The majority of Jamaicans then could not afford Radios that could pick up foreign stations.It was left to Sound Systems to educate and entertain the average Jamaicans to the musical happenings.Listening back these records of artists like, Roscoe Gordon,Amos Milburn,Fats Domino,Buster Brown,Smiley Lewis it is possible to hear the roots of this new Jamaican sound. Another important element of Ska was the Jazz that the Alpha Boys School educated musicians brought to this new music.

Jamaican Ska music burst forth with all energy of a brand new sovereign state. This music was chosen by Jamaica to represent the country at the World fair in '64. and until the spring of 1966 the island rocket to it's driving rhythms. Ska has long since played a major role on the Mod Scene.

Ciao 6T's Soul Searcher

Interesante, bueno, os dejo la lista de canciones, que me imagino que para la mayoría entre los que me incluyo, serán todas unas auténticas desconocidas:

1 · James Bond Original Trailer

2 · Lord Creator With The Byron Lee Orchesta · Jamaica Jump Up (From The Film Dr No) (1962)

3 · Girl Satchmo, Les Dawson Combo · Don't Be Sad (1963)

4 · Roy And Millie · Marie (1963)

5 · Lord Kitchener · Jamaica Woman (1983)

6 · Laurel Aitken · Boogie In My Bones (1960)

7 · Dottie And Bunny · Foul Play (1965)

8 · Hubert Porter With The Jamaican Calypsonians · Ten Penny Nail (1954)

9 · Wilfred Jackie Edwards · One More Week (1962)

10 · Delroy And Paulette · When First I Heard The Ska (Aka Dance The Ska) (1965)

11 · Bedasse With The Local Calypso Quintet · Rough Rider '55

12 · Hi-Tones · Going Steady (1962)

13 · Keith & Ken With Byron Lee & The Dragonaires · Jamaica Ska (1964)

14 · Charlie Bingerhis Quartett · Jamaica Is The Place To Go (1956)

15 · Owen Gray, The Coxsonairs · On The Beach (1962

16 · Bobby Kingdom, Blue Beats · Baby What You Done Me Wrong (1961)

17 · Count Owenhis Calypsonians · Hool-A-Hoop Calypso (1959)

18 · Laurel Aitken And Hyacinth), Baron Twist And His Knights · Mabel (1962)

19 · Al T. Joe · Slow Boat (1963)

20 · Count Lasher And Williams · Bam Bam (1966)

21 · Derrick Harriott · Answer Me, My Darling (1960)

22 · Prince Buster · Open Up Bartender (1963)

23 · Lord Power, Calypso Quintett · Penny Reel (1958)

24 · Higgs And Wilson · Gone Is Yesterday (1964)

25 · Derrick Morgan · Lover Boy (1961)

26 · Lord  Bravo · Haile Selassie (1966)

27 · Annette Shelley · Million Dollar Baby (1961)

28 · Basil Gabbidon, Randy's All Stars · Going Back To J.A. (1962)

29 · Workshop Musicians · Calypso Jazz (1962)

30 ·[Outro The Sooty Theme]

Las canciones de muestra, entre ellas, me ha hecho gracia incluir el "Jamaica Ska", que todos hemos bailado con nuestros "Potato", y que yo creía que eras suya, pero no, era versión adaptada.

Hi-Tones · Going Steady (1962)

Keith & Ken With Byron Lee & The Dragonaires · Jamaica Ska (1964)

Count Lasher And Williams · Bam Bam (1966)

Me parece una compilación bastante interesante que a muchos os va a sorprender, ya me ireis contando. Hasta pronto, que tengo un montón de apasionantes proyectos.