JimmyTucker - Trench Town Times

Trench Town Times takes me back to the beginning of our music, from home at 4th Street.

The musical selections which we feature in this section have special meaning that arises in the context of our history in the community of Trench Town. Here is a list of the recordings we are sharing with you, the visitor to our site, Jimmy Tucker Sings .

O'er Our Blue Mountain
Panis Angelicus
The Lord's Prayer
O Carolina
Muriel
Dreamland
Jah is My Light
No Woman, No Cry
Redemption Song
Let There Be Liberty
Elocution by Jimmy of the Words of The Emperor, Haile Selassie*: "The Ultimate Challenge" That Spiritual Advancement Keep Pace with Material Advancement (Address to the League of Nations, Geneva, Switzerland, 1936) *His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie I, Conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah, King of Kings and Elect of God,
Book of Rules
Many Are Called, Few Are Chosen
Life's Richest Treasures
The Way of Love

Trench Town Times

The Cultural and Social Importance of Trench Town, Jamaica.

Trench Town is the first housing and community development project that was established by the Government of Jamaica, for the mass of the people after 1838, the year of Emancipation.

It was the result of a singing career as child soprano, living in Trench Town, that Jimmy Tucker became the first singer to be awarded an educational scholarship by the Government of Jamaica, in 1956.

It was from Trench Town that the popular music, which became known as Reggae, led by Joe Higgs, became a popular musical and cultural phenomenon in the world. Joe Higgs first practiced the vocal art with Jimmy Tucker and his brother, Desmond, at Mico Practising School in Kingston.

From the earliest soft wax recordings (Stanley Motta), Jimmy Tucker’s recordings of songs of Jamaica (ballads, patriotic and national) including “O’er Our Blue Mountain” and “Have Faith” (1952) to the National Anthem (by Father Sherlock, Boys Town, 1962); through the Vere Johns’ Opportunity Hour Contests; Clement “Coxone” Dodd and Studio One, Tom The Great Sebastian (early sound systems); Laurel Aiken; Lascelles Perkins; Lord Tanamo; Calypsonian; Higgs and Wilson; Bob Marley and the Wailers, Peter Tosh, Bunny Wailer, and Junior Brathwaite (1960’s and 70’s), The Story of Trench Town Times serves as a moral barometer on urban and national values, with particular attention to intrinsic values, which are critical today with special regard to a tourism oriented political economy.

Culture, as the value of heritage, shall be offered to the young people of Trench Town, and similar communities, in the form of motivational messages, information and stories about citizens who were national-builders, known to have lived and worked in Trench Town.
The musical representations are recorded, selected according to their original impact on society, and according to their form, features, melodic and organic character of the genre that has made Trench Town, like Mo Town in the United States, the Heartbeat of a people.

SCHOOL DAYS - All Saints and Beyond

“Keith Brooks and our family had a great time at All Saints Primary School and then at Mico Practising School. At All Saints, the increasing popularity and leadership role of Father Sherlock at Boys Town exalted the standards of education in the West (Kingston). Keith was keen in being a part of the numbers of students who participated. Students like myself, Keith and my siblings played cricket and football.

This would have been about 1950 and 51. The destructive Hurricane of 1951 (Charlie) was never forgotten by those who recall the significance of social developments (see below). Among those was the institutionalization of Mico Practising School by an Englishman named A. G. Newman. Keith Brooks and I had started out as friends at All Saints Primary School, and came together again as students at Mico Practising School, Marescaux Road, Kingston. Great things were expected at Mico, to aid the society by excellence in all things with the guide being the call of the practical in the solution to problems. At Mico we had a keen interest in History, Geology, Sports and the Arts of beautiful Jamaica. Teacher Neal and Teacher Hoo Fatt brought special joy when it was suddenly announced that they were to be married. And they caused everyone present to agree that this was a perfect match, because for them the Arts meant the clear use and meaning accompanied by our Heritage which left students always aspiring to improve standards. They helped to sow seeds of interest in the arts. With great enthusiasm we were confident that going on to High School would be the most exciting time of all.

For me, Mico presented an opportunity to make use of musical talent that served national purposes for more than fifty years. The Reverend Ivan Shaw as teacher and Secretary of Education inspired a lot of teachers by his disciplinarian style for the young trainees. Also at the Institute of Jamaica, Mrs. Vidal Smith motivated us to increase musical excellence, and supported young minds in appreciation of the arts. The support of the Lannaman’s Children’s program at Radio Jamaica provided an opportunity for excellence in music and performance for many.

In 1954, I went off to Calabar High School and Keith went on to Excelsior High School. The headmasters of those schools were Teacher Murray White at Calabar, and Dr. Hon. Aston Wesley Powell who had established Excelsior in 1931 in Campbell Town.

During all these school years, a number of us moved as a group, with interests in football and cricket as well as musical performances. From the All Saints days to post high school our group included Sylvia Reynold, along with my sister Joyce, brother Desmond, Valmond Burke, Neville Tucker (Hope’s brother), Bascilia Fray, Beverly Drayton and her brother, Ronald. A notable and distinguished contingent at the Youth for Christ Friday evening sessions included Peter O’Sullivan, Zay and Mark Ricketts, Jean Gopi, Paulette Case Bellamy, Gervaise Clarke, Peter Morgan and others.

The increase of Christian mission at Calabar in particular was promoted by tutors such as Reverend Oswald Russell and David and Mrs. Jelliman who made a fine mark by example in our lives.

This along with other bands of young Christians provided steady respect and calling which has been useful up until this day and which is the test for us to keep Christian testimony of the Salt of the Earth in our time.