Vintage Jamaica # 3

Ken Boothe At Joey's Place

I just found the oldhcdude.com photopage from ’06, when legendary Jamaican singer Ken Boothe came by my studio to rehearse for his performance in Hollywood. It was the equivalent of having Otis Redding singing up close & personal. Truly Magical.

Legends Of Ska

A couple years ago I had the pleasure of interviewing several legends of Ska, Rocksteady, and Reggae music for Swindle Magazine. Photographer David Jiro took some great shots for this collaboration including Rico Rodriguez, Owen Gray, Alton Ellis, Derrick Morgan, and Desmond Dekker. Click Here For Full Article.

Alton Ellis’ last Visit To Los Angeles

It was like a surrealistic dream when Alton Ellis stepped into my studio to rehearse for his last L.A. appearance. He had been one of my favorite Jamaican singers for over twenty years and I couldn’t believe how amazing he sounded up close and personal, singing some of his biggest hits-I’m Still In Love With You, Willow Tree, Cry Tough, etc. The biggest treat though was the Q & A session afterwards, when we all gathered around like children listening to Grandpa tell us stories of the Golden Age of Ska, Rocksteady, and Reggae.
That was July 2007, and we looked forward to many more visits from him in the future.
Little did we know that this would be the last time we would see him, as he was diagnosed with cancer shortly thereafter and sadly passed away on October 11, 2008 .
In his 50 year career Alton Ellis touched fans all over the world and will live in our hearts forever. We’re Still In Love With You Alton.