Just a big shout out to my favorite 2 Tone source, 2 Tone - Before, During & After. If you don’t have this book by Lee Morris, or his fanzine, do yourself a favor now. This guy is a 2 Tone expert more than anyone else I’ve ever read by a mile. 🖤🤍🖤🤍🖤🤍🖤🤍🖤🤍🖤 2tonefanzine.bigcartel.com

This article in The Star from Sept. 1964 features Lloyd Knibb, a young 33-year-old master who was ranked the top ska drummer in Jamaica. Here he tells how he helped to develop the ska beat. He told me all about it too, which I wrote about in my book Ska: An Oral History at skabook.com. #ska #jamaica

Hard to believe that five years ago, on May 5, 2020, we lost the legendary Millie Small. Read her story as she told it to me here: skabook.com/songbirds/ #SkaMusic #MillieSmall #jamaica #MyBoyLollipop

On May 4th, 2004, Clement “Coxsone” Seymour Dodd died at the age of 72. A few years ago Tony Sarabia recorded this segment about Coxsone for WBEZ, the NPR station in Chicago. Celebrate the life of Coxsone Dodd, and celebrate public media by fighting back here: protectmypublicmedia.org/rsc-emails/

Happy May Day, and Happy Birthday to Alpha Boys School! Alpha was officially founded on this day in 1890. Read all about this legendary institution in my book on Alpha, available here: skabook.com/alpha-boys-s... #ska #reggae #alphaboysschool #jamaica #kingston

Cedric Im Brooks was born on April 27 1943 and attended Alpha Boys School. Later in life he performed with the reformed Skatalites and was a founding member of the Mystic Revelation of Rastafari and Light of Saba. Legend. www.alphaboysschoolradio.com #reggae #ska #jamaica

If you ever find yourself anywhere near Coventry, the 2 Tone Village is a must see. Everyone there does this out of deep love for the music and to make sure Coventry’s history remembers the impact of ska. The memorabilia is incredible and they have shops, restaurants, and live events. #2Tone #ska

Get your copy now! @someskaband.bsky.social

On April 24, 1954, Winston Churchill was knighted, thus becoming Sir Winston Churchill. Commemorate the occasion by listening to the work of some real royalty—Duke Reid, Sir Coxsone Dodd, Prince Buster, Lord Creator, and King Edwards. #ska #skamusic #reggae #reggaemusic #jamaica

This photo of Michael Manley, Bob Marley, & Edward Seaga was taken on April 22 1978 during the One Love Peace Concert, the first show upon returning from London after being shot. The photo was taken by Howard Moo Young. Read more here: emc.edu.jm/tiac/1131098... #reggae #BobMarley #jamaica #onelove

Just saw the This Is New Tone @badtimerecords.bsky.social documentary screened by @abbeyproductions.bsky.social at the Pop Culture Association conference in New Orleans! So many familiar faces and so much fun! #ska @catbiteband.bsky.social @badoperation.bsky.social @skatunenetwork.bsky.social

Jamaican ska is alive and well! Grab this on Bandcamp! #ska #skatalites #tipatop #jamaica

60 years ago, this ad appeared in the Jamaica Gleaner. Lynn Taitt is a legendary rocksteady guitarist and has been credited with crafted the first rocksteady bassline on the song "Take It Easy" by vocalist Hopeton Lewis. #ska #reggae #reggaemusic #skamusic #rocksteady #jamaica

On April 14, 1984, the Dutch pop-ska band Doe Maar played their farewell concert in Den Bosch, Netherlands. They were very popular in the Netherlands and have been called the Dutch Beatles. Check out their sound and you can definitely hear the early 80s ska revival! #doemaar #ska #skapunk #2tone

It was on April 13, 1973 that one of the most iconic and powerful albums of all time was released--Catch A Fire by The Wailers. I've only seen one in the flesh once at a museum. Anyone own this baby? #BobMarley #reggae #catchafire #islandrecords #chrisblackwell #jamaica

Herbie Hancock was born on April 12 1940. His song “Watermelon Man” became a popular hit by Mongo Santamaria and was also recorded by Baba Brooks as well as Byron Lee. Have a listen and tip your hat to Herbie Hancock for penning this crucial tune! #ska #jazz #herbiehancock #mongosantamaria #jamaica

The first space shuttle was launched on April 11 1981. Remember the Columbia with Tommy McCook's Rocket Ship featuring toaster Sir Lord Comic who likely patterned these lyrics after American DJ Douglas “Jocko” Henderson's vocalizations on his radio show, Rocket Ship. #ska #jamaica #spaceshuttle

On April 10, 2014 Cat Stevens was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. What does he have to do with ska? In 1973 Stevens recorded his album Foreigner in Jamaica at Dynamic Sounds, the studio owned by Byron Lee who popularized ska with his Dragonaires. #ska #jamaica #catstevens #byronlee

On April 9, 2002, the funeral for The Queen Mother was held at Westminster Abbey. Did you know the Queen Mother loved ska? The Jamaica Gleaner, Feb. 25 1965 says she attended a ska performance, "her eyes lighting up as she waved her hand in demonstration." As close to skanking as we’ll get! #ska

On April 8 2013, we lost Annette Funicello, one of the Mousketeers. She also taught Bob Hope how to dance the Jamaica Ska in 1964: www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCLY... & she danced and sang Jamaica Ska in the 1980s Back to the Beach with Fishbone: www.youtube.com/watch?v=8r_7... #AnnetteFunicello #ska

Exciting! Getting ready to give my talk: Heaven Will Protect the Working Girl: (Re)constructing Jamaica Music History with Women's Stories.

Jim and Greg sit down with author Heather Augustyn (@skabook.bsky.social) to dive into the role of women in the British ska scene. Heather highlights five incredible female artists who made their mark in the scene, overcoming significant challenges: bit.ly/4l9Jrzh

Thank you so much, @unclecon.bsky.social ! Grateful. 🤍🖤🤍🖤🤍🖤🤍🖤🤍🖤🤍🖤🤍

Sound Opinions is up! So excited! Have a listen, and thank you so much Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot! soundopinions.org/show/1009

Tune in to Sound Opinions @soundopinions.bsky.social this Friday when I will be talking with @jimderogatis.bsky.social and @gregkot.bsky.social about Rude Girls: Women in 2 Tone and One Step Beyond! #ska #2Tone #rudegirls

Join me in Coventry on Sunday March 30th! #ska #2Tone #coventry #rudegirls

Make sure to tune in Friday at noon! Thank you so much for celebrating Rude Girls @unclecon.bsky.social !! 🖤🤍🖤🤍🖤🤍🖤🤍🖤🤍🤍

Hard Man Fe Dead! One of the most classic tunes of all time, by Prince Buster (covered by The Toasters--Hard Band For Dead), talks about a Nine Night. Here's a piece I wrote that explains this ritual, and hopefully it will bring a deeper appreciation the next time you sing along! #ska #jamaica

Today marks six years since we lost Ranking Roger. Beautiful soul. Celebrate his life by putting on some of his tunes and singing along. Love love love. #ska #2tone #thebeat #rankingroger

60 years ago today, Miriam Makeba performed in Jamaica and sold out all shows at the Regal Theatre. Two years later, in 1967, Patsy Todd recorded her version of a Miriam Makeba song, "Pata Pata Rock Steady," likely influenced by Makeba's visit. Have a listen: www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTJJ... #ska

If you've ever seen Jimmy Cliff in The Harder They Come, then you know the character Ivanhoe Martin. But did you know that this character is based on a real one? Here's a piece I wrote about it a few years back. #skamusic #skapunk #reggae #jamaica #rudeboy #jimmycliff #thehardertheycome #rhyging

If you happen to be in Coventry this Sunday, come see me! I’ll be speaking on women in 2 Tone at 1pm at the 2 Tone Village! #ska #2Tone #coventry

The return of Astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore from the International Space Station reminded me of this post I wrote about the origins of the name The Skatalites, which was inspired by the Space Race. #SunitaWilliams #ButchWilmore #skatalites #ska #skapunk #InternationalSpaceStation

I'll be on next week's episode of Sound Opinions #1009! We recorded the show while I was at the @supernovaska.bsky.social last Sept. and it will air on Friday, March 28! We're talking about Rude Girls: Women in 2 Tone! www.soundopinions.org @soundopinions.bsky.social #ska #2Tone #skamusic #women

Big big thanks to @unclecon.bsky.social for celebrating the women of 2Tone today! If you missed his show, you can still stream it here! Get skankin’!

George Foreman died today at the age of 76. Celebrate with Big Youth’s song “Foreman Versus Frazier.” Here's a photo I took of Big Youth when I saw him perform years back in Kingston and a link to Big Youth's big chune: youtu.be/RpTVynKZtXs?... #georgeforeman #reggae #jamaica #BigYouth #boxing

Lee "Scratch" Perry was born on March 20, 1936. Celebrate his life by listening to some Super Ape or whatever lights your fire—sorry, Black Ark jokes are still too soon!Here’s my article on him from a few years back. It was a fascinating interview. Legend. #reggae #leescratchperry #jamaica #dub

Friday 3/21 at noon, UNCLE CON'S DINER will be filled with music from the book RUDE GIRLS, by Heather Augustyn. 🎶Selecter🎶Bodysnatchers🎶Belle Stars🎶Specials🎶 and more! Stream us live at www.wapj.org. Rudies only - no boneheads! 🖤🤍🖤🤍 @wapjradio.bsky.social @skabook.bsky.social @rj-auggie.bsky.social

Happy birthday to Terry Hall, born on March 19, 1959. Here are two photos I took of him over the years and feel so fortunate to have seen him perform. Celebrate his life with his music! Ska wouldn’t sound the same without Terry Hall. Love love love. #Ska #2Tone #TheSpecials #TerryHall #80s

Dance the Ska! The ska dance became part of a gov’t campaign for Jamaican tourism. I tell the story in my book Operation Jump Up available at skabook.com. Learn these moves from Red Stripe advertising I found researching in 2014. The ads ran in the Jamaica Gleaner in 1964. #ska #jamaica #dance

UNCLE CON'S DINER this Friday 3/21 at noon will celebrate Women's History Month with the Selecter 🎶 the Bodysnatchers 🎶 and the Belle Stars 🎶 - three chapters in RUDE GIRLS, a fascinating book by Heather Augustyn, a genuine ska scholar. Www.wapj.org @skabook.bsky.social @wapjradio.bsky.social

The first time the word "ska" appeared in print was on March 17, 1964. But I found that ska was first spelled "sca" and it actually appeared in print before this. I reported it to the Oxford English Dictionary about a decade ago, but no reply. Have a read and see the articles here. #OED #ska #reggae

Broadcasts from Miami, New Orleans, and Nashville could be picked up in Jamaica on radios. Musicians blended these sounds of American shuffle blues with jazz and mento to produce ska. This advert in the Daily Gleaner 12-19-1956 shows these radios. #ska #reggae #rocksteady #jamaica #radio #R&B

Did you know that on March 1st 1980, before Cyndi Lauper recorded a single song, she supported The Specials in the US during their New York performance at the Hotel Diplomat? Cyndi is a fan of ska! Here’s her version of Sunny Side of the Street with a 2 Tone stage! #80s #cyndilauper #ska #jamaica

The Pretenders were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame on March 14, 2005 and Chrissie Hynde has a link to ska! She sang backup for the Specials on Nite Klub and Stupid Marriage. She says: I do remember being in the studio up to a point. Until I got wasted. #ska #2tone #thepretenders #80s

On Mar. 13 2006, Blondie was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Blondie has many connections to ska--one is the Bodysnatchers performed for Debbie Harry's birthday bash on Dec. 29 1979 at the Embassy Club. Here's a photo of Chris Stein and Debbie Harry from the party. #ska #blondie #80s

Happy 91st birthday Don Drummond. My blog post on skabook.com from a few years back, presents his birth certificate and celebrates the music of this legend. Have a read and listen to his music today, and every day! What’s your favorite Don Drummond tune? One of mine is Cleopatra #ska #jazz #Jamaica

Living legend Carlos Malcolm is crowdfunding his next recording. Let's all show him how much the ska community appreciates what he gave us and give something back to him. www.indiegogo.com/projects/leg... #ska #Jamaica #reggae #jazz #rocksteady #skapunk

King Charles loves Millie Small! In his new Apple Music show, “The King’s Music Room,” King Charles tells of his fondness for Millie’s massively important song, “My Boy Lollipop!” He says her “gifts have so greatly enriched our country.” Agreed! #ska #milliesmall #kingcharles #music #jamaica #UK

Just ordered my copy and I’m so excited! Myrna Hague Bradshaw is a powerful scholar, talented vocalist, and the widow of Sonny Bradshaw. This book is going to be brilliant! #ska #Jamaica #jazz #reggae