NAME OF FEATURE | THE GLEANER | SUNDAY, AUGUST 31, 2025 12 RADIO JAMAICA 75TH ANNIVERSARY FEATURE | THE SUNDAY GLEANER | AUGUST 31, 2025 Soohi, also championed modern dance and ballet through the Ivy Baxter Dance Group, adding another layer to the rich cultural tapestry of Jamaica. Alongside them, Radcliffe Butler and Adrian Robinson played signi cant roles in the nascent eld of radio advertising. They established agencies that produced memorable radio commercials and jingles, an innovation that transformed how products were marketed. The jingles, composed by notable gures like Carlos Malcolm, David Ogden, and Sonny Bradshaw, were recorded in Studio One at Broadcast House, further embedding Radio Jamaica in the nation’s musical culture. Radio Jamaica’s in uence extended far beyond jingles. The station became a crucial promotional platform for Jamaican music, surpassing even the jukebox in importance. The advent of the Radio Jamaica charts at the end of the 1950s allowed artists to gain unprecedented exposure. It was now possible for a song to be recorded, broadcast, and become a hit within a matter of weeks, driving live performances and boosting artists’ incomes. The station’s support for local music was galvanised by gures like Byron Lee, who advocated for the inclusion of Jamaican music in Radio Jamaica’s playlist. This era saw the rise of legendary artists such as Prince Buster, Toots and the Maytals, Jimmy Cliff, and The Wailers. Afternoon shows hosted by DJs like Dotty Dean, Marie Garth, Don Topping, and Winston Williams introduced these artists to the nation, making them household names. Radio Jamaica also played a pivotal role in documenting and promoting the evolution of Jamaican music genres – from ska to rock steady, reggae, and dancehall. The station’s DJs not only played these evolving sounds but also conducted in-depth interviews with artists, offering listeners insight into their creative processes. The impact of Radio Jamaica extended internationally as well. Artistes with global hits like Lord Flea’s Naughty Little Flea, The Melodians’ Rivers of Babylon, and Desmond Dekker & The Aces’ 007 (Shanty Town) bene- ted from the station’s promotional power, gaining global recognition and asserting the signi cance of Jamaican music on the world stage. The station’s support was not limited to music; it also extended to visual arts and competitions. Radio Jamaica highlighted the work of visual artists like Cappo, Alexander Cooper, and Alvin Marriott, whose notable works include the original statue of The Athlete and the Bob Marley statue. Additionally, Radio Jamaica fostered emerging talent through programmes like the Festival Song Show, the Gospel Song Show, and Vere John’s Opportunity Hour, which introduced many amateur performers to a wider audience. The legacy of Radio Jamaica’s early days continues in modern platforms such as TVJ’s Digicel Rising Stars and the Tastee Talent Show, which has celebrated winners like Yellow Man and Beenie Man over its ve-decade history. These programmes echo the live, dynamic spirit of Radio Jamaica’s early talent shows and remain a testament to the station’s enduring in uence on Jamaican entertainment. In essence, Radio Jamaica was not just a broadcaster but a vital force in shaping and elevating Jamaican culture and arts, creating a lasting impact that endures to this day. CATALYST CONTINUED FROM 11 The legacy of Radio Jamaica’s early days continues in modern platforms such as TVJ’s Digicel Rising Stars and the Tastee Talent Show
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTUzNTI=