A dozen years ago, finding Jamaican mento music from the 1950s was nearly impossible. The pre-ska, acoustic calypso music -- which can still be heard on the island's resorts and tourist spots -- was captured by the nascent music industry on the island and some 78s were even pressed in the UK and USA. But all of it was scarce.
In the past few years, a compilation arrived every now again -- Heritage's "Boogu Yagga Gal" and more recently, "Mento Madness" on V2 spring to mind -- but it's only now that the 1950s output of Jamaican studios is really making it to disc.
Another great and attractive comp comes from the UK's Pressure Sounds. "Take Me To Jamaica" has 24 examples from a range of producers like Stanley Motta, Ivan Chin and Ken Khouri, who was also part of the scene when ska and Jamaican boogie woogie arrived. Informative liner notes and lots of pics of the original labels make this an engaging package.
The music is rhythmic, joyful, witty, spirited, earthy and without adornment. It's straightforward musical expression unhampered by the desire for superstardom and the passing technology fads that have altered reggae's progress.
If you want to dig even deeper Ivan Chin has created five CDs of the 80 mento tunes he recorded in 1955 and they are readily available via CD Baby.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
