Tune of the Week: Early Reggae inna UK

Back in the early 60s in the UK the cultural influence of the Windrush Generation was in full swing. One of the consequences of this was an appreciation for the rebelious sounds coming from Jamaica among underprivileged white youth. Thus, skinhead reggae culture was born. This culture is alive and well in the 21st century, often intersecting with hardcore punk. One of the more prominent producers of this brand of reggae was Joe Mansano. Many of Joe’s singles featured the trombonist Rico Rodriguez, a graduate of the Alpha Boys School in Kingston. This school was for wayward boys and was run by a bunch of nuns. It also pumped out a disproportionate amount of artists who went on to create what is broadly known as reggae, even in the England!