Count Ossie
Encyclopedia
Count Ossie, born Oswald Williams (1926, St. Thomas, Jamaica - 18 October 1976) was a Jamaica
n drummer
and band leader.
community where he learned techniques of vocal chanting and hand drumming under the tutelage of Brother Job. In the early 1950s he set up a Rasta community in Rockfort on the east side of Kingston
, where many of Kingston's musicians learned about the Rastafari movement
. In the late 1950s, he (with other percussionists) formed the Count Ossie Group. His first sound recordings were made after meeting Prince Buster
. One of those was a song by the Folkes Brothers, "Oh Carolina
", regarded by some music historians as the first-ever ska
record. During this period Count Ossie also recorded for Harry Mudie
.
He formed a group called "Mystic Revelation Of Rastafari" and during his life issued two albums that he recorded with them. His masterpiece was the Grounation three-LP set (1973), which includes songs such as "Oh Carolina", "So Long", and "Grounation" (the latter title with over 30 minutes running time).
Two years later Tales Of Mozambique (Dynamic 1975) was issued, continuing the legacy of the first album.
Count Ossie died in 1976, aged 50, with conflicting reports of the cause, including a car accident and being trampled by a frightened crowd following a show at Kingston's National Arena.
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
n drummer
Drummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
and band leader.
Biography
As a young boy Ossie grew up in a rastaRastafari movement
The Rastafari movement or Rasta is a new religious movement that arose in the 1930s in Jamaica, which at the time was a country with a predominantly Christian culture where 98% of the people were the black descendants of slaves. Its adherents worship Haile Selassie I, Emperor of Ethiopia , as God...
community where he learned techniques of vocal chanting and hand drumming under the tutelage of Brother Job. In the early 1950s he set up a Rasta community in Rockfort on the east side of Kingston
Kingston, Jamaica
Kingston is the capital and largest city of Jamaica, located on the southeastern coast of the island. It faces a natural harbour protected by the Palisadoes, a long sand spit which connects the town of Port Royal and the Norman Manley International Airport to the rest of the island...
, where many of Kingston's musicians learned about the Rastafari movement
Rastafari movement
The Rastafari movement or Rasta is a new religious movement that arose in the 1930s in Jamaica, which at the time was a country with a predominantly Christian culture where 98% of the people were the black descendants of slaves. Its adherents worship Haile Selassie I, Emperor of Ethiopia , as God...
. In the late 1950s, he (with other percussionists) formed the Count Ossie Group. His first sound recordings were made after meeting Prince Buster
Prince Buster
Cecil Bustamente Campbell, O.D. , better known as Prince Buster, and also known by his Muslim name Muhammed Yusef Ali, is a musician from Kingston, Jamaica. He is regarded as one of the most important figures in the history of ska and rocksteady music...
. One of those was a song by the Folkes Brothers, "Oh Carolina
Oh Carolina
"Oh Carolina" is a song made famous by Shaggy, and released as the lead single from his debut album, Pure Pleasure. Written by John Folkes, produced by Prince Buster and performed by The Folkes Brothers in 1960, "Oh Carolina" was a landmark single in the development of reggae music, especially as a...
", regarded by some music historians as the first-ever ska
Ska
Ska |Jamaican]] ) is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1950s, and was the precursor to rocksteady and reggae. Ska combined elements of Caribbean mento and calypso with American jazz and rhythm and blues...
record. During this period Count Ossie also recorded for Harry Mudie
Harry Mudie
Harry A. Mudie is a Jamaican record producer.-Biography:Harry Mudie attended the St Jago High School. In the mid fifties, he launched his own sound system "Mudies Hi-Fi", before going to the UK to study electronics and photography.Back in Jamaica in the late 1950s, Mudie began producing, mainly...
.
He formed a group called "Mystic Revelation Of Rastafari" and during his life issued two albums that he recorded with them. His masterpiece was the Grounation three-LP set (1973), which includes songs such as "Oh Carolina", "So Long", and "Grounation" (the latter title with over 30 minutes running time).
Two years later Tales Of Mozambique (Dynamic 1975) was issued, continuing the legacy of the first album.
Count Ossie died in 1976, aged 50, with conflicting reports of the cause, including a car accident and being trampled by a frightened crowd following a show at Kingston's National Arena.
Discography
- Grounation (1973), Ashanti
- Tales Of Mozambique (1975)
- Man From Higher Heights (1983)
- Remembering Count Ossie: A Rasta Reggae Legend (1996)
External links
- Biography at niceup.com
- Count Ossie at Roots Archives