Small Axe Files on Dee Jays...

I've been digging around on the Small Axe web site again, and found a fantastic "top 100" guide to reggae DJ's. It was written in 1992, and goes all the way back to the early 1960's. For each entry, it has an excellent although really short summery of each artist, and a crucial track or LP to look for. Here is what they say about it:

It is not a history of DJ's, the amount of information needed for something like that is not at the moment available. Its purpose is to act as a guide to all the major DJ's over the last 30 or so years.

...and since I'm on an I-Roy kick, here is that entry:

I.ROY

Roy Reid, While working on his own sound Son's Junior. He was discovered by Harry Mudie in Spanish Town. With Harry Mudie he had a big hit ›Drifter‹ released in 1971. While Gussie Clarke produced his classic ›Presenting‹ LP [Trojan] in 1973.

Thanks for all this work, Ray.

Small Axe Reggae 'Zine

If you are interested in reading about reggae, it doesn't take too long before you run into quotes from an early reggae 'zine called Small Axe. Edited by Ray Hurford it was published between 1978 and 1989, and again during the 1990's. This publication has some fantastic interviews and information that goes much more in-depth that what you normally expect from a zine. It appears that some of the articles were collected and reprinted in several books, but I didn't have much luck finding copies for sale online. What I DID find online was a selection of articles on a site called Small Axe - The Annex. Since I found the site a few weeks ago, it has been updated, so obviously new material is being written... And it looks like they have a band as well called Small Axe People.