Brotha George remembers Channel One’s glory days after studio demolition

The demolition of Channel One recording studio in Kingston on September 5 revived memories of its glory days in the 1970s and early 1980s. One of the artistes who started his career there as roots singer George Wright. Now known as gospel artiste Brotha George, he recorded his first song at the Maxfield Avenue facility over 40 years ago. Secret Admirer, produced by Ossie Hibbert, was his most popular recording there. “I remember being at Channel One with Ossie Hibbert, and hanging out with people like Ossie Hibbert, and Gregory Isaacs, who was recording an album there at the time,” Brotha George recalled. “I remember people like (singer) Roy Cousins, Sly (Dunbar), a bredda named Tanka (Lowell Hill), he was a producer an’ The Mighty Diamonds. It was the good old days.” Since the late 1980s when daily recording ceased at Channel One, the studio structure went into gradual decline. Tony Hoo Kim, whose family owns the property, refused to comment on the demolition. Robert Hill, Town Planner at the Kingston and Saint Andrew Municipal Corporation, whose office grants permission for such action, told the Jamaica Observer that the matter is being investigated. Brotha George, whose latest New Heights was released in August, is one of many artistes who launched their careers at Channel One. The studio was started in 1972 by the Hoo Kim brothers — Joseph (aka Jo Jo), Kenneth, Paul and Ernest. Their first hit single was 1973’s It’s A Shame by Delroy Wilson. It set the tone for a flood of outstanding songs played by The Revolutionaries, the Channel One house band. Led by drummer Sly Dunbar, that group also included keyboardist Ansel Collins, saxophonist Tommy McCook, bass guitarists Ranchie McLean and Robbie Shakespeare. They played on most of the label’s classic songs such as Africa and I Need A Roof by The Mighty Diamonds; Ballistic Affair and Badness nuh Pay (Leroy Smart); Jah Jah Give us Life (The Wailing Souls) and Woman Is Like A Shadow by The Meditations. After The Revolutionaries disbanded in the late 1970s, The Roots Radics Band backed most of the artistes at Channel One. Like their predecessors, they played on many hit singles including Shine Eye Girl and Looking My Love by Barrington Levy; Michael Prophet (Here Comes The Bride); and Frankie Paul (Worries In The Dance).