Words by LargeUp Crew—
Today marks 50 years since Jamaica was granted its independence from England, beginning its swift transition from a colony into a cultural capital. The level and pace of musical innovation that followed independence was astounding. Within a year ska was born; a decade later, reggae was taking over the world, becoming the global soundtrack for a good time, and establishing Jamaica as more than a country but also a cultural brand. In recent years, the country has become nearly as well known for its athletes as for its musicians, but Jamaica’s contributions to the world run so much deeper than songs and exciting gold medal finishes. Here is an alphabetical look at 50 significant Jamaicans whose influence has been felt in major ways on both a local and global scale, from politicians and painters to poets and scholars.
Diane Abbott
Born to Jamaican parents, Abbott is the first black woman to be elected to parliament in the UK. She was elected in 1987 as representative from Hackney North and Stoke Newington and, in more recent times, has become well known for some of her outspoken tweets.—Erin MacLeod
For all of his troubles, Buju Banton is arguably the greatest folk hero that Jamaica has produced since Bob Marley. In fact, his status as a scofflaw, misunderstood by the rest of the world has only made him more beloved in Jamaica. In any case, he is among the most influential Jamaican recording artists of the last 20 years, having shifted the tide in dancehall from slackness to consciousness with his mid ’90s releases Voice of Jamaica and ‘Til Shiloh. —Jesse Serwer
Born in New York City to Jamaican parents, Tyson Beckford is among the world’s most famous models, and is considered by many to be the first male supermodel. His Ralph Lauren underwear ad made him a sex symbol and household name in the 90s, and his work ethic has continue to garner him work as a model, actor and host of Make Me a Supermodel on Bravo TV. —Mikelah Rose
Here’s what you know about Harry Belafonte: “The Banana Boat Song.” Here’s what you need to know: The actor and folk singer, born in the U.S. to Jamaican and Martinican parents but raised partially in Jamaica, not only introduced the world to the sounds of Caribbean music, he did it so successfully that his 1956 LP Calypso became the very first million-selling record EVER, single-handedly inventing platinum records before there was such a category. But his legacy lies more in what he did with his success—which is largely bankroll the US civil rights movement of the 1960s. Belafonte not only financially supported MLK, Jr. and his family but helped to finance and organize the March on Washington in 1963. In 1964, Belafonte personally financed the Southern Non-violent Coordinating Committee and their voter registration drives during the famous “Freedom Summer,” flying to Mississippi with $60,000 dollars in cash. His role as a progressive catalyst and tenacious willingness to fight the power–from Apartheid South Africa to his controversial stance on the US invasion of Iraq–has never wavered. And to an extent so huge that it is hard to measure, shaping the world we live in. Daylight come, indeed.—Eddie “Stats” Houghton
Louise Bennett-Coverley (“Miss Lou”)
Poet and performer extraordinaire, Miss Lou made Jamaicans proud of their patwa, and has even been described as the “mother of Jamaican culture” for her efforts in legitimizing authentic Jamaican culture. If you’ve not yet heard some of her work, start with “Colonization in Reverse”. —Erin MacLeod
Winston Blake’s 62-year-old Merritone Disco is the oldest active sound system in Jamaica, and the first sound system to tour outside of Jamaica. Blake is credited with breaking down the social barriers in Jamaican music, as his Meritone Disco was the first sound system to play in a hotel, university campus and on a unionized bandstand in various clubs around the island, when bands were the order of the day. After becoming more influential in breaking new records than radio, Blake eventually developed Merritone into a record label for other producers wanting to get their music out, and also produced and recorded his own material. His Merritone Talent Series, meanwhile helped launch the careers of a great many Jamaican entertainers, including Beres Hammond.—Sherman Escoffery
The world’s fastest man, the current world record holder in both the 100- and 200-meter dash (and, along with his teammates at the 2011 World Championships, the 4×100-meter relay) is a true global cultural phenomenon, an ambassador for culture who has brought more excitement to the sport of track and field than any previous participant in the pursuit. —Jesse Serwer
If you’ve seen a few films made in Jamaica, you know Carl Bradshaw’s face—he’s been in just about all of them. Making his debut as Jose in The Harder They Come has appeared in numerous Jamaican productions, such as Countryman, Third World Cop, Dancehall Queen and Better Mus’ Come, as well as Jamaica-set Hollywood films like The Mighty Quinn and Club Paradise, and also starred in the early-90s British TV show Runaway Bay, and Jamaican TV productions like Traxx.—Jesse Serwer
Dennis Brown was blessed with an unbelievably soulful voice that earned him a place as a Studio One recording artist at just 13 years old. Known as Bob Marley’s favorite singer, there were points where his music was far more popular than Bob Marley’s in Jamaica. His attentions equally divided between lovers rock and conscious lyrics, and his ability to make the sappiest love song a hard reggae anthem was one of his most endearing qualities. His untimely passing in 1999 was one of reggae’s all-time tragedies.—Dave Susser
Simply put, the greatest supermodel of all time. —Jesse Serwer
One of the main authorities on Rastafari (he wrote 1994’s Rastafari: Roots and Ideology), the late Dr. Chevannes was a scholar of Jamaican religion in general, as well as an inspiring and caring professor. In addition, he was also a dedicated community activist, always asking if the university could reach out beyond its walls and into the wider Jamaican society.—Erin MacLeod
Jimmy Cliff got his big break during the ska era in the early 60s and managed to stay relevant through Jamaica’s rapidly changing musical periods of rocksteady and reggae until his international break came through his starring role as the rude boy, Ivan, in Jamaica’s first major motion picture, The Harder They Come. Since then he’s been deemed a major icon and has had a career that’s spanned over 50 years as a recording and major touring artist. —Dave Susser
When Clement Seymour “Sir Coxsone” Dodd died in 2004, the New York Times described him as the “pioneer of the Jamaican pop music scene”, and that seems as good of a description as any of the Kingston-born sound man, producer and label owner. In the 1950s, after gaining clout as the operator/founder of Sir Coxsone’s Downbeat, one of the original sound systems, Dodd in the 60s opened Studio One, the first black-owned recording studio in Jamaica. Its affiliated record label would launch the careers of Bob Marley, Lee “Scratch” Perry and countless other acts, handing the world some of its most timeless and re-recorded riddims. —Jesse Serwer
Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare
Sly and Robbie, a/k/a the Riddim Twins, are noted as the most accomplished rhythm section of all time. From their early days as teenage session players in Kingston to their pioneering era in the 80s, they helped design the sound of reggae, dub, rockers, electronic music and hip-hop working as producers and/or backup band for everyone from Peter Tosh and Black Uhuru to Grace Jones, Bob Dylan and Doug E. Fresh.—Dave Susser
The best known of a dozen or so Jamaican-born players to have played in the NBA, the New York Knicks center never was able to lead his team to a championship but he was one of basketball’s biggest stars in the late 80s and 90s, a period many would call the sport’s pinnacle.—Jesse Serwer
Garvey was a journalist, publisher, entrepreneur and, eventually, a political leader and major force behind the earliest elements of the Pan-African movement. Regarded as a prophet in the Rastafarian movement and a major inspiration for the creation of the Nation of Islam, Garvey was the first to preach Africa for Africans in a positive way, so as to encourage black allegiance to Africa for the welfare and benefits of black people around the world. Traveling the world and promoting his Universal Negro Improvement Association, Garvey’s works and philosophy influenced people like Malcolm X, Elijah Muhammad, Martin Luther King Jr., Kwame Nkrumah and Bob Marley. He was Jamaica’s first national hero. —Sherman Escoffery
A poet and fiction writer with over a dozen books under her belt, Goodison has been able to vividly paint pictures of Jamaica with words for over thirty years. It’s not an overstatement to suggest that she’s probably the most important female poet in the Caribbean. —Erin MacLeod
Ras Daniel Hartman was the definitive illustrator of the Rastafari experience. His charcoal and pencil drawings mesmerize and have been copied countless times, although he never had much financial gain from his work. The famous “Original Rasta Baby” is his—actually the title is “Prince Emanuel”. He made a foray into acting as Pedro, Ivanhoe Martin’s best friend in The Harder They Come. Sadly, he passed away in Tanzania in 1990 at age 47–only two years after his repatriation to the motherland.—Martei Korley
One of the key players on the West Indies teams that dominated cricket in the 70s and 80s, Michael Holding, who was nicknamed “Whispering Death” due to his stealth movements, is regarded as one of the fastest bowlers in the history of cricket. —Jesse Serwer
Often identified as the first Rastafari, Howell was preaching about Haile Selassie as the new messiah as early as 1933. He was arrested dozens of times and his commune at Pinnacle raided, but Rastafari still lives on.—Erin MacLeod
From Chapelton to Brixton, “LKJ” brought dub poetry to England and the world. Poems like “Five Nights of Bleeding” and “Bass Culture” (soundtracked by Dennis Bovell) are both rhythmic and polemic. —Erin MacLeod
The dictionary definition of a style icon, the Jamaica-born, New York-raised, Europe-based model-turned-singer-turned-actress-turned-enigma has repped her culture as much as any Jamaican on the world stage: just cue up “My Jamaican Guy” or any of her reggae-flavored 80s collaborations with Sly and Robbie and Chris Blackwell. Now 64, the long-MIA diva returned in a big way recently, with 2009’s Hurricane, her first album in nearly 20 years. She is also a clear reference point and inspiration for Rihanna, Nicki Minaj, Lady Gaga, Azealia Banks and Amber Rose, and just about every other provocatively-styled female entertainer you can think of. —Jesse Serwer
Gerald Levy, more famously known as Bogle or Mr. Wacky was the innovative dancer behind pretty much every dance you were busting in the bashment in the 90s and are still doing today 20 years later. His dances like the Willie Bounce, Wacky Dip, Sesame Street, Zip It Up (and the list goes on) inspired artists like Elephant Man and Beenie Man and his influence is apparent in the styles of all his successors.—Emily Shapiro
Lennox Lewis
Yes, he did fairly well on Celebrity Apprentice, but Lennox Lewis is best known for being a Jamaican-British-Canadian boxer and undisputed heavyweight champion of the world. –Erin MacLeod
Norman Manley and Michael Manley
Regarded as the father of an independent Jamaica and eventually declared a National Hero, Norman Manley was like Moses who never sat foot in the promise land as he lost the first Jamaican national election to his cousin Sir Alexander Bustamante. The founder of the People’s National Party, Manley worked tirelessly for Jamaica’s independence and democracy and led negotiations of Jamaica’s independence from Britain, however he was not endeared by the common man; unlike his second son Michael Manley, who combined his father’s intelligence with the charisma of Bustamante. Michael Manley became the fourth prime minister of Jamaica in 1972 and worked to implement several revolutionary programs and laws including the bastard act, which basically outlawed illegitimacy; equal pay for women and maternity leave; the abolition of the Master Servant Act; the introduction of the family court, and adult literacy programs.—Sherman Escoffery
Wife of prime minister Norman Manley and mother of Michael Manley, the sculptor and painter Edna Manley was a proponent of indigenous Jamaican art and modernist forms. She is the co-founder of the Kingston based Jamaican School of Art, which is named after her.—Erin Hansen
Never before or since has a musician so embodied the hopes and inspirations of—and been so closely identified with the identity of—an entire nation as Bob Marley has for Jamaica. Recording his first two singles the same year the country received its independence from England in 1962, Marley’s start in the music business coincided with the birth of ska. Though the Wailers’ late-60s recordings with Lee “Scratch” Perry are among reggae’s most seminal artifacts, Marley’s time wouldn’t truly come until more than a decade later, with the release of Catch a Fire, the last album with the original Wailers core of Bob, Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer, and Marley’s first with Island Records catapulted him to international renown, though the acclaim he received in his lifetime pales in comparison to the reverence his name and music inspires today. More than 30 years after his death, he remains one of the best-selling artists in the world, and one of, if not, the most influential. And of course, a big huge honorable mention goes out to Bob’s cohorts in the revolution, Bunny Livingston and Peter Tosh, not to mention the I-Three: Rita Marley, Marcia Griffiths and Judy Mowatt, and Bob and the Wailers’ highly influential longtime bassist, Aston “Family Man” Barrett. —Jesse Serwer
Author of the first book of poems written in patwa, 1912’s Songs of Jamaica, the outspoken McKay became a major figure in the Harlem Rennaissance, authoring the landmark Home to Harlem, among other books.—Erin MacLeod
A child piano prodigy so talented he was taken out of school at 10 to perform for adults, by his late teens Jackie Mittoo had invented rocksteady, changing the course of Jamaican music by slowing down the ska sound he’d helped popularize as the keyboardist for the Skatalites, with his arrangement on Alton Ellis’ “Rocksteady”. Mittoo continued to be one of Jamaican music’s key innovators through his days as musical director at Studio One until his death in 1990.—Jesse Serwer
Rex Nettleford was a teacher, international scholar, historian, choreographer and one of the Caribbean’s most eminent intellectuals. Coming from humble beginnings in Bunkers Hill, Trelawny, Nettleford won a Rhodes Scholarship to Oxford University, embarking on a lifelong mission of service in education. Part of the team who researched and wrote “The Report on the Rastafari Movement of Kingston, Jamaica” in 1960, Nettleford helped to give legitimacy to the group considered outcasts of Jamaican society. Nettleford also founded the National Dance Theatre Company and eventually became Vice Chancellor of the University of the West Indies. A true patriot of Jamaica, and a recognized educational and cultural ambassador of the Caribbean, Nettleford spent his life serving the Caribbean and his country through education and the performing arts.—Sherman Escoffery
Often referred to as the queen of the track with her record holding 14 World Games medals and seven Olympic appearances, Ottey is the first Caribbean female athlete to win an Olympic medal and the oldest track and field medalist, which she achieved at age 40, during the 2000 Olympics. A former ambassador at large for Jamaica, Ottey acquired Slovenian citizenship in order to compete for that country after failing to make the Jamaican team for the 2004 Olympics. Merlene is still an internationally recognized top-level sprinter at age 52, as she has still refused to bow out of competition. –Sherman Escoffery
Originally from Westmoreland, Harvard professor Patterson began his career as a novelist, writing Children of Sisyphus, a novel about Rastafari. He then became an academic, one of the world’s foremost authorities on slavery and freedom. —Erin MacLeod
With a winning combination of traditional dancehall riddims and Jamaican patwa, a handsome face and a few dance moves, Sean Paul elevated dancehall music to new global heights in the early 2000s. His second album Dutty Rock contained hits like “Gimme the Light”, “Get Busy” and “Like Glue”, garnering him a Grammy and making him an international superstar. He’s one of the few dancehall artists to have worked with stars on the level of Beyonce, Estelle, DMX, Keyshia Cole and more.—Mikelah Rose
Lee “Scratch” Perry is quite possibly the most eccentric figure in the history of pop culture to dramatically influence so many. His early work as apprentice for Studio One’s Coxsone Dodd led to him working with Bob Marley and ultimately building the sound, vibe and musical setup for the original Wailers band. From there he went on to build the Black Ark Studio where the art of music production and mixing was changed forever. His experimental approach and unique sound cemented his name as a genius whose art can not be replicated.—Dave Susser
Mortimo Planno was the man who reportedly convinced Haile Selassie, upon arriving in Jamaica, that he need not be afraid of the heaps of folks chanting and praising. He also taught the faith of Rastafari to TrenchTown, and found favor with professors and scholars uptown.—Erin MacLeod
As Chairman of the US military’s Joint Chiefs of Staff from 1989 to 1993, and Secretary of State under President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2005, Colin Powell became the most powerful yardie on the planet. The Bronx-born son of two Jamaican immigrant parents, Powell was tapped by current President Barack Obama to head the Presidential Delegation attending today’s 50th anniversary celebrations in Kingston.—Jesse Serwer
Sheryl Lee Ralph is a Tony Award-winning actress with humble beginnings on stage in plays and musicals, most notably as part of the original cast of Dreamgirls! Raised between the United States and Jamaica, the fearless actress/activist has starred in countless movies (The Mighty Quinn, Distinguished Gentleman, Sister Act 2) and TV shows (Designing Women, Moesha, ER) and continues to be an activist for HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention.—Mikelah Rose
Shabba Ranks’s charisma and outlandish fashions made him the first dancehall pop star in the early 90s; his success after signing with Epic Records and releasing “Mr. Loverman”, “House Call” (with Maxi Priest) and other singles set off a wave of signings of dancehall deejays by US and UK major labels in subsequent years. Though he’s recorded only sporadically in the last 15 years, his appeal was never more apparent than on his return to Jamaica after 10 years away last month. —Jesse Serwer
Trevor Rhone was one of Jamaica’s most noted playwrights. Case in point, Ol’ Story Time was performed at the Jubilee Village venue for the Jamaica 50 celebrations. Perhaps his most famous piece is Smile Orange. Sort of a folky and very Jamaican version of Fawlty Towers, a 1976 movie version stars Carl Bradshaw and remains a favorite. –Martei Korley
Jamaica’s King of Comedy, Oliver Samuels is best known as the star of Oliver at Large, the country’s most famed sitcom. Samuels, who continues to act in stage plays such as the recent Who A Di Don, is such a beloved figure that an upcoming Jamaican version of Monopoly will feature him on the box in the role of Mr. Monopoly. –Jesse Serwer
Perhaps the most enduring figure in Jamaican politics, Seaga was a long time MP and then the country’s fifth Prime Minister, from 1980 to 1989. As head of the Jamaica Labour Party, he acted as opposition leader from 1974 to 1980 and again from 1989 to 2005. But before that he was a scholar and music man, setting up one of the country’s first significant labels in West India Records Limited, later known as Dynamic Sounds after he sold it to Byron Lee. —Jesse Serwer
Ska singer Millie Small was instrumental in propelling Jamaican music into the international scene with her 1964 hit, “My Boy Lollipop”. One of the first female Jamaican superstars, she caught the attention of a young Island Records’ Chris Blackwell, who placed her on his then Fontana Records label and sent her to England to record the popularized version of the single. —Erin Hansen
Ken Spencer was hands down Jamaica’s most prolific fine artist. A self-taught painter, he chose to return to Jamaica and ply his craft after having lived in the London art scene for a couple of years. His pieces of everyday Jamaican scenery adorn homes business and institutions across the island. —Martei Korley
Donovan “King Tubby” Ruddock’s contribution to the art of mixing recorded music cannot be overstated. The concept of arranging music from the mixing board was not a known practice when this electrician-turned-audio-engineer (and operator of Tubby’s Hometown Hi-Fi sound system) first started twirling knobs and reinventing reverb and delay. His studio wound up creating some of the best music of the 70s and 80s with the help of his apprentice engineer, Scientist: Tubby would often give session work to other engineers so he could fix a TV or a toaster, as it was guaranteed money as opposed to music, but in the process he gave opportunities to others who passed the torch. —Dave Susser
Christopher Wallace a/k/a The Notorious B.I.G.
Born in Brooklyn to Voletta Wallace and a Jamaican politician and welder named George Latore, Christopher Wallace is widely considered to be greatest rapper of all-time, and still maintains a hugely influential presence in music more than 15 years after his death. The most remarkable thing about Biggie’s career was the impact he made in just under five years—the amount of time between his earliest collaborations with Mary J. Blige and Heavy D, and his death in 1997. —Jesse Serwer
Considered Jamaica’s greatest living artist, the prolific Watson married an education in the classics at the Royal College of Art in the UK with the scenery of his home country. His pictures of Jamaica and Jamaicans are both memorable and gorgeous.—Erin MacLeod
The original Bolt and Blake, sprinters Arthur Wint and Herb McKenley won Jamaica’s first gold and silver medals, respectively, in the 400 meters, at the last London Olympics in 1948. While both men’s success in the 40s and 50s paved the way for the current generation of great Jamaican runners, McKenley took it upon himself to develop the sport in Jamaica, coaching the national team from 1954 to 1973 and serving as president of the Jamaica Amateur Athletics Association.—Jesse Serwer
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