Merritone Rock Steady 1 Shanty Town Curfew 1966-1967

Description

Federal Records, founded by Ken Khouri, played an essential role in the birth of Jamaica's musical identity. The country's first pressing plant and professional studio, the label was at the heart of the development of ska, rocksteady, and reggae.In the late 1940s, Jamaica vibrated to the sound of American rhythm & blues, broadcast on sound systems. When this style disappeared from the United States, local DJs decided to produce their own music, relying on musicians from Kingston. From this ferment emerged the first legendary producers, such as Clement "Coxsone" Dodd, Duke Reid, and Prince Buster, laying the foundations of a local music industry.As early as 1954, Ken Khouri recorded mento records with Jamaican artists, before opening the country's first record manufacturing plant. In 1957, he moved his business to Foreshore Road (now Marcus Garvey Drive) and, with the help of engineer Graeme Goodall, modernized his studio. This visionary initiative allowed Jamaica to forge its own sound and exert a lasting global influence on popular music.