Hello Bovine Ska and Rocksteady Friends,

Firstly, thank you so much for all of the birthday wishes that you sent Lily’s way.  This week we began with two sets of glorious ska that included a never before played on the Bovine Ska track from Eric Monty Morris entitled, “Let Them Walk and Talk.”  Our mento set began with a one of the many Naaman Lee produced tracks that he also performs on, ” Jamaica Mento No. 1,” and Lily put together a fantastic reggae set which we dedicated to Philadelphia-born free jazz musicians, Giuseppi Logan and Henry Grimes who passed away last week.  Our label spotlight has been long in development as we looked at the Sunpower label which was produced by none other than the great, Jimmy Cliff OM.  Amazing reggaes on this spotlight from Freddie McKay, Nora Dean, and of course, Jimmy himself!  Lily and I send you prayers for good health and peace during this scary time. XO Generoso and Lily

Hello Bovine Ska and Rocksteady Friends,

We send you love and good health wishes this week. We lost another two wonderful talents recently as singers: Eddie Parkins of famed Jamaican rhythm and blues duo, Alton and Eddie and prolific solo artist and singer with The Clarendonians, Hubert Lee. We honored both Eddie and Hubert in the first hour of this week’s program and we extend our deepest sympathies to their loved ones during this difficult time. We also dedicated our mento set this week to all of the essential workers who are keeping us safe and healthy during this pandemic that has claimed so many people around the world. During the second hour we produced a spotlight on the small but vital mid-70s reggae label, Dawn. Fantastic cuts on that spotlight from Lloyd Robinson, Bim Bam and Clover and The Village Bunch. Please stay safe during this crisis. Much love and good health to you all. Generoso and Lily

Hello Bovine Ska and Rocksteady Friends,

After last week’s show we received the very hard news that the brilliant sound engineer, producer, and deejay, Linford Anderson, a.k.a. Andy Capp, passed away from a longtime illness on March 16th  at the age of 78.  The amount of essential Jamaican music that Linford had a hand in is staggering and for this week’s show we tried to honor his legacy by playing cuts, some of which are among the most iconic songs recorded during its time.  “54-46” by The Maytals, “Young Generation” by Desmond Dekker and the list goes on and on.  You’ll hear some of Linford’s best early production with Lee Scratch Perry as well Linford’s engineering of some amazing work from producers: Winston Riley, Derrick Harriott,  and Sir JJ. We extend our deepest sympathies to Linford’s family, friends, and many many collaborators.  A true giant has left us. Please stay safe and healthy friends.  Love, Generoso and Lily

Hello Bovine Ska and Rocksteady Friends,

We very much hope that you are staying healthy and strong during these hard days. Last week we sadly lost three distinct talents who shaped Jamaican music over their careers. We first lost Albert “Apple” Gabriel of Israel Vibration on March 23rd, and on March 27th, we heard about the passing of both Jamaican-born UK singer and songwriter, Delroy Washington, and a man who we and many consider one of the greatest composers in Jamaican music history, Bob Andy. We did our best to give our respects to these three men during this week’s show and we wish that we could have played more from each from their storied careers. It is our hope that this show serves as not only a tribute, but as a way for you to begin to explore each of their catalogs on your own going forward. We extend our deepest respects to the family and friends of Bob, Delroy, and Apple. Rest in power. Love, Generoso and Lily

Hello Bovine Ska and Rocksteady Friends,

We hope that you are all staying healthy and positive through all of this, and we dedicate this show to you. We began this week’s show with two sets of glorious ska that featured, “John Tom,” a Lee “Scratch” Perry track we played in honor of his 84th birthday. After our boisterous mento set for this week, we began our reggae set with a tribute to the late Kenny Rogers by playing Lascelles Perkins’ version of a song Kenny sang with First Edition in 1970, “Tell It All Brother.” Our label spotlight this week is on Raphael Stewart’s R S Oney imprint, which features wonderful reggaes from Freddy Bell, King Sighter, and of course, Stewart himself. We hope that you enjoy the show. Take good care of yourselves and your loved ones. XO Generoso and Lily

Hello Bovine Ska and Rocksteady Friends,
We wish all of you all over the world good health and happiness during this very difficult time. We have long wanted to do this very program of Jamaican covers of Bob Dylan compositions and given all of our collective need to hear words that matter, we felt that had to be the week.  So, for this program beginning with The Wailers exceptional 1966 rocksteady version of Dylan’s “Like A Rolling Stone,” for Studio One, you will hear some exception renditions of both well-known and seldom heard songs of one of the most respected and adored songwriters the world has ever known.  A few of the great cuts that you will hear are Bob Andy’s and Marcia Griffiths’ reggae take on “It Ain’t Me Babe,” Nicky Thomas’ superb 1972 recording of “Lay Lady Lay” and the late Pat Kelly’s  soulful “Nobody” which was his  soulful performance of “Just Like A Woman” which he did for Duke Reid in 1974.  Please enjoy this program and stay healthy and safe. Generoso and Lily

Hello Bovine Ska and Rocksteady Friends,

We started off with two sets of ska with a swing with cuts like Prince Buster and Patsy Todd’s 1963 tune, “Little Old Lady.”  Our mento set has a Lord Melody track on MRS that features great playing from Sonny Bradshaw and our first hour ends with awesome reggae selections from Lily with a highlight being Hugh Mundell’s 1977 cut on Rockers, “Don’t Stay Away Too Long.”  For our label spotlight we selected Dickie Wong’s smallish imprint, RAHTID, which has some fine songs from Jackie Brown, The Eternals, and of course, The Fab Five.  Stay healthy and happy this week! XOXO Generoso and Lily

Hello Bovine Ska and Rocksteady Friends,

Sadly, we lost another magnificent talent in Norris Reid this past week as he passed on Feb 28th.  Norris was a superb singer both as a solo artist and as a member of the Viceroys and we send our deepest condolences to his family and friends and in tribute we have put together a memorial for him during the second hour of this week’s show.  We began this show with two sets of very lovely Jamaican rhythm and blues with the first set featuring all duos like Alton and Eddie, Simms and Robinson and Higgs and Wilson. Our mento set has a distinctly American theme this week and we ended our first hour with a set of rocksteady that began with two rare covers of Beatles classics. Rest in peace, Norris.  Generoso and Lily

Hello Bovine Ska and Rocksteady Friends,

This week’s program starts with two sets of ska beginning with the late great Roland Alphonso and a pretty tune that he cut for Studio One in 1964, “Song of Love” and the last two songs of the second set feature amazing trombone work on two Voice of the People cuts from 1965 which you don’t want to miss. Our mento set this week is heavy on the instrumentals and we ended our first hour with a set of reggae cuts that Lily assembled to honor Black History Month, starting with Wayne Wade’s 1975 reggae for Viv Jackson’s Prophets label, “Black Is Our Colour.” Our label spotlight is on another small but vital imprint, Joe Morgan and Enos McLeod’s Afro Black Label which has killer cuts from Jah Woosh, Morgan and McLeod on vocals. Stay warm and dry this week friends! XO Generoso and Lily

Hello Bovine Ska and Rocksteady Friends,

We dedicate this week’s Bovine Ska to the memory of vocalist and instrumentalist, Derrick Lara of The Tamlins who passed away at the age of 61 on Feb 13th. In his honor we constructed this week’s reggae set in the first hour as a tribute to Derrick’s work with both The Tamlins and 7th Extension. We send our deepest respects to Derrick’s family and to his bandmates in The Tamlins. For our label spotlight this week, we looked at Errol & Hylton’s World Wide Label (1974-78), that has brilliant cuts from Max Romeo, I-Roy, Keith Poppin and Skin, Flesh, and Bones. XOXO Generoso and Lily