03.13.14 - DJ Fyahrama LIVE in the Studio

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DJ Fyahrama

This show starts out with some 60s and 70s songs by female artists and continues with a bunch of Studio One and more. In the second hour we are joined by the one and only DJ Lady Fyahrama who brought the dancehall fyah to the show. You can catch her every 1st and 3rd Friday night at the VIBES party at Madame X brought to you by one of the top reggae women in NYC Bintou aka Conscious NYC. Check the archive above!

02.20.14 - Wayne Smith Tribute

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We were so saddened by the sudden passing of our friend and reggae legend Wayne Smith this week. He was only 48 years old. A roots and dancehall pioneer and producer, I am honored that I got to meet him and do some Deadly Dragon parties with him. This show is inspired by him and I played almost every Wayne Smith song that I could find in my collection, I wish I had more. May he rest in peace and power.

01.23.14 - Channel One Sound LIVE in the studio

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CHECK THE PLAYLIST HERE

Channel One Sound System has spent the past 30 years solidifying their reputation as one of world’s heaviest hitting roots reggae sounds. Selector Mikey Dread grew up in the sound system business and christened the sound as CHANNEL ONE, in homage to the famous Jamaican Label of the same name. Over the past three decades, Channel One has been instrumental in the preservation and development of Sound System culture in the UK, inspiring an entire new generation of sound systems while influencing the evolution of some of its descendants such as dubstep and jungle among others. Their yearly Notting Hill Carnival appearance has become an institution and they have taken the UK Red Bull Culture Clash crown among others. They also have taken their positive message throughout the UK, Europe, and South America and for the first time this January 2014 to the USA.

On the January 23, 2014 edition of Jamaica Rock, Mikey Dread and Ras Kayleb were Queen Majesty's guest selectors ahead of their appearance at the Roots of Sound System event in Brooklyn.

12.12.13 - Tribute to Nelson Mandela

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Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was a South African anti-apartheid revolutionary, politician, activist, lawyer, andphilanthropist who served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999. He was South Africa's first black chief executive, and the first elected in a fully representative democratic election. His government focused on dismantling the legacy of apartheid through tackling institutionalised racism, poverty and inequality, and fostering racial reconciliation. Politically an African nationalist anddemocratic socialist, he served as President of the African National Congress (ANC) from 1991 to 1997. Internationally, Mandela was Secretary General of the Non-Aligned Movement from 1998 to 1999.

It was a sad day to learn that he had passed and so this show is dedicated to him. 

11.07.13 - Digital English LIVE in the studio

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Digital English, a.k.a Valentine Saunders, has been producing hard-hitting Reggae music since the early 1980s. Over the years he has worked with the likes of legendary NYC producer Phillip Smart and his Jamaican and UK upbringing have lent him a keen ear for both minor keys and heavy bass in the production of seminal Roots tunes and more.

I was honored to have him join me in the studio to talk about some of his classic productions and some reggae history. He also brought a stack of wicked vinyl selections from his own collection including some recent London finds. Check the archive and playlist!

10.10.13 - Roots, Sizzla and more

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I was going to be joined on this show by Nyabinghi, a Conscious Reggae selector out of Trinidad who unfortunately did not make it to the studio. In preparing for the show I ended up pulling some roots and a lot of Sizzla that I hadn't played in a while and put them in my record bag. I hadn't quite planned on playing some of the more well-known ones but sometimes you just have to go with the flow. They are still great songs. Much respect as always to the artists.

06.06.13 - Black Roots, Sugar Minott, Nitty Gritty, Junior Reid

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Deadly Dragon Sound had recently painstakingly reissued Nitty Gritty's "Every Man A Seller" on Sugar Minott's Black Roots label. I took this opportunity to showcase some more killer tunes on this label, more tunes by Nitty Gritty and the prolific Sugar Minott as well as big tunes off of his other Youth Promotion label. I then found out that it was Junior Reid's Earthstrong and he fit in perfectly with this set. Some of my favorite songs by Reid were also produced by Sugar Minott and all three of these artists often ran the same riddim with King Jammy. Included also are a couple of Junior Reid's own productions. All respect. Check the playlist and the archive.

02.21.13 - Larry McDonald LIVE in the studio

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Over the course of an astonishing 50 year career with no signs of stopping, Jamaican master percussionist Larry McDonald has had his hands on the music, poetry and messages of many of the world's most legendary artists. Bob Marley,Peter Tosh, Gil Scott-Heron, Taj Mahal, Ernest Ranglin and dozens more all knew who to call when they needed pure power from the palm. McDonald makes rhythms that are inseparable from the classic songs of reggae, ska, dub, world music and beyond.

McDonald joined Queen Majesty to discuss his solo album, Drumquestra, which showcases his decades of experience. Drumquestra is a wonderfully unabashed drum album: 15 tracks of reggae, dub and world music featuring Larry McDonald and his drum orchestra playing over 20 different percussive instruments. Songs like the title track and Mento In 3 showcase the primal elements of ancient melodies and rhythms that have shaped modern music. If you think that the tribal Drumquestra sounds like it was recorded in a jungle, you'd be right: Larry, his drum orchestra, and dueling scat vocalists Anjaliand Richie Paray recorded the song in the Green Grotto caves at Runaway Bay on Jamaica's north coast.

01.24.13 - Sadiki LIVE in the studio

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The multi-talented singer and producer Sadiki was in town from Jamaica and stopped by the studio to talk about his latest album release "Jah Is The Only King". We were able to preview the whole wicked album on air as well as talk to him about the back story and production of the songs. Plus, we were lucky enough to have him sing one of his big tunes LIVE (see video). Check the archive, pick up the album HERE and come to the album release party at Downtown Top Ranking!

09.06.12 - Alton Ellis Tribute Show

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Alton Ellis

Alton Ellis (1938-2008) was a musician best known as the innovator of rocksteady music. He began recording in the late 1950s and continued until his death in 2008, but he reached his period of greatest popularity in the late 1960s.

Ellis was born in Trenchtown, Jamaica, and learned to play the piano at a young age. In his teens, Alton and Eddie Perkins formed Alton & Eddie, and began recording for Coxsone Dodd at Studio One, scoring a hit in 1958 with “Muriel”. 

Ellis launched his solo career after Perkins left for the United States around 1965. He moved to Treasure Isle and began recording with the back-up trio The Flames. His first hit for Treasure Isle was “Dance Crasher”, a plea for peace, and he followed it up with “Get Ready - Rock Steady”.

Ellis’ most well-known song is probably “Girl, I’ve Got A Date”, or “I’m Still In Love With You”, a song that has been versioned many times by artists such as Sean Paul, Althea & Donna (As ‘Uptown Top Ranking’).

In 2006, Ellis was inducted into the International Reggae And World Music Awards (IRAWMA), Hall Of Fame. (- via Last.fm)

Alton Ellis' birthday was this past September 1st, and this show is a tribute to him. I started with some of his first tunes and took you through his ska, rocksteady, soul and roots. His musical innovations will never be forgotten.