Hello Bovine Ska and Rocksteady Friends,

Last week, we received the very sad news that renowned guitarist and producer,  Ranford ‘Ranny Bop’ Williams, had passed away. Ranny, during his over six decades-long career, performed as a member of some of the greatest backing bands in Jamaican music history from Tommy McCook and The Supersonics, to The Hippy Boys and The Aggrovators that played on essential recordings from The Wailers, Jimmy Cliff, and The Ethiopians. Ranny also arranged and produced a staggering amount of recordings of a multitude of labels, including his own imprints: Spade, Ronnie’s, and others.  For our tribute, we delved deep into our shows of the last 25 years to find our favorite performances and productions from Ranny.  We send our deepest respects to Ranny’s family and friends during this solemn time. Rest in power Ranny. Love, Generoso and Lily

Hello Bovine Ska and Rocksteady Friends,

We began this week’s program with two sets of glorious ska, starting with Roy Panton and Annette Clarke’s cut for ND Records in 1963, “Go Your Way.”   Our mento set followed with another great track from the 1978 Horace Johnson and The Eagle Star album, Calypso-Rock Songs of Jamaica, entitled “January, February, and March,” and we ended our first hour with a stellar reggae set selected by Lily that features an awesome Big Youth cut from 1977, produced by Devon Russell of The Tartans, called “The Upful One.”  Our label spotlight this week is on another fine Barrington Jeffrey imprint, Dr. Komina, which has stellar sides from The Revolutionaries, Stanley and The Turbines, and many more!  Stay healthy and safe, friends. XO Generoso and Lily

Hello Bovine Ska and Rocksteady Friends,

We have unfortunately lost another of the master deejays, as the mighty Trinity died on April 9th.  He was only 67. It should come as no surprise to you that we adored Trinity and we hold him in the highest regard while playing his cuts over the years with the utmost respect. An amazingly talented and prolific deejay who began his career in the soundsystems with Dillinger, Trinity would cut some of finest tracks of his era for producers, Vivian Jackson, Joe Gibbs, JoJo Hoo-Kim, before launching out on his own as a record producer.  For our memorial, we played Trinity’s earliest releases from when he was known as Prince Glen, through his change to Trinity.  The second half of our tribute consists of some of Trinity’s best work as a producer.  We love you, Trinity and send the deepest respects to your family and colleagues. Rest in power. Generoso and Lily

Hello Bovine Ska and Rocksteady Friends,

On March 17th, we lost famed record producer, Sonny Roberts at the age of 89. Born in Manchester Parish, Roberts was a carpenter who emigrated to the UK in 1958.  Soon after he arrived in England, Roberts set up the Love Vendor Sound System and soon after he moved into 108 Cambridge Road in London which was a building owned by Leo Gopthal of Trojan fame. In the basement, Roberts built a recording studio which became the first studio to be owned by a Jamaican in Britain, and it was there where he began the Planetone record label. Roberts would eventually run many labels in England including Sway, Orbitone, Tackle, Cartridge, Affection, and Sun Burn. Roberts recorded Jamaican R&B, ska, and reggae artists as well as Gospel, soca, soul and Afrobeat. You will hear many of Roberts excellent productions on our memorial for him this week.  We send our deepest respects to Roberts’ family, friends, and colleagues.  XO Generoso and Lily