Comin Soon in 2026! The new book: Jamaican Dance Hall Story: Lord Sassafrass and the Black Scorpio Sound System, by Rich Lowe

"POCOMANIA JUMP" Album by Lord Sassafrass on Black Scorpio Records.

Soon To Come in 2026, the new book: Jamaican Dance Hall Story: Lord Sassafrass and the Black Scorpio Sound System, by Rich Lowe. 
In 2019, the biography of Lloyd Daley, “The Matador,” was released. In 2022, Two Kings: King Edwards “The Giant” Sound System chronicled George and Vincent “Vin” Edwards. The trilogy concludes with Horseman Journey: Lord Sassafrass and the Black Scorpio Sound System, which shifts the focus from Jamaican music in the 1950s and 1960s to 1970s and 1980s dance hall, seen through the top sound system Black Scorpio and its DJ, Lord Sassafrass.
    Welcome to an insider’s view into sound system culture with Lord Sassafrass of Black Scorpio Sound System. Jamaica has given birth to reggae, rock steady, ska, mento, and dancehall. Each genre germinated in the dance halls of Kingston. This book has many layers reflecting the golden era of the 1970s and 1980s. It was a time when reggae was just hitting its stride, and people of the world were becoming interested, and musicians like The Rolling Stones, The Clash, Tom Tom Club, and The Police took on the energy.

 
   

Lord Sassafrass single on the Black Scorpio Record label.

This book gives a firsthand perspective on dance hall culture through exclusive interviews and stories from the people who lived it. Drawing deeply on conversations from the 1980s, it brings out fresh and immediate voices that capture the real spirit of Jamaican music and its evolution. While not encyclopedic, this narrative offers unique insights and lesser-known details for readers eager for a deeper understanding of dance hall history.
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1980 Stage Show at Skateland with Black Scorpio Sound System.

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A form of reggae music from the late 1970s and early 1980s came to be called dancehall (one word), but for decades, the dance hall was where Jamaican music was played, and it still is today.  Therefore, the music enjoyed in the dance hall (two words, a compound noun) is dance hall music. Jamaican genres of reggae, dub, roots music, rockers, rub-a-dub, and ragga are all played in the dance hall. This is dance hall music, and, boldly, Bob Marley is a dance hall artist. To cover dance hall music and culture is a big bite. The co-owner of GT Hi-Power Sound System, Day-Day, tells it all: “In my time, there was only reggae. It was all reggae. The rap came in with the DJs when the music changed, and they call it dancehall music. When people say, ‘Let’s hear some dancehall music.’ I always ask them to elaborate. What is dancehall music? I don’t know because it could be anything played in a dance hall.” Dance hall music is a Jamaican genre that has spread to all four corners of the Earth. Along with the music is a lifestyle full of sweet sounds, legendary singers and DJs, sound clash rivalries, and high-tech innovation. 
Keep the title in mind, “Horseman Journey,” and get ready to discover the vibrant heart of Jamaica’s music— the dance hall. Don’t miss your opportunity to explore this defining era of sound system culture. Stay tuned and be among the first to experience this journey—watch for the book’s release in 2026!
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Horseman Journey: Lord Sassafrass and the Black Scorpio Sound System, 1970s & 1980s Jamaican Sound System Culture, by Rich Lowe.