NAME OF FEATURE | THE GLEANER | SUNDAY, AUGUST 31, 2025 9 RADIO JAMAICA 75TH ANNIVERSARY FEATURE | THE SUNDAY GLEANER | AUGUST 31, 2025 1950 WAS a watershed moment in Jamaican history. It marked the debut of Radio Jamaica and the launch of the country’s rst foray into commercial music recordings through the esteemed Stanley Motta label. This pivotal year saw the intertwining of music and broadcasting, forever altering the Jamaican media landscape. From its inception, Radio Jamaica revolutionised media consumption by introducing the concept of instant access to news, education, and entertainment without leaving home. This innovation was particularly impactful for Jamaicans working night shifts or struggling with insomnia, who embraced the station’s four-and-three-quarter hours of uninterrupted overnight music. Radio Jamaica’s music programming initially featured a mix of foreign recordings from the US, UK, and Latin America. The station swiftly developed a system to cater to diverse musical tastes, encompassing rock and roll, jump blues from Louis Jordan, and R&B hits from artists like Fats Domino. Cuban and Dominican in uences, including salsa from Perez Prado, added to the eclectic mix. Sundays were reserved for classical and religious music, while afternoons became dedicated to vibrant, youth-oriented sounds. Icons like Little Richard, The Coasters, The Platters, and Chuck Berry shared airtime with country and western legends like Skeeter Davis and Patti Page. Humorous music, Caribbean tunes, and classic show and lm standards characterised morning broadcasts. As the 1950s progressed, Jamaican recordings began to feature prominently. Initially focused on mento – a genre targeted at the UK market by artists such as Lord Fly and Lord Flea – the station gradually incorporated “Jamaican Soul” from artists like Derrick Harriott and the Jiving Juniors. Boogie-woogie recordings debuted, including Theophilus Beckford’s Easy Snapping; some even recorded at Radio Jamaica’s Studio One. The end of the 1950s brought a wave of new Jamaican talent, spurred by The Opportunity Hour, a hugely successful talent show produced by the legendary Vere John. This platform launched the careers of Toots Hibbert, John Holt, Marcia Griffiths, and many others, providing them with invaluable exposure. The 1960s ushered in Jamaica’s Independence and a musical shift from boogie-woogie to ska. Groups such as Byron Lee and the Dragonaires, the Mighty Vikings, and Carlos Malcolm and the Afro-Caribbean Rhythms emerged, THE POWER OF MUSIC ON THE AIRWAVES PLEASE SEE MUSIC, 10
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