Selectors, MCs and operators

A sound system is a crew: the owner, the selector, the operator on the pre-amp, the MCs, and the box boys who carry it all. These are the people on the register.

Profiles

• Mikey Dread (Channel One)Selector

  Mikey Dread is the selector of Channel One, one of the best-known reggae sound systems in Britain. With his brother Jah T he took over their father's sound, Admiral…

• Dennis BovellProducer and sound system operator

  Dennis Bovell came to London from Barbados in 1965, aged 12. His father ran a sound called Tropical Soundmaster at blues parties, weddings and christenings, and Bovell…

• Lloyd "Musclehead" FrancisSaxon co-founder

  Lloyd "Musclehead" Francis co-founded Saxon Studio International with Dennis Rowe in Lewisham in 1976, part of the first generation of Black British youth to start…

• Jazzie BSoul II Soul founder

  Jazzie B founded Soul II Soul as a sound system and named it in 1982. Its nights at the Africa Centre in Covent Garden from 1985 to 1989 became legendary, and the name…

• Cecil RennieKing Tubby's founder

  Cecil Rennie was born in St Thomas, Jamaica and came to England as a teenager in 1965. In March 1970, aged 19, he launched King Tubby's Hi-Fi in Brixton, named after…

• Lloyd CoxsoneSir Coxsone Outernational founder

  Lloyd "Coxsone" Blackford ran Sir Coxsone Outernational in London from the 1960s, one of the first UK sounds to play dub and the leading sound in Britain in the early…

• Jah Shaka, the Zulu WarriorSound system operator

  Jah Shaka formed his sound in south-east London around 1969–70 and named it after the 19th-century Zulu king. He played Phebes in Hackney and Noreik in Tottenham, kept…

• Mark IrationIration Steppas founder

  Mark Iration set up Iration Steppas as a sound system in Leeds, playing blues dances, clubs and parties. A clash against Jah Shaka in Leeds won praise from Shaka…

• Huw "Cheff" WilliamsSinai Sound System founder

  Huw "Cheff" Williams founded Sinai Sound System in Sheffield. It grew from a three-box stack into a rig of over 200,000 watts, rooted in dub and reggae and now playing…

• DillinjaProducer, Valve Sound System

  Drum & bass producer Dillinja set up the Valve Sound System and Valve Recordings with his production partner Lemon D in 2001. Valve debuted at Fabric in London…

• Karl IrvingQuaker City founder

  Karl Irving, born in Montego Bay, Jamaica, founded Quaker City in Handsworth, Birmingham, in 1964. It played ska, then reggae, competed for the Gold Cup at Digbeth…

• Errol ArawakKing Earthquake founder

  Errol Arawak was born in Birmingham to Jamaican parents. He started playing blues dances there in the late 1970s with a six-member sound first called Mighty Earthquake…

• Ken "Fatman" GordonFatman Hi-Fi founder

  Kenneth Rowe Gordon, born in Watt Town, St Ann, came to Britain in the early 1960s and ran Fatman Hi-Fi out of Tottenham for decades, playing blues dances, town halls…

• Ras Wazair (Fada Waz)King Original founder

  Clifton Carnegie, known as Ras Wazair or Fada Waz, founded King Original in 1973, East London's leading reggae sound for more than twenty years. As Studio 55 he worked…

• Junie Rankin and DJ AdeNzinga Soundz founders

  Junie Rankin (June Reid) and DJ Ade (Lynda Rosenior-Patten) founded Nzinga Soundz in the mid-1980s. It became one of the UK's longest-running all-women sound systems…

• Spiderman (Austin Palmer)Jah Observer founder

  Austin Palmer, known as Spiderman, started Jah Observer with Ras Rudy in Thornton Heath near Croydon in 1973. First called Tippertone, the sound played school parties…

• Fitzgerald "Farda" GellyLord Gellys founder

  Fitzgerald Gelly followed a Jamaican sound called King Lattibuddier before coming to England in 1961, where he started out doing blues spots with a friend. He founded…

• Tony AndrewsLoudspeaker designer

  Tony Andrews co-founded the loudspeaker makers Turbosound (1978) and Funktion-One (1992) with John Newsham; the two met touring with the Steve Hillage Band in 1977.…

Every crew member on the register

• Aba Shanti-I (Joseph Smith)
  Aba Shanti-I, London
• Alan Rolle
  Jah Youth, London
• Alexis
  Bushrocker Hi-Fi, Lancashire
• Ambassador
  Jah Revelation Muzik, London
• Andy Greaves
  Earth Rocker, Huddersfield
• B-Dawg
  BIG Toe's HiFi, Leeds
• Baron D
  Highness Sound System, Nottingham
• Barzy
  Baron Turbo Charge, Moss Side, Manchester
• Belly
  V. Rocket International, Nottingham
• Ben
  Pineapple Tribe, Guildford
• Ben
  Highness Sound System, Nottingham
• Ben
  Mighty Oak Sound, Edinburgh
• Blue Cat
  Highness Sound System, Nottingham
• Boom Monk Ben
  Electrikal Sound System, Edinburgh
• Boysie
  Highness Sound System, Nottingham
• Cecil Rennie
  King Tubby's, Brixton
• Cecil Reuben
  Jah Revelation Muzik, London
• Choppa Chop
  BIG Toe's HiFi, Leeds
• Chris Jackson
  Pineapple Tribe, Guildford
• Christine Woodbridge
  Alpha & Omega, London
• Colin
  Quantro Tone, St Ann's, Nottingham
• Colin "COJO" Joseph (founder)
  Bushrocker Hi-Fi, Lancashire
• Colin Davies
  Pineapple Tribe, Guildford
• Coz Barnsfield (founder, selector, MC)
  Dub Generals, Hastings
• Craig Macleod
  Mungo's Hi Fi, Glasgow
• Curtis
  Messenger Sound System, Edinburgh
• Daddy Lee (Howard Belafonte)
  Armagideon, Huddersfield
• Dan Carrington (operator, box builder)
  Dub Generals, Hastings
• Daojia
  Electrikal Sound System, Edinburgh
• Davey
  Bushrocker Hi-Fi, Lancashire
• Dbo General (Danny Brown)
  Armagideon, Huddersfield
• Demus Dee (MC)
  King Tafari Love Muzic, Brighton
• Dennis Andries
  Admiral Ken, Hackney
• Dennis Bovell
  Dennis Bovell / Matumbi, London
• Dennis Bovell
  Jah Sufferer, London
• Dennis Rootical
  Iration Steppas, Leeds
• Dennis Rowe
  Saxon Studio International, Lewisham
• Diamond Finger (Andrew Johnson)
  King Maestro, Huddersfield
• Digistep
  Dubkasm, Bristol
• Dillinja
  Valve Sound System, London
• DJ Ade (Lynda Rosenior-Patten)
  Nzinga Soundz, London
• DJ Giovanni (John Thompson)
  Disco Hustlers, Notting Hill
• DJ Henry
  Admiral Ken, Hackney
• DJ Marlz
  V. Rocket International, Nottingham
• DJ O'Bryan (Darkman)
  Platinum Soul Sound, Shepherd's Bush
• DJ Sci-Fi (Simon Furlong)
  Disco Hustlers, Notting Hill
• DJ Stryda
  Dubkasm, Bristol
• Donovan Senior (manager)
  King Maestro, Huddersfield
• Doug Paine
  Mungo's Hi Fi, Glasgow
• Dougie Robinson (founder)
  V. Rocket International, Nottingham
• Ducky Ranks (Donald Senior, MC)
  Earth Rocker, Huddersfield
• Eljay
  Jah Massagan, Leyton
• Ephraim Barrett (Count Shelly)
  Count Shelly, Hackney
• Era
  Electrikal Sound System, Edinburgh
• Eric
  Quantro Tone, St Ann's, Nottingham
• Errol Arawak
  King Earthquake, Birmingham
• Errol Spider
  Cultural Roots, Bedford
• EV
  Hometown Sound System, Glasgow
• Fatta Ranks (Nevil Johnson)
  King Maestro, Huddersfield
• Fire Mark
  V. Rocket International, Nottingham
• Fitzgerald "Farda" Gelly
  Lord Gellys, Notting Hill
• Footsie
  King Original, East London
• Frederick Howell (toaster)
  Admiral Ken, Hackney
• G. Armitage
  Pineapple Tribe, Guildford
• Gadman
  Entebbe, North London
• General Screechy (deejay)
  King Maestro, Huddersfield
• Geoff (selector)
  Jah Leveller Hi-Fi, Rye
• George Shaw (DJ PoppaShaw)
  Killerwatt, Notting Hill
• Gladdy Wax
  Gladdy Wax, Stoke Newington
• Harry Harrison
  DiY Sound System, Nottingham
• Henry Lowe (Yagga Roots)
  Yagga Roots, Huddersfield
• Henry Tenye (mic)
  Dub Generals, Hastings
• Horace Dreadlocks (Horace Brown)
  King Maestro, Huddersfield
• Hunter (Brian Chester)
  Earth Rocker, Huddersfield
• Huw "Cheff" Williams
  Sinai Sound System, Sheffield
• Imogen Robinson (founder)
  V. Rocket International, Nottingham
• izit?
  Hometown Sound System, Glasgow
• J Bostron
  Electrikal Sound System, Edinburgh
• Jah Bundy
  Highness Sound System, Nottingham
• Jah Shaka
  Jah Shaka, South-east London
• Jah T
  Admiral Bailey, East London
• Jah T
  Channel One, East London
• James Whelan (Rub a Dub Rocker)
  Hometown Sound System, Glasgow
• Jamie
  Hometown Sound System, Glasgow
• Jazzie B
  Soul II Soul, North London
• Jeffers
  Highness Sound System, Nottingham
• Jerome Joly
  Mungo's Hi Fi, Glasgow
• Joe Peng
  Firmly Rooted, Bristol
• Joey Jay
  Great Tribulation, Acton
• Jofis (producer, selector)
  Mighty Oak Sound, Edinburgh
• John Sprosen
  Alpha & Omega, London
• Johnny
  Quantro Tone, St Ann's, Nottingham
• Joy
  Kings Hi-Fi UK, Lewes
• Judah T (operator)
  King Tafari Love Muzic, Brighton
• Junie Rankin (June Reid)
  Nzinga Soundz, London
• Karl "Legs the Giant" (builder)
  V. Rocket International, Nottingham
• Karl Irving (founder)
  Quaker City, Handsworth, Birmingham
• Keith
  Quantro Tone, St Ann's, Nottingham
• Ken "Fatman" Gordon
  Fatman Hi-Fi, Tottenham
• Ken Edwards (Admiral Ken)
  Admiral Ken, Hackney
• Kenneth
  Quantro Tone, St Ann's, Nottingham
• Keno
  V. Rocket International, Nottingham
• Lady Ce
  Bushrocker Hi-Fi, Lancashire
• Lawrie
  Messenger Sound System, Edinburgh
• Lee (singer)
  Dub Generals, Hastings
• Lemon D
  Valve Sound System, London
• Lenny
  Quantro Tone, St Ann's, Nottingham
• Lenny Ranks
  Highness Sound System, Nottingham
• Leslie
  Quantro Tone, St Ann's, Nottingham
• Lloyd "Coxsone" Blackford
  Sir Coxsone Outernational, South-west London
• Lloyd "Musclehead" Francis
  Saxon Studio International, Lewisham
• Lloyd Morris (selector)
  Jah Massagan, Leyton
• Lloyd Roberts
  Sir Lloyd, South London
• Lol
  Boom-Shacka-Lacka, London
• Macky Banton (MC)
  Channel One, East London
• Mad Professor
  Mad Professor / Ariwa, South London
• Mark Iration
  Iration Steppas, Leeds
• Matty Banton
  Bushrocker Hi-Fi, Lancashire
• Matty T (warm-up selector)
  Dub Generals, Hastings
• Maxi Priest
  Saxon Studio International, Lewisham
• MC Admaral
  Armagideon, Huddersfield
• MC Afrikan Simba
  Messenger Sound System, Edinburgh
• MC Culture
  Jah Revelation Muzik, London
• MC Ista
  Messenger Sound System, Edinburgh
• MC Money Green
  Baron Turbo Charge, Moss Side, Manchester
• MC Robbie Rue
  Armagideon, Huddersfield
• MC T Dread
  Armagideon, Huddersfield
• MC Troopa
  Jah Revelation Muzik, London
• MC Trooper
  King Tafari Love Muzic, Brighton
• MC Yah IsReal
  Messenger Sound System, Edinburgh
• Mick
  Hometown Sound System, Glasgow
• Mike Anthony
  Rampage Sound, Notting Hill
• Mikey Dread
  Admiral Bailey, East London
• Mikey Dread (selector)
  Channel One, East London
• Mister Hustler (Raymond Hale)
  Disco Hustlers, Notting Hill
• Moses (vocals)
  Nucleus Roots, Manchester
• Mr Kulcha Beats
  Cultural Roots, Bedford
• Nick Sasquash
  Operation Sound System, Preston
• Noface
  Electrikal Sound System, Edinburgh
• Ossie Gad (vocals)
  Nucleus Roots, Manchester
• Papa Levi
  Saxon Studio International, Lewisham
• Paul "Axis" Huxtable
  Axis Valv-a-tron, Huddersfield
• Paul "Parliament" Hall
  V. Rocket International, Nottingham
• Percy Henry
  Great Tribulation, Acton
• Pete "Woosh" Birch
  DiY Sound System, Nottingham
• Peter King
  Saxon Studio International, Lewisham
• Phillip Henry
  Great Tribulation, Acton
• Preacher Levi
  Jah Revelation Muzik, London
• Principal Charles (Charles Brown)
  King Maestro, Huddersfield
• Prof.P
  Bushrocker Hi-Fi, Lancashire
• Pumpkin (Errol Allison)
  Earth Rocker, Huddersfield
• Raffiki
  Highness Sound System, Nottingham
• Ragga Twins (Deman Rocker, Flinty Badman)
  Unity, East London
• Ras Joseph
  King Alpha, London
• Ras P
  Entebbe, North London
• Ras Rudy
  Jah Observer, Thornton Heath
• Ras Sherby (MC)
  Channel One, East London
• Ras Tuffy Irie
  Entebbe, North London
• Ras Wazair (Clifton Carnegie)
  King Original, East London
• Richard
  Electrikal Sound System, Edinburgh
• Rick "Digs" Down
  DiY Sound System, Nottingham
• Rob Roots
  Roots Sensation, Tottenham
• Robert
  Quantro Tone, St Ann's, Nottingham
• Robert "3D" Del Naja
  The Wild Bunch, St Pauls, Bristol
• Robert "Ribs" Fearon
  Unity, East London
• Robert Tribulation
  Great Tribulation, Acton
• Russ D
  Boom-Shacka-Lacka, London
• S-Type
  Electrikal Sound System, Edinburgh
• Simon "DK" Smith
  DiY Sound System, Nottingham
• Simon Dan (vocals)
  Nucleus Roots, Manchester
• Sippa Seb
  Hometown Sound System, Glasgow
• Sista Dan (selector)
  King Tafari Love Muzic, Brighton
• Sister Emma
  Bushrocker Hi-Fi, Lancashire
• Smiley Culture
  Saxon Studio International, Lewisham
• Spiderman (Austin Palmer)
  Jah Observer, Thornton Heath
• Stafford Douglas
  Jah MafiaTone Hi-Fi, Birmingham
• Steadfast Sylvatica
  Messenger Sound System, Edinburgh
• Stephen Burke (Papa Burky, founder)
  Earth Rocker, Huddersfield
• Steve Mosco
  Jah Warrior
• Stevie (founder)
  Messenger Sound System, Edinburgh
• T-O-D
  Hometown Sound System, Glasgow
• Taz Buckfaster
  Electrikal Sound System, Edinburgh
• Tim Beatz
  Highness Sound System, Nottingham
• Tippa Irie
  Saxon Studio International, Lewisham
• Tom Smith
  Cosmic Slop, Leeds
• Tom Tattersall
  Mungo's Hi Fi, Glasgow
• Tony Mass (amp builder)
  Jah Massagan, Leyton
• Tony Roots
  Foundation Sound, Norfolk
• Val B
  V. Rocket International, Nottingham
• Valerie "Lady V" Robinson
  V. Rocket International, Nottingham
• Vincent Forbes (Duke Vin)
  Duke Vin, Ladbroke Grove
• Welshy
  Hometown Sound System, Glasgow
• Wilbert Campbell (Count Suckle)
  Count Suckle, Paddington
• Winston
  Quantro Tone, St Ann's, Nottingham
• Wizzy Dan
  Baron Turbo Charge, Moss Side, Manchester
• Yellowman (Robert Daley)
  Earth Rocker, Huddersfield