Hello Bovine Ska and Rocksteady Friends,

As we are sure that you know by now, the mighty Daddy U-Roy, The Originator, died on February 17th. As the news of his passing went out, testimonials from reggae, soul, and hip-hop flooded in, because as we all know, U-Roy’s impact on music was gigantic. So, when we started putting together a memorial for U-Roy, we thought to play his first cut, a version for Keith Hudson, but then we also looked at the time when U-Roy had the top three songs on the Jamaican charts at once and how influential these cuts were: “Wake The Nation,” “Rule The Nation,” “Wear You To The Ball.” For his tribute, we of course played U-Roy’s versions, but then we also added the many deejay versions of these songs from a who’s who of famed deejays: Dennis Alcapone, Trinity, Dillinger, Big Youth, Lizzy and many others to stress how beloved and inspiring U-Roy was to his peers and the generations after him. Rest in peace Daddy U-Roy and bless you. XO Generoso and Lily

Hello Bovine Ska and Rocksteady Friends,

We dedicate our show this week to a man whom we were fortunate to know and so strongly admired, the great Milford Graves, who passed away over the weekend. Milford was an innovator as a percussionist and composer and he took his love and knowledge of music and applied it to science to help others. We thank you Milford and we will miss you very much. As for our show this week, we began with two sets of ska starting with Lloyd Clarke’s smooth cut produced by King Edwards in 1963, “Stop Your Talking.” Our mento set followed and a long set of reggaes selected by Lily that features a grand version to version by Leroy Sibbles entitled, “Forward On A Yard.” Our label spotlight this year comes courtesy of your Ace From Space, the late Charlie Ace and his mighty Swing A Ling Label. Love to you all friends XO Generoso and Lily

Happy Anti-Valentine’s Day Bovine Ska Friends,

Over the almost 25 years of the Bovine Ska, we have taken to the microphone and mixer to condemn this most unfair of holidays, Valentine’s Day.  Why? Well, it mostly comes down to unrealistic expectations that will send even the most solid of relationships into question, while causing many newfound couplings to question the status of the union,but even worse, is that it makes the lonely feel lonelier. Now, given covid, we thought of the endless isolation and how that might manifest into loneliness, and that is why we want this show to say to you, Bovine Ska Friends, that even though you might be alone right now, that you really don’t have to be lonely. So, we divided our show between skas, rocksteadys, and reggaes about being lonely and then songs about being alone while LIly talks of ways to beat the loneliness. We send you all love Bovine Ska Friends no matter what the day! XO Generoso and Lily

Hello Bovine Ska and Rocksteady Friends, 

On January 20th, we lost the wonderful talents of Ronnie Nasralla OD, a man who worked relentlessly to promote Jamaican music and especially ska all over the world. Born in Kingston in 1930, Nasralla had an early interest in sports and dance and while attending high school at St. George’s College he met Byron Lee. Throughout the 1960s, Lee and Nasralla teamed up to produce some of the most exciting music on the island, including multiple hits from The Blues Busters, The Dragonaires, and of course, Toots and The Maytals. For our tribute, we looked at the many labels that Nasralla produced for including his own BMN, Pussy Cat, and Gala labels. as well sharing our thoughts about Mr. Ska. We send our deepest sympathies to Nasralla’s family and many friends and colleagues. Thank you Ronnie.  Love Generoso and Lily

Hello Bovine Ska and Rocksteady Friends, 

On Saturday, January 9th, we sadly lost Johnny Johnson, the gifted singer who fronted Johnny and The Attractions (Call of the Drums, Young Wings Can Fly), and who sang lead on the classic Techniques megahits from 1968, “It’s You I Love” and “Traveling Man.” Johnson has always been somewhat of a mystery to us as he possessed one of the most beautiful voices of his generation, but only recorded a handful of songs, most being masterworks of rocksteady. Instead of a long career in music, Johnson proudly served in the Jamaica Defence Force where he reached the rank of Captain, and then later he became a computer programmer and restaurateur. As we adored Johnson’s voice, we memorialized him beginning in the second hour of this week’s show.  We send our deepest respects to Johnson’s family and friends and thank his memory for these wonderful performances. Rest in peace Johnny XO Generoso and Lily

Hello Bovine Ska and Rocksteady Friends,

We started off this week’s program with two sets of ska beginning with The King of Ska, Derrick Morgan and his 1974 cut for Buster, “Katy Girl.” Our mento set followed with an instrumental medley from Chin’s Calypso Sextet, and we ended the first half of the show with a set of superb mid-1970s reggaes that were selected by Lily that began with The Sentiments 1976 track for Virgo, “Why Did You Lie.” Our label spotlight followed and this week it is on the Studio Shack label which includes great reggaes from: Joy White, Ranking Trevor, and many more! Stay healthy and strong friends. XO Generoso and Lily

Happy New Year Bovine Ska and Rocksteady Friends,

For this first show of 2021, we examined the impact that the brilliant songwriting team of Ellie Greenwich and Jeff Barry had on Jamaican music. You of course know so many of their hit compositions like “Baby I Love You,” “Be My Baby” for The Ronettes, and “Then He Kissed Me” for “Da Do Ron Ron” for The Crystals, and you will hear on the first half of our show the many ska and reggae covers of these classics which were penned by Greenwich and Barry. In the second half, we then concentrated on Greenwich’s and Barry’s songwriting efforts beyond their partnership. So, if you want to hear The Melodians reggae take on the Greenwich/Barry gem, “I’ll Take You Where the Music is Playing,” or Lorna Bennett’s version of “Chapel of Love” then this is the show for you! We wish all of you the best for a safe and peaceful 2021. XO Generoso and Lily

Happy New Year Bovine Ska and Rocksteady Friends,

We began this last Bovine Ska of 2020 with two sets of joyful ska, starting with a rare cut from Lyn Carby and The Originals from 1965, “Treat Me Right.”  Our mento set had three songs dedicated to cricket, including Count Lasher’s lovely “Tribute To Sobers.”  Our reggae set which ended the first hour was dedicated to the memory of Judah Eskender Tafari who passed away back in June, and our label spotlight this week is on the short-run Danger Zone label, which has a few stellar mid-70s reggae cuts from The Righteous Flames and Bobby Soul.  We wish you the best as we approach 2021. Please have a Happy and Healthy New Year XO Generoso and Lily

Hello Bovine Ska and Rocksteady Friends,

We had originally planned to do a memorial show for all of the magnificent artists who had passed away this year after the holidays, but sadly, when the great Albert Griffiths of The Gladiators died last Wednesday, we decided to dedicate this program to him and to all who left us in 2020. This week we honored Albert, as well as Toots Hibbert, Millie Small, Dobby Dobson, Bob Andy, Johnny Nash, Lynford Hux Brown, , Eddie Parkins, Hubert Lee, Linford Anderson, Delroy Washington, Bunny Lee, Norris Reid, Naggo Morris, Apple Gabriel, and Derrick Lara. We send our deepest respects to their families, friends and fellow musicians. Here is to a blessed 2021 for all. Love and good health to you, Generoso and Lily

Happy Holidays Bovine Ska and Rocksteady Friends.

This is our 24th year of celebrating Christmas and Jamaica on the Bovine Ska, and as last year we avoided all of the traditional holiday classics, this year we touched on some, while focusing all of our sets on reggae and dubs like “King of Kings” by The Silvertones and “Christmas Day” by BarringtonLevy. Our special theme this time around is on customary games and toys in Jamaica like: Ludo/Ludi, Bottle Stopper Zinger, Ring Games, and Juice Box Trucks! We wish you peace, health and joy this holiday season. Love to you all! XO Generoso and Lily