Note: (c) Reggae triumvirate pioneers
Caveat; Photos are the exclusive copyright of Ras cardo reggae. Do not copy, sell or distribute without written permission.
Before there was reggae, these three youths played and sang music in the backyards of Ricardo(Ras cardo ) Scott. They would sing and perform at local concerts in and around the area. Cardo even appeared on the Vere John's talent show one night, and although he did not come away with the prize, everyone knew he could sing.
Before Bob Marley came into trench town they knew Peter Tosh, Joe Higgs and Roy Wilson, Bunny Wailer and the other trench town community of peoples. The names too numerous to mention at this time.
Then in 1962, Cardo and Junior decided to give themselves a musical group name, and so the Wailing Wailers was born. These are the original wailing wailers. Cardo then named and helped to create the music they would later sing- and so -REGGAE WAS BORN.
When Bob Marley later arrived in trench town, the musical stage was already set by many local and prominent artists like Joe Higgs and Wilson, Alton Ellis and his sister,etc. Ras Cardo's backyard was the classroom and the school of music.
Bob Marley was welcomed and protected by Junior, Cardo and others. He knew that he was in the right place for what he wanted to do and was with the right people. He knew he was safe. He was still a young man himself in need of direction and mentorship.
If you can imagine a young man walking into a most dangerous area all by himself, then this truth is what you must know, and only I, Ras cardo can give this truth to the world today.
I see no need for me to give the details of our livity in trench town to those who will pirate, rob, and steal from the trench town people like they have been doing for the past 50 years. I can challenge anyone, that they do not have the history which I know that we have lived in those trench town years, before, during, and after Bob came to live with us. Much has been stolen from the trench town people. The embodiment of this musical genre vests with I and I, and the brethrens who made it possible seen here.
I write these truths before the world today in keeping with the solemn promise made to my brethrens, most of whom are not alive to speak for themselves, that I would not let our livity and trench town sufferings go in vain, and allow wicked men to prosper therefrom.
My mission is this: The express wishes of those who are no longer alive with us, shall not be set aside to satisfy the greed and wickedness of the living.
Cardo and Junior and their families made sure that he was cared for. Their parents also took care of him.
The original wailing wailers whose exclusive photo you see here were the same youths who gave birth to the reggae genre and made the transition of Bob Marley into the trench town community an easy one. They passed the reggae torch to him, Peter, and Bunny.
They knew him before his dread locks. They knew him before he decided to sing with them. They knew him before he went into any studio. They knew him before he went onto any stage. They knew him before any of his children were born. They knew him before he started chanting Rastafari. They knew him before he took their name- wailing wailers and the reggae torch to form his group with Peter Tosh, and Bunny Livingston(Wailer).
This truth is written in honor of the late great original wailing wailer- Junior Braithwaite- foundation reggae icon- Mr. "It hurts to be alone-hit song". who was gunned down in Kingston Jamaica, on June 2nd 1999, before he could receive his rightful due for his works with those in the music whom remain indebted to him and his family to this day. His killers still roam free, while his children remains in need for help. It has been 13 long years for this -cold case, and justice must be done to heal his family.
THE PICTURE SHOWS- From left- Junior Braithwaite, Ras cardo reggae, Garth Dennis- Reggae's original pioneers and foundation legends.
The true history vests in the detailed livity of Ras cardo who named and helped to create the genre. I am Ras cardo reggae creator/legend, keeper of the ARK of the trench town reggae covenant, and advocate for the trench town people. (c) all rights reserved globally.