Sound Clash: Stereo One vs Black Scorpio vs Killamanjaro 1987

Stereo One is the Sound System and music label of Clifton Henry. Clifton passed away in 2004.
Artists that were connected to the label were Lt. Stitchie, Wolfman, Ricky Stereo, Malibu, Leroy the Hornsman, Daddy Blue, Sugar Bobby, Bendilue (Mr Vega's older brother), Little John, Little Kirk, Captain Barkey & Wickerman, Dollyman, Michael Buckley, Mikey Dread and Mumble.

Maurice Johnson started to operate a single turntable and speaker sound system in 1968 and started the Special I sound system in 1972, changing the name to Black Scorpio after the name caused friction in the area in which it was based, with the largely People National Party-supporting locals suspecting sympathies with the Jamaica Labour Party due to its similarity to that party's slogan. Also known as 'The Horseman Sound' to the close association of Johnson (who owned racehorses) and deejays that worked on the sound system (General Trees and Lord Sassafrass) with horse racing, it rose to become one of the top sounds in Jamaica. Other deejays who worked on the system included Culture Lee, Shukashine, Barry Bak, and Lady G. Black Scorpio expanded into a record label in the early 1980s with a studio on Molynes Road in the Drewsland area of Kingston. Johnson had his first hit as a producer in 1982 with "Pink Eye" by DJ Sassafrass, the pair having a bigger hit in 1985 with "Pocomania Jump", and Black Scorpio went on to become one of the top labels of the early era of ragga.

Killamanjaro sound was started by Papa Jaro in 1969 and it’s name is derived from Africa’s highest mountain, Mount Kilimanjaro, and throughout their history they have constantly scaled great heights both in Jamaica and worldwide.

As Killamanjaro’s set grew in size and popularity they started to recruit deejays with O Lord being their first resident professional mic man. As the seventies made way for the eighties so Killamanjaro marched onwards and upwards. A major plus for the sound occurred when Mr Harper recruited Ainsley Grey as main selector. Sadly we have yet to hear a full Jaro session dated earlier than 1982 but a typical dance around 1982/83 would feature such luminaries as Jim Kelly (b. Sylvester Morgan), the apprentice of O Lord, who by this time had flourished into a great chatter and the sets number one deejay. Other deejays on the scene at this time were veteran Lone Ranger (b. Anthony Waldron), Buro Banton (b. Donovan Spalding), who had two separate stints with the sound, Danny Dread and Dirty Harry. In addition John Wayne (b. Norval Headley) and Papa Tullo aka Tullo T (b. Everald Crawford), who were previously on Studio Mix sound, could often be heard at Jaro dances.

As well as the deejays Killamanjaro also promoted singers around the set. Long time dancehall fixture Puddy Roots (b. Junior Smith), who had started out as a deejay Puddy Lion on the Arrows sound in the mid to late seventies, morphed into a singer who would appear on many of Killamanjaro’s crucial sessions in the early eighties. He would also be joined by U.U. Madoo, a singer with a voice almost indistinguishable to his older brother Madoo. These singers along with others like the sweet voiced Hopeton James and the “original” Thriller were always there to provide an alternative vocal refrain.

Tragedy struck the Killamanjaro camp midway through 1983 when Jim Kelly was killed, yet another victim of the violence that permanently haunts Jamaican society. In time though the void was filled by, not one, but two top notch deejays Super Cat (b. William Marragh) and Early B (b. Earlando Neil). These sparring partners had been plying their trade away from Kingston on St Thomas’ King Majesty sound but they now took up residency on Killamanjaro, now one of the islands top sounds. From 1983 to 1985 Killamanjaro were near untouchable, especially when the “Doctor” and Super Cat were firing on all cylinders. New additions to the Killamanjaro family included Little Twitch, (b. Richard Wright) who’d started out at King Sturgav, and later Super Cat’s younger brother Junior Cat (b. Wayne Marragh).

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