Kingston was a fun place with all  types of people from England, America, China, India, Africa. The place was bugged with Juke boxes, and Sound system boxes that were varnished, I did adore them.  We lived in an apartment in Denham Town, my bedroomvwas next to a wall, and agiinst the wall next doorvwas asoundsystem box, of the Count Barrett Sound system.  I took in the bass sound, and I studied the patterns, then later I would match the patterns to the themes and melodies, I rehearsed this in my mind, without a teacher, or any guidance in music from an andividual. I took note of the tempos, and the way the music swinged.

By this time mother was pursuing a job as a bus conductress on the JOS busses.  We lived opposite  famous cricketer, his name was Collie Smith, he had two sons, Asher and Art, they became quite skilled footballers around the kingston area.  We attended the same school.  My encounter with one of them happened when we were playing lunch break football in the schools courtyard, from this i had a scar on my chin with eight stitches.While we were playing and tackling for the ball, I jumped and my leg was kicked, so I spun and fell on my chin, hit the fine gravel to feel the blood spurting.  That afternoon I went to the hospital, and began treatment.  

Shortly after this in 1961 I won a scolarship to attend Kingston Technical High School, from Denham town school, which was next to Spanish town Road. Most of the evenings after school, I would help Grand mother in the grocery shop, this was exciting for me, as I sold goods handled the till, and the customers, a little flustered sometimes, however I got through  the evenings, and with the juke boxes going accross the street, this  excited me even more.  I was given a telefunken gramphone, this I used to entertain myself and the neighbours, I was quite shy, and this helped me to break out, and get attention, not to myself but to the music.  I did get attention from the older girls, who were 18, 23  that age, I was coming up to 12 years old then.  I purchased records from Orange street the street that sold the beat, then I returned home to start playing, it fascinated me to push the buttons on the gramaphone set, and I would often tune to W I N Zee redio, which came from Miami’s airwaves.  I began feeling the passion for music, as the airwaves were full with sounds, it still is until today.

After 3 years in High School, and selling in the shop, going to the wholesale and ordering goods under Grand mother’s  instructions.   The great musicians called the SKATALITES were formed, and this new sound dominated the airwaves, from sound systems to juke boxes, it was alight.  This began a spark in me, and I remembered when I was given a toy drum and a pair of sticks.  I began to attend stage shows and street corner shows with The Skatalites,  this is where you would hear some great music that would make your spine dance.  On stage you would see the Wailers when Bob Marley was 14 years old, singeing his hit Simmerdown, plus many others Jackie Opel, Doreen Schaeffer, who often sang together, and many more.  I was paying attention to the playing of each person, and studying the themes, and improvised solos.  four of these musicians are still alive and playing Russia   France   UK,  the have added other musicians who were around over the years, and kept up the sound.  During this time I attended dance halls and theatres, had my little drink in the bar courtesy of my friends, then I steal away to hide and have a smoke around the corner.

1964 I finished High School,  adn put in more hours in the shop, plus time to recreate, and spend on the corner with friends.  I was given a british Overseas passport, as mother left for England to work as a nurse.  She then sent for me in 1965 October.  I thought of a suit, so I went to my tailor, Butty was his name.   He said go and buy the material and I will make you the suit, and so I went down town, to buy gold tereleyne material, he measured me, then made me a suit, which costed, two shillings and sixpence, and fitted perfectly.  I told my friend Wizzy his name for short   (Roy Wisdom) he said they will give me a send off to Britain.  So I prepared, I was excited to do this travel.  and so the day came and I board the plane to England, leaving all those wonderful memories on the Island.

to be continued,  England music me the audience my first drum kit, and my first car.