A FEW THOUGHTS ON: LEGENDARY UK SOUND MAN LLOYDIE COXSONE TALKS REGGAE MUSIC & DAVID RODIGAN
First of all I’m not getting into a debate about this interview with Lloydie and his views on Rodigan… so I’m just going to say this once.
In my life as a writer and a devotee of reggae music I consider Lloydie Coxsone as one of my mentors. Coxsone sound system was the first big Sound that I heard back in the early Seventies. The place was the Jamaican Club in Gloucester and it blew my mind. Lloyd was the first person from the reggae music community that I interviewed. I was a follower (along with photographer Jean Bernard Sohiez aka Frenchie) of Coxsone sound system. We knew the team and understood the runnings – good and bad – having travelled with the sound numerous times. In fact, the words under this video look like my own.
I’ve read David Rodigan’s book and I suppose I’ve contributed to the media frenzy around it by reviewing it. You can read the review at https://ancienttofuture.com/2017/02/20/david-rodigan-a-life-in-reggae-roddy-you-a-dubwise-smody/. The book is a lightweight affair that makes no real attempt to contextualise reggae music in the UK. It’s a book about the man himself. As such, I can totally understand why Lloydie – “representing 500+ sound system across the UK”- is more that vexed that “David Run’n’gwaan” has been touted as the godfather of reggae music in the UK. There’s no escaping the fact that the media – National TV, “quality” newspapers, music press, internet – the whole shebang – have been totally at ease promoting a somewhat offbeat white thespian as a saviour of reggae music while ignoring the people who ran the reggae record shops, indie labels and, of course, the underground sound system operators who toured the length and breadth of the country, week in and week out, from the 60s onward. They are the saviours of reggae music. They created the foundation that others profited from.
It’s therefore easy to understand that, from Lloydie Coxsone and his idren’s perspective, all the hubbub and press that surrounded the publication of Rodigan’s book is just another instance of life in racist Britain. Once again the Afro Caribbean people who actually created the music and promoted it within their community and way beyond it beyond are being written out of UK history – a history which should inform future generations and provide a basis for them to build on. Lloydie Coxsone’s own history says it all. He arrived in London from Jamaica in the early Sixties. He worked on the Underground and saved to buy his first amp. He worked for Count Suckle at the legendary Roaring Twenties in Carnaby Street and he went on create a cup winning sound system that was indeed the benchmark against all others were judged. Reggae music and Sound System are his life. For decades he dedicated himself to promoting and introducing generation after generation of Jamaican artists. How many amazing voices, lyrics, tunes, dubs… has Coxsone Outernational sound system introduced? Countless!
As Coxsone himself would say “a life in Sound System is hard” and, while there is increasing recognition of the role of Sound System in shaping UK culture today, the real story has yet to be told. Personally, I have no problem with David Rodigan. He is a knowledgeable and affable guy who, despite his somewhat offbeat theatrical antics in rarified world of international sound clashes, is primarily a talented broadcaster whose shows on BBC Radio London, Capital and KissFM were limited to the greater London area. So, whenever we talk about the evolution of reggae music in the UK and its pivotal cultural role in shaping the musical genres that hold sway among the youth of today – jungle, drum ‘n’ bass, dubstep, grime – credit needs to be paid to those who, for decades, paved the way.
Ask yourself one question, if a book was published tomorrow portraying Lloydie Coxsone’s Life In Reggae Music & Sound System – a story that shows the evolution of Sound System alongside the music (ska to dancehall) and also offers a deeper insight into the cultural resistance of the Afro Caribbean community and rise of Rastafari in the face of racist attacks and fire bombings, Police and SPG harassment and consistent marginalisation – would Coxsone be feted in the press and invited to talk about it on national TV? I don’t think so. And if that’s the case maybe we all need to reflect on that and ask ourselves, “What role can I play in this struggle for recognition – for truth and rights?”
Lloydie Coxsone – Sound Man
Paul Bradshaw – Straight No Chaser
ancienttofuture.com 
Good words, Brad! Blessings…
Exactly, well said and right on the button !
Suggestion: Write his own story (or get someone to write it) digitise it (upload to Amazon as an ebook) and promote it for sale globally.
If we don’t tell our own stories, no one will…our history is about how we tell the story. People will always speak from their own perspective.
Our legacy to our children and our children’s children is in the stories we tell now and cement forever online
SPW🙏🏾
Great article, having read Rodigans book, I completely agree……more credit to the people who deserve it!!! Saw Coxsone at One Love a few years ago, took the crown at the clash that year….hands down!!!! Thanks
i totally agree with everything you have said,more respect to lloydie coxsone. being a sound man myself jbinterational from 1975 its been a long and tough road,buying records upgrading the sound system but i have loved every minute of it,and so the story continues
“The book is a lightweight affair that makes no real attempt to contextualise reggae music in the UK. It’s a book about the man himself”. Of course it’s about “himself”, it’s an autobiography for God’s sake. Your comments on how the mainstream media would treat a Coxsone autobiography are valid, in that he wouldn’t get the same attention. But also consider that the media are self-referential and love to talk about both themselves their own, whether it’s for the purpose of praising or razing. And true to form, you’ve offered a bit of both in your review, replete with as many mentions of yourself as there are of Rodigan.
Very Bitter and jealous man rodigan is a white English DJ Who plays Reggae music who Black English supported back in the day and now I think Lloyd should have a radio 📻 Show where he can play all the old Dubs to the Nation and all the sound 🔊 back in the day support rodigan today It’s just JahLove 😀 through music 🎶 that’s all 😁
Let’s get it straight ; reggae started in Jamaica and the music is as Jamaican as the pope is catholic .
Reggae has however outgrown its borders and is now a global phenomenom.
Many people around the world have contributed to the rise and recognition of the music and Rodigan has played a huge part and needs to be recognised . To even suggest that one individual can take credit for everything is absolutely absurd.
Coxsone is the most respected personality in the uk reggae industry and none can take that from him . No book is enough to eulogise his achievement . What I hate is this petty wrangling and jostling for some meaningless accolade from the mainstream . Reggae does not need this !! We are far bigger than that and I’m ashamed of what’s happening now . Respect to Rodigan and respect to Coxsone . There is more than enough space for all of at the high table of greatness .
Agreed!
An article which is balance in it’s views
Yes Paul. I hope you’re well. In the May issue of The Dub, there is an article about Lloydie Coxsone, entitled THE OLD WARRIOR, that may interest you and your readers. It will go online via Rastaites and Reggaediscography. Looking forward. Salute, Natty Mark. ttps://drive.google.com/file/d/0B_w3_ISqO3DDdWhxb0lpMnZpOGs/view.
Some fair points made here, full credit should always go where it’s due, but to my knowledge DR has never labelled himself the “godfather of reggae music in the U.K.” and nor has he ever encouraged it. That’s the work of lazy journalists and publishers. So quite why is Rodigan getting attacked when the problem stems from a different, and much wider, issue? Big respect to LC but please, let’s see this for what it is. Rodigan released an autobiography and is now getting slammed for things that the media (or, if you like, wider society in general) is wholly responsible for. It might be understandable but that doesn’t make it right.
If Rodigan mentioned and gave credit to Duke Vin and the sounds that followed. Remember Rodigan is known for being knowledgeable. As a teenager in the 70’s living in Sheffield we used to check all the Sounds in Sheffield, and Leeds and Huddersfield and Birmingham and London.
It was easy in those days because as Rasta any Rasta we met wherever we traveled would put us up after with shelter and food and herbs until its time to move on..
We would also go to the reggae stage shows where one or 2 sounds played until the show started.
Lloydie gives credit to the sounds before him as Godfathers and the other 500 sounds as colleagues who worked hard to promote Reggae against all odds because mainstream radio wouldn’t do it.
I,m not hear to diss noone, im speaking from observational facts.
Now in the UK there is hardly anywhere to play for the sounds due to complicated licensing laws that outlaw our music.
Lloydie mentioned that in Jamaica the presses have stopped and this has killed the industry also the playing of specials doesn’t help the industry because the artists aren’t making money because noone can buy speacials, where as Lloydie and the other sounds used to play pre-release and then the crouds would want them and a little while later buy them and this would buss the artist.
Rodigan interviewed artists but didn’t buss them.
I say Rodigan has got his fame and reward its long overdue for our sound fraternity to be honored.
Let the truth be known from Duke Vin onwards. Let Rodigan do what he wants to do and say and let the truth about the fight over the years that is still going on, be told. Who’s going to make the film or write the book?
Hi Paul. Not sure if you remember me but I remember you. Just stumbled on your website and love the Reggae articles especially those in 2011 about Sound Systems. I’m writing about my life in reggae sound system that I ran for a few years before joining in the pirate radio scene and then legally with Kissfm in 1990. Was the first all female Sound in London during the 80’s. Trying to get hold if a copy of the article about it that Black Echoes published back then. Hope life is treating you well. Warmest. Dj Angie Dee.
Hi Angie,
Hi Angie… Lovely to hear that you are writing up that piece of history. I got back in touch with photographer/journo Anna Arnone when we did the the Word Sound & Power exhibition back in 2014. She lives in Eastbourne and is currently putting together another book of her photos and extracts from the interviews she did for Echoes. Anna documented the scene in that Saxon Sound / Philip Levi / Smiley Culture era… early dancehall… and she was the one person to document the women – like yourself – involved in Sound. She would have written the piece on your good-self for Echoes. Her email is anna_arnone@yahoo.co.uk. She’s not had an easy time of late, and she’s vexed but resilient and I’m sure she’d love to hear from you. Keep me posted. Best… Paul B
I followed Coxsone from the days of the Roaring 20’s – in the 70’s – all the way back before Rodigan.
Come the 80’s, I never understood how the Jamaican music community including Lloyd Coxsone and every major reggae artist like Barrington Levy, Frankie Paul, etc… how they ALL allowed Rodigan to be like a “king” over them. They ALL sucked-up to Rodigan to get air-play and be in his good books. That’s a fact.
Lloyd Coxsone complains about it 40 years later?!?! It’s like Lloyd suddenly woke up from a coma. Where was Lloyd’s voice all those years ago… when it was needed? When Rodigan was totally controlling reggae music sales through his Saturday night show on Capital Radio?
Lloyd was happily appearing on that show too. Now, he’s complaining? Give me a break!
Too little – too late.