Krista Henry, Staff Reporter

The outside of Studio One, 13 Studio One Boulevard, St. Andrew. - Colin Hamilton/Freelance Photographer

'Yuh hear fi mi voice coming through di speaker, but it sound sweeter wid di echo chamber'

So said Papa Levi in his song Mi God Mi King. It is within the walls of a studio that the sweetest melodies are recorded.

In the midst of complementary instruments, inspiration sparks in the echo chambers and creates a musical fire. The Sunday Gleaner embarks on a new series looking at some of Jamaica's influential studios. To kick off the series, we focus on Studio One.

Synonymous with Jamaican music, Studio One is often hailed as the 'Motown of Jamaica'. Founded by the now deceased Clement 'Sir Coxsone' Dodd in 1963, almost every Jamaican legend has passed through the hallowed walls of Studio One.

When The Sunday Gleaner team visited the studio on what is now called Studio One Blvd. (formerly Brentford Road), the walls were adorned with original vinyl records from the likes o Ellis, The Heptones, Jackie Opel, Bob Marley, Delroy Wilson, Lone Ranger, Marcia Griffiths, and more as far as the eye could see.

Helped spread the music

King Stitt at the microphone in the studio.

Inside the studio stood were what could be monuments of the creation of music - a grand piano, an old and tattered but effective drum set and an old-fashioned mic in the corner in front of the glass that separated Dodd from the artistes as he recorded the making of what we now know. On the walls are colourful paintings done by Dick Tomlinson which have stood the test of time and still bring vibrancy to the room.

Studio One was where Jamaican music really leapt from the dancehalls into the ears of millions across the island and the world.

According to musicologist, chairperson of the Coxsone Dodd Foundation and a good friend of Dodd Bunny Goodison, it was Studio One that helped spread Jamaican music.

"Radio stations at the time weren't playing that music. Radio stations were into strings, Elvis Presley, foreign music. Dodd owned a sound system, Downbeat Sound System, that he used in the dances to spread the music," Goodison said.

Dodd's devotion to his work came from a simple love of music.

King Stitt, a legend in his own right, was with Studio One from the beginning, first as a disc jockey on the sound system and now as a sales representative and research officer.

He told The Sunday Gleaner that Dodd "was a lover of good jazz music, R&B, good, soft music.

During the early days, he listened to those stations in the States. He would listen to jazz and decided to build a sound system and started playing music."

With an ear for music, Dodd soon discovered the likes of Ken Boothe, Delroy Wilson and more, all of whom had to be fine tuned before they were recorded.

According to King Stitt, one of his most memorable discoveries in the studio was that of reggae legend Bob Marley. "One experience that stands out was when he recorded Bob Marley; that was when they recorded Simmer Down. From that record was recorded we knew it would be a hit. Itwas backed by the biggest backing band at the time, The Skatalites. When they first came here (the Wailers) they never had no name; it was Dodd that gave them their name," Stitt said.

Norma Dodd, widow of Studio One founder Clement 'Sir Coxsone' Dodd.

Dodd and Studio One were to influence countless artistes, songs and music for years to come. A first in many ways, Studio One was the first truly professional studio to be established on the island. It was also the first studio to be owned and ran by a black man. Norma Dodd, widow of Coxsone Dodd, commented that "it was the first studio with the first best musicians. Without us where would music be? If there was no Studio One there would be no music. There was no other place to record; everyone would flock under the mango tree waiting for an audition".

King Stitt claimed that up to today whenever a hit song is made in Jamaica there is at least one line, one rhythm or sample that originated from Studio One.

Stitt said "Mr Dodd was a person who knew what he wanted and if the musician is playing a song and he would make corrections or tell them to practice and come back. He's not a person who do everything and accept it; he listens and listened well".

Dodd had faith in Jamaican artistes and their talent, using his own money to back the work of the countless Studio One artistes. Goodison said "Dodd went to do farm work in the States, picking apples just to make money to produce his artistes".

Studio One is also one of the few places persons can come to obtain a vinyl record of the earliest Jamaican music. According to Stitt, foreigners stop by frequently to learn the history of the music and the studio. As a part of maintaining the history, on the outside wall is erected a 'Studio One Wall Of Honour' with the names of deceased greats who worked in the studio, such as Dennis Brown, Don Drummond, Joe Higgs, Hortense Ellis, Peter Tosh, Raleigh 'Maytals' Mathias and many more.

Goodison ended the tour by commenting "Dodd had the greater sense of music than people his time. He had a very acute sense of music and strength. No one had his ear".