Dwight Drummond helps kick off our Jamaica 50 celebrations, honouring 50 years of Jamaican independence, with a playlist of his favourite, great Jamaican songs – not to mention some equally great stories about why he chose these songs.
The 50th anniversary means a lot to Drummond. As he says, "the little island that punches above its weight has come a long way.
"I was born into an independent Jamaica but for many Jamaican-Canadians, because we’re not on the island, we still have strong ties to it. I see how much it means to the elders in the community, even though Jamaica’s been independent since I was born."
Drummond was born in Montego Bay, Jamaica, and moved to Canada when he was still a kid, growing up in a music-loving immigrant family. So although he's best known as a news guy (he's a highly respected anchor with CBC News Toronto), his knowledge of Jamaican music runs deep.
1. "Many Rivers To Cross," Jimmy Cliff.
"This song is from one of my favourite Jamaican movies, The Harder They Come. I love Jimmy Cliff and ‘Many Rivers to Cross’ is just a beautiful song. It makes me think of the story of my birth. My mother had to cross a river to have me. I started to arrive a week early as she was walking home from church. She couldn't make it to the hospital and went to the closest relative's home, which was on the other side of the river. There was no bridge. Luckily it was not rainy season."
2. "You Don't Love Me," Dawn Penn.
"This is an oldie but it's still extremely popular at parties. When she sings, 'no no no' the whole place goes crazy. I love this tune. If I go to the reggae dance and they don’t play this tune, I’m vex."
3. "Redemption Song," Bob Marley & the Wailers.
"It’s hard to pick a favourite Bob Marley song because there are so many. This is one of his songs that I know all the words to because I've listened to it so much times over the years. It uses the quote from Marcus Garvey, 'Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery because none but ourselves can free our minds.' Important words, conscious tune."
4. "Police and Thieves," Junior Murvin.
"I remember my uncle Roy playing this song at his basement parties out in Pickering, Ontario; Junior Murvin's falsetto blaring through his ceiling-high speakers. He called his sound system Mullings HiFi and he would play classic tunes like this all night."
5. "Revolution," Dennis Brown.
"I love Dennis Brown, he's one of my favourite reggae artists. When I hear the lyrics to 'Revolution' I have to sing them out loud – 'Do you know what it means to have a revolution?/ Or what it takes to make a solution?/ Fighting against oppression, battering down repression.' This is one of those universal tunes, so many people around the world still fighting for freedom."
6. "Rain From the Sky," Delroy Wilson.
"Had to put a love song on the list. I picture Delroy Wilson sitting at the base of a coconut tree missing the one he loves, belting out this song. I also love the horns that come in after the chorus."
7. "Ram Goat Liver," Pluto Shervington.
"I am sure people are wondering why anyone would write a song about a goat's liver. The song goes on to explain that it is good for making mannish water, which is goat head soup. An acquired taste that is popular at some Jamaican functions. It supposedly has a medicinal effect, something like Viagra. I think the Rolling Stones were in Jamaica trying it out in the '70s, and that is why they named their album at the time Goats Head Soup."
8. "Tenement Yard," Jacob Miller.
"Jacob ‘Killer’ Miller, as they call him, left us way too soon. As a kid who growing up in public housing, this song had special meaning for us because that is what he was singing about."
9. "Cherry Oh Baby," Eric Donaldson.
"A really old tune. I remember hearing this song while I was still living in Jamaica. The men used to set up speaker boxes in the town centre, and this is one of the songs that was very popular at that time."
10. "My Boy Lollipop," Millie Small.
"My kids really like this song. It’s one of Jamaica’s first international hits, and a lot of people didn’t even know it came out of Jamaica so we have to give Ms. Millie Small some love for that."
Dwight Drummond is one of the hosts at Harbourfront Centre's Island Soul Festival on Aug. 4, and co-hosts the CBC Jamaica 50 "Jamaica Land We Love" gala.