Cole, Stranger -and Patsy-
Royal
The answer to the question of what the very first reggae song was cannot be answered unequivocally, but according to legendary producer Bunny 'Striker' Lee, the answer to this question is the song 'Bangarang' which was sung by Stranger Cole back in 1968. Almost 60 years later, Jamaican legend Stranger Cole (Born: Wilburn Theodore Cole) is still active and still touring the world as one of the oldest reggae singers. A few years back, the singer was in the tour bus on his way to a headlining performance at a festival in Europe. When asked which music was playing in the bus and what the singer's name was, the answer was "Kings And Queens by Patsy". The singer had to laugh at the answer, because in the early 1960s he had recorded a series of singles with a singer called Milliecent 'Patsy' Todd. But impressed by her voice, Stranger said he wanted to go into the studio with her. The result of this collaboration appears on the 83rd birthday of this pioneering Jamaican singer. Like the 'Kings And Queens' album (Aggrobeat Records, 2023), the brand new 'Royal' album is produced by Dutch producer Boss Capone of The Upsessions. The new LP features 11 new songs that take you back to the first wave of ska music in 1960s Jamaica.