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Ten o clock in the morning: Bunny Lee, Prince
Jammy and Wayne Smith get together for a recording
session. The video camera is there too, Mikey
Dread has once again chosen a crucial place to
check out the vibes in Jamaica during the early
1980's.
After this session, Mikey Dread resumes the
story of Duke Reid (see previous episode). Bunny
"Stryker" Lee, namely, worked together
with Duke Reid. He was on his way to become one of
the biggest producers of Jamaica. It was a time
wherein beauty contests were in full swing, just
like the music mixed by Prince Jammy in the early
morning session.
A session where we are taken straight back
into, after the short resume. Delroy Wilson is
next, after Wayne Smith. We go back to Prince
Jammy and Bunny Lee as they work on yet another
great production.
When Delroy takes of the headphones, it is time
to get to know Bunny Lee and his mother a little
bit better. She shares memories, the link to
slavery is shown, and we get to know another
musical predecessor of Reggae, Mento.
That is, before we go back into the studio. It
is time for Bunny Lee to talk about Duke Reid and
just how he got to get into the Jamaican Music
Business. Time for Delroy Wilson to tell a little
bit more about himself, being the veteran singer
in the studio, singing before Bunny Lee got into
the Music Business.
Bunny Lee is well-known for his works with
Johnny Clarke. We meet him, he is in the studio as
well. With a soft voice, he speaks about his
lyrics and identity as a Rasta.
We continue to go further back in time. To the
1940's. Nat King Cole, an American singer who
decades before Johnny Clarke would voice into
Bunny Lee's microphone, was an inspiration for the
Jamaican singers. He is featured, before we are
taken back to the studio where the conversation
continues in word and lyric...
Singers continue in the studio to sing into the
microphone. Classic tunes, brand new vibes,
especially Johnny Clarke is crucial once again, as
Prince Jammy rides the mixing board spicing up the
sound. He is a protégée of King Tubby, to which
the viewer is introduced towards the end of this
hour.
The Godfather of DUB unfortunately is not there
himself, but Prince Jammy dubs it up and the video
camera is there to register it. Bunny Lee skanking
on the riddim as the DUB is recorded: a truly
unique piece of footage...
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