Duke Reid facts for kids

Arthur "Duke" Reid CD (born May 14, 1923 – died September 26, 1976) was a famous Jamaican record producer, DJ, and owner of a record label. He was a very important person in the history of Jamaican music.

Duke Reid ran one of the most popular music systems in the 1950s. These were called sound systems, like a mobile outdoor disco. His sound system was known as Reid's Sound System. Duke himself was called The Trojan, possibly after the trucks used to carry his equipment. In the 1960s, he started his own record label, Treasure Isle. He named it after his liquor store. This label produced popular ska and rocksteady music. He continued to work in music until the early 1970s. He passed away in 1976 after being ill for some time.

The Life of Duke Reid

Duke Reid was born in Portland, Jamaica. Before he became a music legend, he worked as a police officer in Jamaica for ten years. After leaving the police force, he helped his wife, Lucille, manage their family business. This was the Treasure Isle Grocery and Liquor Store in Kingston.

Starting in Music: Sound Systems

In 1953, Duke Reid entered the music industry. He started as a sound system owner, promoter, and DJ. A sound system was a big mobile music setup. It played music for people to dance to outdoors. He quickly became more popular than other sound systems in Jamaica. Soon, he also hosted his own radio show called "Treasure Isle Time."

Duke loved jazz and blues music. His special theme song was "My Mother's Eyes" by Tab Smith. He also really liked Fats Domino, whose music influenced Duke's early sound.

Becoming a Record Producer

Duke Reid started making his own music recordings in the late 1950s. At first, he used other people's studios. But when his family's store moved to Bond Street in Kingston, he built his own recording studio above the shop.

He owned several record labels, mainly Treasure Isle and Dutchess. He earned a lot of money from deals with companies in the UK. Some of these companies even created special Duke Reid music labels. He was known for his strong presence in the studio. He would sometimes make loud noises to celebrate a great new song.

Dominating the Music Scene

Duke Reid was a major force in Jamaican music during the 1960s. He focused on ska and rocksteady music. However, his love for American jazz, blues, and soul was always clear in his work.

He had several advantages that helped him become so successful. He spent a lot of time in his studio, which other producers didn't always do. He was a perfectionist. He was good at adding rich, orchestral sounds to his recordings. His songs were also often longer than those made by his competitors. Many of his songs lasted over four minutes, while most ska songs were only about two minutes long. The music from Treasure Isle was known for its cool and smooth feel during the rocksteady era.

Duke Reid was also famous for his appearances at "toasting" battles. These were events where DJs would compete to see who could play the best music and talk over the songs. He would dress in a fancy cloak and a crown. He was known for his commanding presence, which helped him control the crowd.

Ska and Rocksteady Hits

At first, Duke Reid didn't like ska music much. He thought it was too simple and focused too much on drums. But he eventually embraced ska and produced many hit songs. Music historian Colin Larkin said that Reid's ska productions in the 1960s were "the absolute peak of the style."

He had many successful songs with popular artists. These included Stranger Cole, the Techniques, Justin Hinds and the Dominoes, Alton Ellis and the Flames, the Paragons, the Jamaicans, and the Melodians.

Later Years and Legacy

By the 1970s, Duke Reid's health began to decline. Also, the music trend was shifting towards Rastafarian-influenced roots reggae. Duke Reid did not allow Rasta lyrics in his studio. Because of this, another producer, Coxsone Dodd, became more dominant in the Jamaican music scene. However, Duke Reid still stayed famous by recording "toasting" DJs like U-Roy and Dennis Alcapone.

Around this time, Justin Hinds, one of Duke Reid's artists, noticed he wasn't well. A doctor diagnosed him with cancer. Duke decided to sell his Treasure Isle label to Sonia Pottinger. She was already a successful record label owner. He remained involved in some public duties but passed away in 1976.

Duke Reid was honored after his death. On October 15, 2007, he was given the Order of Distinction award. This award recognizes Jamaicans who have made important contributions to their country.

Duke Reid's Music: Partial Discography

• Various Artists – Soul To Soul DJ's Choice – 1973 – Trojan Records (1995)
• Various Artists – Gems From Treasure Isle – 1966-1968 – Trojan Records (1982)
• Various Artists – Ba Ba Boom Duke Reid – 1967-1972 – Trojan Records (1994)
• Various Artists – Duke Reid's Treasure Chest – Heartbeat Records (1992)
• Various Artists – Treasure Isle Dub Vol 01
• Various Artists – Version Affair Vol 01 – Lagoon (1992)
• Various Artists – Version Affair Vol 02 – Lagoon (1993)
• Various Artists – Sir Coxsone & Duke Reid in Concert at Forresters Hall – Studio One
• Various Artists – The Treasure Isle Story (4-CD box set) – Trojan Records (2017)