Wake the Town
Encyclopedia
"Wake the Town" is a reggae
song recorded by U-Roy
.
Jamaica
n toaster U-Roy put the country on notice when the refrain "Wake the town, tell the people" first rang out of dancehall
s and clubs in Jamaica in 1970. The song was one of the first major hits of the genre, taking reggae
music to the next level, and was the primary inspiration of much of dancehall music for the next generation. The song was a revision of Alton Ellis
' "Girl I've Got a Date", and the sense of familiarity the song carried, as well as the catchy hook and lyrics sent the song to the top of the Jamaican music charts. The recording that led to the single was initiated when John Holt
attended a sound system party, and heard U-Roy
deejay
. Holt had just hit it big with "Wear You to the Ball", and he convinced U-Roy and producer Duke Reid
to hook up. The duo cut two songs, and "Wake the Town" was born.
music in Jamaica by California
cultural anthropologist
Norman Stolzoff.
Sampled in the song "Omaha Stylee" by 311
Reggae
Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...
song recorded by U-Roy
U-Roy
U-Roy , OD, is a Jamaican musician, also known as The Originator. He is best known as a pioneer of toasting.-Biography:...
.
Jamaica
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 toaster U-Roy put the country on notice when the refrain "Wake the town, tell the people" first rang out of dancehall
Dancehall
Dancehall is a genre of Jamaican popular music that originated in the late 1970s. Initially dancehall was a more sparse version of reggae than the roots style, which had dominated much of the 1970s. In the mid-1980s, digital instrumentation became more prevalent, changing the sound considerably,...
s and clubs in Jamaica in 1970. The song was one of the first major hits of the genre, taking reggae
Reggae
Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...
music to the next level, and was the primary inspiration of much of dancehall music for the next generation. The song was a revision of Alton Ellis
Alton Ellis
Alton Nehemiah Ellis, OD, was a Jamaican musician best known as one of the innovators of rocksteady music and was often referred to as the "Godfather of Rocksteady". In 2006, he was inducted into the International Reggae And World Music Awards Hall Of Fame.-Biography:Ellis was born in 1938 and...
' "Girl I've Got a Date", and the sense of familiarity the song carried, as well as the catchy hook and lyrics sent the song to the top of the Jamaican music charts. The recording that led to the single was initiated when John Holt
John Holt (singer)
John Holt is a reggae singer and songwriter.-Biography:Holt was born in Kingston in 1947. By the age of 12, he was a regular entrant in talent contests run at Jamaican theatres by Vere Johns...
attended a sound system party, and heard U-Roy
U-Roy
U-Roy , OD, is a Jamaican musician, also known as The Originator. He is best known as a pioneer of toasting.-Biography:...
deejay
Deejay
A deejay is a reggae or dancehall musician who sings and toasts to an instrumental riddim .Deejays are not to be confused with disc jockeys from other music genres like hip-hop, where they select and play music. Dancehall/reggae DJs who select riddims to play are called selectors...
. Holt had just hit it big with "Wear You to the Ball", and he convinced U-Roy and producer Duke Reid
Duke Reid
Treasure Isle re-directs here. For the game, see Treasure Isle .Arthur "Duke" Reid, CD was a Jamaican record producer, DJ and label owner....
to hook up. The duo cut two songs, and "Wake the Town" was born.
Book
Wake the Town and Tell the People: Dancehall Culture in Jamaica is a book discussing the history of dancehallDancehall
Dancehall is a genre of Jamaican popular music that originated in the late 1970s. Initially dancehall was a more sparse version of reggae than the roots style, which had dominated much of the 1970s. In the mid-1980s, digital instrumentation became more prevalent, changing the sound considerably,...
music in Jamaica by California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
cultural anthropologist
Cultural anthropology
Cultural anthropology is a branch of anthropology focused on the study of cultural variation among humans, collecting data about the impact of global economic and political processes on local cultural realities. Anthropologists use a variety of methods, including participant observation,...
Norman Stolzoff.
Sampled in the song "Omaha Stylee" by 311