David Rodigan on the King Edwards Sound System Book

David Rodigan BBC Radio 1XTRA radio program
Book review (live on radio), 23 May 2023
Two Kings, Jamaica’s King Edwards “The Giant” Sound System 
The Era of The King, The Duke, & The Sir
 
*The following is a transcript of David Rodigan's review:

If you’re into Jamaican sound system culture, then you’ll probably want to get your hands on a book by Rich Opre Lowe — the man who gave us The Matador story, that was quite a story. His latest is entitled Two Kings, and it’s all about two brothers, George and Vin Edwards, who founded King Edwards “The Giant” Sound System. Sir Lord Comic, being one of the selectors. They had more than two sound rigs on the road at the time. They also had two record labels and a record shop, as well as the famous sound system. They were innovators in the early development of Jamaican sound systems with a customized amplifier, which they named “Hercules.” We’re talking 1950s Jamaica, into the sixties. They were involved in the cutting of soft wax recordings, now known as dubplates, from boogie-woogie to early ska. They also recorded their own productions at studios such as Federal, and both radio stations - RJR and JBC Radio One, and they released them on their own labels. Songs such as the original ska version of “Shank I Sheck” by Baba Brooks, on trumpet, on Giant Records. Their extensive catalog of records released between ‘61 and 1966 is listed in the rear of the book. This a real trainspotter’s book, packed with information and anecdotes. Fascinating and very detailed study of the contribution and impact that these two gentlemen had on the early years of Jamaican music. The book also lists the names and details of a variety of notable sound systems that prevailed around Jamaica in those early days, such as Count Nick, Tom The Great Sebastian, Bells The President, and Sir Dee’s, just to name a few. They also list other sound systems that I absolutely never heard of, but they were popular sound systems in the day. Fascinating insight and study. 
     Both brothers are still alive. George is 93, and Vin is 89, and over the past four years, they’ve been relaying their anecdotes to the author Rich Opre Lowe when he went down to Jamaica, incidentally, for decades. Rich used to broadcast reggae music in Cleveland, Ohio. The book is published by Jamaica Way Publishing, which is a company based in Sonoma, California. So, check it out, a brand-new publication thanks to Rich Lowe. It is called King Edwards “The Giant” Sound System. 
 
[Thanks to David Rodigan for his support of this book and his lifelong support of Jamaican music]

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