Born Oswald Brooks, c.1935, Kingston, Jamaica, West Indies. When there was a shortage of R&B sounds coming from the USA in the late 50s, the sound system men enrolled the services of musicians who would record their own tunes. Many of these recordings were jazz-orientated and featured a horn section to complement the shuffling beat.
Baba Brooks played trumpet and in the early 60s had his own band, whose recordings included the celebratory ‘Independence Ska’, commemorating Jamaica’s freedom from colonialism in 1962. Both ‘Bus Strike’ and ‘Musical Workshop’ were hits in 1964. As well as providing backing on a number of early ska hits, including ‘Run Joe’ with Stranger Cole and ‘Penny Reel’ with Eric Morris, the band released the classic ‘Guns Fever’, recorded at Studio One in Brentford Road in 1965.
His 1966 instrumental hit ‘King Size’ appeared to be a ska interpretation of ‘Makin’ Whoopee’ and originally surfaced as the b-side to the Saints’ ‘Brown Eyes’. In 1967 he returned to the frantic pace of his 1965 hit with ‘One Eyed Giant’. Other hits included ‘Teenage Ska’, ‘River To The Bank’ and ‘Ball Of Fire’. His recording of ‘Chang Kai Check’ provided the foundation of many reggae hits. His band continued to play on sessions until the early 70s.
6 Comments (since 6 Mar 2014)
music_xplosion
Born Oswald Brooks, c.1935, Kingston, Jamaica, West Indies. When there was a shortage of R&B sounds coming from the USA in the late 50s, the sound system men enrolled the services of musicians who would record their own tunes. Many of these recordings were jazz-orientated and featured a horn section to complement the shuffling beat.
music_xplosion
Baba Brooks played trumpet and in the early 60s had his own band, whose recordings included the celebratory ‘Independence Ska’, commemorating Jamaica’s freedom from colonialism in 1962. Both ‘Bus Strike’ and ‘Musical Workshop’ were hits in 1964. As well as providing backing on a number of early ska hits, including ‘Run Joe’ with Stranger Cole and ‘Penny Reel’ with Eric Morris, the band released the classic ‘Guns Fever’, recorded at Studio One in Brentford Road in 1965.
music_xplosion
His 1966 instrumental hit ‘King Size’ appeared to be a ska interpretation of ‘Makin’ Whoopee’ and originally surfaced as the b-side to the Saints’ ‘Brown Eyes’. In 1967 he returned to the frantic pace of his 1965 hit with ‘One Eyed Giant’. Other hits included ‘Teenage Ska’, ‘River To The Bank’ and ‘Ball Of Fire’. His recording of ‘Chang Kai Check’ provided the foundation of many reggae hits. His band continued to play on sessions until the early 70s.
music_xplosion
From : http://www.allmusic.com/artist/baba-brooks-mn0000056016
DeepAndFast
Thank you so such for the intro duction. I am not a reggae fan, but the this is simply... yeah
bloggerlees
making whoopee!