Reggae Fe Real

Forwarding Reggae Music to the world

George Reggae Barrett Celebrating another milestone 31 Years on Vancouver Coop radio 102.7 FM, 25 years on CITR 101.9 FM Radio Host Dj, Concert Promoter. Sound system Operator.

Born and raised in the oldest inland Town in Jamaica, Bath St Thomas, about 45 miles from Kingston. My passion for reggae music came at an early age. My home where my mother runs the family business was next door to Robert’s Night Club and Tavern. On the weekends they held big dances in the Night Club. As a boy, I could not go to the dances but I used go into the club and watch them string up the sound system before the dance starts. In the Tavern by day, Calypsonian Count Lasher used to grace the bar with his music. In those days I used to listen to sound systems such as Barlow Sound, Daddy Nick, Mellow Canary, Merry tone Disco, Danny Lou, and Phoenix the Ghost. About the age of 12, I decided to keep a kids dance in my back yard and I invited some of my friends. I used some of my mother’s Salt fish and Red Herring box as my equipment. I heat half inch steel iron on the fire and used it to burn marble size holes in one side of the Red Herrin box then I fill the holes with different colour marbles. Then I put lighted candles in the box so it would look just like and amplifier that I saw over at the club. For the speaker, I bore a lot of holes in the Salt fish box; I put two of my friends Ricky and Mickey in the box and I told them to sing out loud. Everyone was laughing to hear the boys sing. The first human speaker was invented.

As a young boy, I always like to make model of some of the things that I saw. In the early sixties, my mother sent me to trade school to be a Radio Repair Technician. One weekend, a friend of mine who lived in Kingston came to visit his parents. He told me about a company in Kingston called Jamaica Electrical Supply Company (JESCO) that was looking for a Radio and TV technicians. I went for an interview and I got the job. Living in Kingston provided great opportunities for me to check out the record shops and go to some of the big dances around the city. Some of the sounds that I used to listen to were, Sir Coxson Down Beat, Duke Reid the Trojan, Super Tone Sound, Lloyd Bells, Lloyd the Matador sound King Toby’s King Patrick the dub Master, VeeRocket, Tom the great Sebastian these are just to name a few. My favourite band was the Skatalites. On Wednesday afternoon, the place to be was Victoria Pair where Tommy McCook and the Supersonics used to perform. On Fridays you could catch me at Barbeque Lawn on Fleet Street listening to Sir, Coxon down Beat with selector King Stitch. On Saturdays, there were several venues that host sound systems, venues such as Liberty Hall on King Street, Jubilee Tile Garden on upper King Street, Forester’s Hall on North Street, and 14 and 17 Windward Road. Sundays, the hot spot for sound system was Gold Coast Beach on the St. Thomas Road with King Toby’s with selector U. Roy.

I used to make extra money buying pre-release records from various record stores and take them to the country side and sell them to sound systems operators; you could call me a record juggler. In 1969, I built an amplifier for a friend of mine (Sacro Disco) He did not have a place to store the disco, so I kept it at my home. In the evenings when I got home from work, I would set up the disco and play music in the yard. In 1970, I left my job at JESCO to operate my own business. I opened a record shop and Radio and TV repair at 20 Charles Street Kingston. Shortly thereafter, I began producing records. My first production was at Randy`s Recording studio 17 North parade in Kingston. The group was Gladstone and the Riders; the studio musicians were Aston Family man Barrett, Carlton Barrett, Tommy McCook, Robby Shakespeare and other musicians. We recorded 6 songs and some instrumental dub tracks; the big tune was Dem Laughing which was released on my Shanty Tramp recording label. Back in those days they called me GB the producer. In 1972, I migrated to Canada Vancouver British Columbia; to join my wife Daphne, I brought along my two daughters, Bridgette and Melissa with me and a large wooden box full of 45 singles and LP records. In Vancouver I worked as an Electronics Technician for Sears.

Due to my passion for Reggae music, I started a sound system call Wadada Hi- Fi playing for Caribbean parties, banquettes, weddings and other social events. My first gig was just before Christmas in 1972. This exposure brought me to the attention of Alex Bosgart who introduced me to the organizers of Vancouver Coop Radio CFR0. 102.7FM. On August 27th 1976, I started the first Reggae Radio Show in Vancouver BC. Saturdays 6 pm 8.30 pm.www.coopradio.org. On air phone 604 684 7561. The reggae show has had a number of co-host over the years, Jim Burnett, John Chaoon, Collin Hepburn, Melissa Barrett, Donald Daws and Mark Chow. My present co-host is Louie Sutherland. On November 1982 I started my second reggae radio show, on CITR 101.9 FM, The Rockers Show Sundays 12 noon to 3 Pm. The rockers Show took its name from the classic reggae movie rockers. Log on and check out at www.citr.ca on air phone 604 822 2487, Log on to my 24/7 internet radio at www.reggaefereal.com.

Over the years I have had a number of co-hosts Jerry Toon, Melissa Barrett and Mike Cherry. Now I host the show by myself. Every February for the past 20 years, I produced and host a Vancouver Birthday Bash in memory of the late Bob Marley. In 2000 and 2003 I was selected to presents a seminar on reggae music at Music without Borders, for the high school kids at Britannia Secondary School. The seminar was base on the different types of reggae music and the culture, Over102 children were in attendance. Over the last 25 years I host a reggae night every Wednesdays at Graceland night club, Cafe Deux Soliel. Currently reggae night is at the Royal Canadian Legion Auditorium 2205 Commercial Drive, With Wadada Hi-Fi Sound.

AWARDS 1986 Canadian Reggae Music Awards An appreciation Award for outstanding and dedicated services in the field of reggae music.

1989 Canadian Reggae Music Award Certificate of Merit for outstand work in the field of reggae music.

1993 (The Congress of Black Woman Canada Pioneer Award category) Award for Contribution In Paving The Way For Others To Follow.

1999 Caribe-Wescan CC For Outstanding Community Contribution in Broadcasting.

1999 The Canadian Reggae Music Award - The Peter Tosh Memorial Award (Record Breaker)

George Barrett received an honourable mention for his contribution on the Peter Tosh Honorary Citizen 3 CD box set.

FEATURE George Barrett: A Lifetime of Reggae Radio, 33 Years and Still Going Strong George "Reggae" Barrett Celebrates 33 Years of Radio "Reggae is largely absent from mainstream airplay in North America. Its strongest outposts are non-commercial and college radio stations, and public access cable TV channels, which broadcast programs presented by volunteer devotees of the music.  To do a weekly show requires an enormous amount of work - auditioning new releases, researching the backgrounds of upcoming guests, combing the past for its most important moments. It requires an enormous amount of dedication - or, as Rasta say, "livication," because these activities are almost all non-paying positions.  Such a committed presenter is George Barrett of Vancouver, who has spent 33 years educating Western Canada's growing reggae audience.  He comes from the First Family of Reggae Music - his cousins Carlton and Aston are the world-famous Barrett Brothers, the drum and bass section of Bob Marley's Wailers band, who brought the message of the prophet to the four corners of the planet, so the music is in George's blood.  "Because he came directly out of the culture that produced this irresistible riddim, he knows it in ways that those of us up north can't. And his articulate ability to share his knowledge and love of reggae has shaped Canada's perceptions of Jamaica's greatest export, and influenced a couple of generations of young fans. His works are acknowledged internationally, his selfless service widely respected. There are very few broadcasters who have enjoyed such a long and fertile career as George Barrett, and I'm proud to call him 'friend'". -Roger Steffens, Chairman, Reggae Grammy Committee; Founding Editor, The Beat.     On August 28th 1976, George Barrett began his broadcasting career on Vancouver Coop Radio, CFR0 102.7 FM after migrating to British Columbia from his native Jamaica. A reflection of his life, work, and passion, The Reggae Radio Show was born.  In October 1982, its sibling, The Rockers Show - named after the classic Jamaican film 'Rockers' - followed on CITR 101.9 FM. Thirty-three years since his first show aired, George Barrett continues to dedicate his time and talents to educate and entertain western Canadians and world-wide listeners on his weekly reggae programmes.  Celebrations for George's 33rd anniversary take place on Friday September 25th at the Café Deux Soleils, 2096 Commercial Drive in Vancouver. Festivities kick off at 9PM with Mr. Barrett spinnin' alongside his current Reggae Show co-host, Louie Sutherland. Louie has known George for almost a quarter of a century and began co-hosting The Reggae Show with George in 1987. Here's what hehad to say:  "George is a very straight forward person who does not hold back. He just tells you as it is; he calls a spade a spade. He is very dedicated and committed to sharing and educating people about reggae music. He is truly a reggae ambassador, with a wealth of knowledge about reggae music. As a pioneer of reggae music he has introduced this music to thousands of British Columbians. When new immigrants come from Jamaica to British Columbia and listen to George on Coop Radio it makes them feel like they are back home in Jamaica; as we would say "'im mek me feel like me de back a Yard!" In Jamaica, George's passion for reggae music began at an early age; his family's business in Bath, St. Thomas, was next door to Robert's Night Club and Tavern. Too young to go to the weekend dances, George would watch the preparations instead, taking a particular interest in the stringing up of the sound systems. This early exposure to sound systems such as Barlow Sound, Daddy Nick, Mellow Canary, Merritone Disco, Danny Lou, and Phoenix the Ghost, in addition to his later influences that included the likes of Sir Coxsone's Downbeat Sound, Duke Reid's Trojan Sound, Super Tone Sound, Lloyd Bells, Lloyd the Matador Sound, and King Tubby's among others, led to the creation of George's own sound system, Wadada Hi-Fi years later in Canada.  A note to the soundbwoys:  his box is deep, with over4000 7" singles, 3000 plus LPs and 12" records, and over 10,000 CDs; not too many soundmen would be left standing especially after he plays his barrage of authentic dubplates from the Steppin' Razor himself, Peter Tosh.   With the longest running reggae show in Canada, it is no wonder that George "Reggae" Barrett is a multiple Canadian Reggae Music Award (CRMA)winner for his outstanding work and dedicated services in the field of reggae music. The CRMA also bestowed on him his cherished Peter Tosh Memorial Award, one of his fondest memories alongside that of reuniting with Bob Marley and the Wailers in their dressing room in 1976 while touring in Vancouver. Others have also found it fitting to praise and honour  George for his dedication, passion and hard work. In the liner notes of the Peter Tosh Honorary Citizen 3 CD box set, George Barrett received an honourable mention for his contribution. George has been honoured by The Congress of Black Women, receiving the Canada Pioneer Award for his "Contribution in Paving the Way for Others to Follow".Additionally, he was also recognized for his Outstanding Community Contribution in Broadcasting, by Caribe-Wescan CC.  According to Denise Jones, CEO of Jones and Jones Productions in Toronto, "George continues to play a vital role in branding reggae on the west coast.  With his knowledge of venues and of course playing the music and promoting shows, he was integral to helping us mount reggae tours across Canada for Freddie McGregor, Culture, Leroy Gibbons, Fujahtive and short drops with Culture Shock and Chester Miller. As founding chair of the reggae committee at the JUNOS, George also helped to get the word out to west coast artists and helped to make the reggae category beyond the east/central borders." George had a hand in the career of one of Canada's finest reggae bands, the Sattalites and worked closely with Leroy Sibbles while he was in Vancouver. That was a long time ago and times have changed as has the music. When asked to comment on the current state of reggae and where he'd like to see the music in the next 30 years, here's what Barrett had to say: "The current state of reggae music has improved over the years, but one has to always look back to where the music came from. In the early years of the music, there was Ska, Rock Steady, Reggae and now, Dancehall; really and truly the music has changed so rapidly. The so-called dancehall music of today is good in some ways-it has opened the door for other people who may have never listened to real reggae music; it opens the door for music such as Bob Marley, Culture, Peter Tosh, Third World, Jimmy Cliff, and Luciano to name a few, to be listened to. Unfortunately, the negative aspect to this current state of reggae and dancehall music is the lyrics these young artists are using. It is not acceptable! The music itself is dance music and young people love it. I am a radio host, DJ and selecta, I have to play some of it, but today reggae dancehall music is all about the bling bling and the money. Producers have to be held accountable for the music that they produce. I don't think I'll be around in the next 30 years, but if I am, I would be pleased to see somebody start a real reggae festival in Vancouver! I would like to see more venues open up for reggae music and have more commercial radio stations playing the music. I like that on radio you are able to reach a wide variety of people that you normally wouldn't be able to reach and you can dialogue about music and cultures, while having fun." For over three decades now, George Barrett has done just that. There have been so many memories and wonderful moments throughout his career it is virtually impossible to recount them all here, however on any given weekend George could treat you to one of his treasured dubplates from the Steppin' Razor or perhaps a snippet of their interview, which is at the top of George's list of the best interviews of his career.  George has had other interviews which have made his 'best of' list including Toots and The Maytals, the late Joseph Hill (Culture), Burning Spear, Shabba Ranks and Freddie McGregor; the list goes on and on. Most recently, George interviewed one of Denroy Morgan's sons, Gramps Morgan from the internationally, renowned reggae band, Morgan Heritage about his solo album/career. During a show, George might also share one of his stories about visiting Jamaica and meeting up with the likes of Dennis Brown or Sly Dunbar at Sonic Sound recording studio. One thing's for sure, George keeps his fans loyal with his great sense of humour, and his ability to present a well balanced show. Both The Reggae Show and The Rockers Show provide listeners with the latest music, news and entertainment. Staying up to the times, it is clear George will be rocking the airwaves for years to come. Luke Meat, Music Director of CITR where George has broadcasted The Rockers Show since '87 wanted to acknowledge this ambassador with the following words:  "George Barrett is undeniably active in the community. He is tireless and enthusiastic; he is just so dedicated and unique. He's an old school DJ at heart and we've finally got him on our podcasts, lol; he's not big on changing with technology, but his show is one of our most listened to programmes! He (George) is a staple, a token, and a personality on this radio station. I'm not a huge fan of Reggae, but I listen to George! Most DJs play the same thing, not him; he always brings something new to the table. He makes us more cutting edge. George is a great human being, a lovely soul and we are proud to have him." As we wrapped up our dialogue about his broadcasting career, George concluded: "My 33 years on radio have been the most wonderful thing I have ever done. It has  opened  a lot of  doors for me; allowed me to meet so many people, including artists and musicians that I was able to interview . Working on radio has helped me get work as a DJ and MC on many shows. Being on the radio gives me a sense of purpose; radio keeps my mind open to all types of music. Most of all, I have learned so much about broadcasting over the years.  I am not ready to retire yet!  Last and certainly not least, I would like to thank all of the producers, record distributors and artists for sending me their music." As a fellow radio broadcaster, and on behalf of ItaL rOOts RaDio™ based in Toronto, we would like to congratulate George Barrett and thank him for his countless years of devotion, support and friendship. We'd also like to thank his family, for it is they who have had to sacrifice their time with him so that he could follow his passion and continue his mission to educate the population about our beloved reggae music. Congratulations and many, many more years of success and reggae music. The Reggae Show can be heard Saturdays from 6-8:30pm PST on CFRO 102.7FM. The Rockers Show can be heard Sundays from noon-3pm PST on CITR 101.9FM. For more check out his website Reggae Fe Real

Long live Reggae music! Rastafari