Alpha Boys' School

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Alpha Boys' School
Alpha Boys School Emblem.png
Address
Alpha Boys' School
26 South Camp Road

Kingston 4

Jamaica
Coordinates 17°58′37″N76°46′53″W / 17.9770187°N 76.7813712°W / 17.9770187; -76.7813712
Information
MottoUpward and Onward
Religious affiliation(s) Christian
Denomination Roman Catholic
Established1880
GenderBoys

Alpha Cottage School (often referred to as Alpha Boys' School, Convent of Mercy "Alpha" Academy and now called Alpha Institute) was the name of the vocational residential school on South Camp Road in Kingston, Jamaica, still run by Roman Catholic nuns. Established in 1880 as a "school for wayward boys", it became renowned for both the discipline it instilled in its pupils and the outstanding musical tuition they received. [1] [2] In 2014 Alpha's residence closed and the school continued as Alpha Institute to focus on educational and vocational training for inner city unattached youth. [3]

Contents

School band

The school band was formed in 1892. It was originally a drum and fife corps, and later a brass band, following the gift of brass instruments from the Roman Catholic Bishop of Jamaica. [1] [4] The school has been credited with influencing the development of ska and reggae. [5] Its music instructors have included Lennie Hibbert, Ruben Delgado and Sparrow Martin.

Sister Mary Ignatius Davies, an alumnus of the Alpha Academy next door, is recognized as a factor in the strength of Alpha's program and that of Jamaican music more broadly. [6]

The Alpha Alumni Ensemble is composed of former students of the school who are now professional musicians. [7]

Alpha self help programs

The school has a long history with trying to be self-sufficient. Older trades such as tile making, tailoring and farming had a direct impact on sustaining the school, were part of the vocational culture of the school and opportunities to work. [8] Self-help now includes wood working, screen printing, digital print services and music performance. [9]

In April 2013, Alpha Boys' School launched a new clothing project to support the school with two tee shirt designs by Michael Thompson (aka Freestylee: Artist Without Borders) and equipment provided by Digicel Jamaica. [10] Alpha's tee shirts include designs for the Jamaica Sound System Federation & Active fashion India.

Notable alumni

Notable alumni, all musicians, include:

Alpha Boys' School Radio

Alpha Boys' School Radio [15] is the school's 24/7 online radio station. Featuring music performed by Alpha's alumni, including jazz stalwarts of the 1950s and 1960s like Joe Harriott and Dizzy Reece, ska pioneers the Skatalites, Cedric 'Im' Brooks and Rico Rodriguez; Vin Gordon; Leroy Smart and Leroy 'Horsemouth' Wallace; and Winston 'Yellowman' Foster. [16] Every February, Alpha Boys' School Radio hosts the Reggae Auction to benefit social services for Alpha students. [17]

Book

In November 2017, authors Heather Augustyn and Adam Reeves published their book, Alpha Boys' School: Cradle of Jamaican Music, from Half Pint Press. The book chronicles over 40 musicians who attended the school and contains interviews and photographs of many of the alumni. [18]

Related Research Articles

The music of Jamaica includes Jamaican folk music and many popular genres, such as mento, ska, rocksteady, reggae, dub music, dancehall, reggae fusion and related styles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Toots and the Maytals</span> Jamaican musical group

The Maytals, known from 1972 to 2020 as Toots and the Maytals, are a Jamaican musical group, one of the best known ska and rocksteady vocal groups. The Maytals were formed in the early 1960s and were key figures in popularizing reggae music.

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Alphonso Son "Dizzy" Reece is a Jamaican-born hard bop jazz trumpeter. Reece is among a group of jazz musicians born in Jamaica which includes Bertie King, Joe Harriott, Roland Alphonso, Wilton Gaynair, Sonny Bradshaw, saxophonists Winston Whyte and Tommy McCook, trombonist Don Drummond, pianists Wynton Kelly, Monty Alexander, bassist Coleridge Goode, guitarist Ernest Ranglin and percussionists Count Ossie and Lloyd Knibb.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lester Sterling</span> Jamaican trumpet and saxophone player (1936–2023)

Lester "Ska" Sterling OD, also known as Mr. Versatile, was a Jamaican trumpet and saxophone player.

Vin Gordon is a Jamaican trombone player.

Derrick Clifton Harriott OD is a Jamaican singer and record producer. He was a member of the Jiving Juniors with Herman Sang before embarking on a solo career. He has produced recordings by Big Youth, Chariot Riders, The Chosen Few, Dennis Brown, The Ethiopians, Keith & Tex, The Kingstonians, Rudy Mills, Scotty, Sly & Revolutionaries, and Winston McAnuff.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Order of Distinction</span> National order in the Jamaican honours system

The Order of Distinction is a national order in the Jamaican honours system. It is the sixth in order of precedence of the Orders of Societies of Honour, which were instituted by an Act of Parliament in 1968. The motto of the Order is "Distinction Through Service".

Leroy "Horsemouth" Wallace is a Jamaican drummer who worked for several years at Studio One, and has worked with numerous reggae artists including The Gladiators, Inner Circle, Prince Far I, Sound Dimension, Gregory Isaacs, Burning Spear, Ijahman Levi, Bruno Blum and Pierpoljak. He starred as himself in the lead role of the film Rockers. Wallace attended the Alpha Boys School in the 1960s and early 1970s, where he studied under Lennie Hibbert. Wallace also joined The Skatalites when they reformed in the mid-1970s. Wallace has been credited with inventing the 'Rockers' rhythm.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Johnny Osbourne</span> Musical artist

Johnny Osbourne is one of the most popular Jamaican reggae and dancehall singers of all time, who rose to success in the late 1970s and mid-1980s. His album Truths and Rights was a roots reggae success, and featured "Jah Promise" and the album's title track, "Truths and Rights".

The Skatalites are a ska band from Jamaica. They played initially between 1963 and 1965, and recorded many of their best known songs in the period, including "Guns of Navarone." They also played on records by Prince Buster and backed many other Jamaican artists who recorded during that period, including Bob Marley & The Wailers, on their first single "Simmer Down." They reformed in 1983 and have played together ever since.

Wilton "Bogey" Gaynair was a Jamaican-born jazz musician, whose primary instrument was the tenor saxophone. "Blue Bogey", "Kingston Bypass" "Debra", and "Wilton Mood" are among his better known songs.

Sister Mary Ignatius Davies was a Sister of Mercy and inspirational music teacher known for her work at the Alpha Boys School.

John Arlington "Dizzy" Moore OD was a Jamaican trumpet player and founding member of pioneering Jamaican ska and reggae act The Skatalites.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lennie Hibbert</span> Musical artist

Lennie Hibbert OD was a Jamaican musician who was bandmaster at the Alpha Cottage School, and also a vibraphone virtuoso, recording two albums for Studio One.

Cecil "Sonny" Bradshaw CD, known as the "dean of Jamaican music", and the "musician's musician", was a Jamaican bandleader, trumpeter, broadcaster, and promoter who was a major figure in Jamaican music for more than sixty years.

Felix Headley Bennett OD, also known as Deadly Headley, was a Jamaican saxophonist who performed on hundreds of recordings since the 1950s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yellowman</span> Jamaican reggae singer

Winston Foster, better known by the stage name Yellowman, is a Jamaican reggae and dancehall deejay, also known as King Yellowman. He first became popular in Jamaica in the 1980s, rising to prominence with a series of singles that established his reputation.

Ferdinand "Bobby Little Bra" Gaynair is a saxophone player from Jamaica who now lives in Canada. He was born in East Kingston in the 1920s. He received an Order of Distinction. He was part of the Alpha Boys School. He played and recorded with various musicians including Count Ossie.

Clifton "Jackie" Jackson is a Jamaican bass player, who was an important session musician on ska, rocksteady and reggae records in the 1960s and 1970s, and later a member of Toots and the Maytals.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Barrow, Steve and Dalton, Peter: "Reggae: The Rough Guide", Rough Guides, 1997, ISBN   1-85828-247-0
  2. ↑ The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz (2nd ed.), Barry Dean Kernfeld, PhD (born 1950) (ed.), "Alpha Cottage School," by Val Wilmer (subject article in Vol. 1 of 3), Macmillan Publishers (2002); ISBN   9781561592630
  3. ↑ "The Alpha Institute ... Providing a solid foundation for young boys". jamaica-gleaner.com. Retrieved 5 November 2017.
  4. ↑ History of Alpha Boys' School Archived 2007-10-01 at the Wayback Machine
  5. 1 2 Nun who nurtured reggae The Daily Telegraph , 12/01/2006
  6. ↑ Katz, David (15 February 2003). "Obituary: Sister Mary Ignatius Davies". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 5 November 2017.
  7. ↑ Limited, Jamaica Observer. "Alpha raises over $1m for young men at institution". Jamaica Observer. Retrieved 5 November 2017.
  8. ↑ "WOOD WORK, COPYING & BINDING AND SCREEN PRINTING SALES AND SERVICES | ALPHA INSTITUTE". alphaboysschool.org. Retrieved 5 November 2017.
  9. ↑ "Alpha Boys' products attract manufacturers". jamaica-gleaner.com. Retrieved 5 November 2017.
  10. ↑ Serwer, Jesse. "Fashion Fridays: Alpha Boys School, The Birthplace Of Ska, Gets Its Own Tshirts". OkayPlayer.com. Retrieved 21 September 2013.
  11. ↑ Steve Barker on Headley Bennett's only solo album to date
  12. 1 2 Jamaica Observer - Jazz: What's Jamaica Got To Do With It? Archived 2007-01-12 at the Wayback Machine
  13. ↑ The Skatalites Biography [ permanent dead link ]
  14. ↑ Liner notes from the Impressions of Leroy Smart CD
  15. ↑ www.alphaboysschoolradio.com
  16. ↑ Serwer, Jesse. "Large Up Recommends: Alpha Boys School Radio". Okay Player. Retrieved 21 September 2013.
  17. ↑ "reggaeauction". Alpha Boys School Radio: Your #1 Musical Passport to Jamaica!. Retrieved 21 February 2018.
  18. ↑ Bobby (8 December 2017). "Alpha Boys' School: Cradle of Jamaican Music". Black History Month 2023. Retrieved 3 June 2023.
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