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As rocksteady music approaches its landmark 60th anniversary in 2026, the Jamaica Observer has embarked on an ambitious project to honor the genre’s most influential figures. While often overshadowed by ska and reggae in mainstream recognition, rocksteady remains arguably the most cherished Jamaican musical form among enthusiasts.

A special editorial team comprising contract writers Howard Campbell and Claude Mills, with expert consultation from renowned broadcaster and rocksteady authority Michael Barnett, has meticulously compiled a definitive ranking of the 60 Greatest Rocksteady Personalities. The selection criteria prioritized artistic impact and historical significance to the genre’s development.

The publication has begun revealing its curated list in segments, starting with positions 45 through 31 presented in non-sequential order. This unveiling will culminate with a separate Top 20 Most Influential People in Rocksteady compilation.

Among the initial honorees is Merritone (ranked 45), both a legendary sound system operated by the Blake brothers and a record label established by the Khouri family. Merritone produced Hopeton Lewis’s ‘Take It Easy,’ widely considered the inaugural rocksteady recording. The Jamaicans (44) earned recognition for their Festival Song Contest victory with ‘Ba Ba Boom’ in 1967, while session guitarist Eric Frater (43), known as ‘Rickenbacker,’ contributed his distinctive style to timeless tracks by The Heptones and The Abyssinians.

Vocalist Eric ‘Monty’ Morris (42), though primarily celebrated for ska achievements, successfully transitioned to rocksteady with hits like ‘Say What You’re Saying.’ The Ethiopians (41) gained prominence with their socially conscious 1968 anthem ‘Everything Crash,’ which captured Jamaica’s industrial unrest. Crooner Dobby Dobson (40) touched hearts with his signature ‘Loving Pauper,’ a poignant narrative of romantic perseverance despite poverty.

The list further acknowledges The Sensations (39), an underappreciated harmony collective that launched several solo careers, and Australian audio engineer Graeme Goodall (38), whose technical expertise shaped recordings for numerous producers before he established successful UK-based labels. Texas-born Johnny Nash (37) receives recognition for bridging international audiences with rocksteady-influenced pop through hits like ‘Hold Me Tight’ and his interpretations of Bob Marley compositions.

Trumpeter Bobby Ellis (36), an Alpha Boys School alumnus, is honored for his extensive session work and arrangements, particularly on Burning Spear’s seminal ‘Marcus Garvey’ album. The Tartans (35) are celebrated for their harmonious recordings including ‘Dance All Night,’ with member Cedric Myton later achieving legendary status with The Congos. Pianist Leslie Butler (34) is recognized for his ragtime-inflected contributions to Hopeton Lewis’s recordings, while vocalist Delano Stewart (33) is noted for his work both with The Gaylads and as a solo artist.

Keyboardist Gladstone Anderson (32), who played on the foundational ‘Take It Easy,’ receives acknowledgment for his extensive session work across numerous classics. The list concludes with The Uniques (31), the influential group fronted by the legendary Slim Smith, whose members collectively made significant contributions to Jamaican music as performers and producers.

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Behind dancehall’s vibrant soundscape stands YowLevite, a producer whose modest personality contrasts sharply with his monumental contributions to the genre. The University of the West Indies graduate, born Keron Young, has quietly assembled an impressive portfolio featuring collaborations with both Jamaican icons and international superstars.

Despite having worked with legendary artists including Vybz Kartel, Spice, Popcaan, Dexta Daps, Beenie Man, and Busta Rhymes, along with emerging talents like Teejay, Chronic Law, Jada Kingdom, and American rapper Lola Brooke, YowLevite has maintained a characteristically low profile. Now, the accomplished music creator believes the time has come to step forward and receive recognition for his substantial body of work.

“I’ve always prioritized letting my work speak for itself because I’m focused on building a legacy that will endure beyond my lifetime,” YowLevite revealed. “When people discover the artists I’ve collaborated with, they’re often astonished. The respect that follows comes from genuine accomplishment rather than manufactured hype.”

The producer made a courageous leap from corporate executive stability to pursue his musical passion, a decision he considers undoubtedly worthwhile. “The journey has presented challenges but proved immensely rewarding,” YowLevite reflected. “Music has granted me opportunities to travel internationally, connect with diverse cultures, forge meaningful relationships, and experience tremendous personal and professional growth.”

YowLevite’s distinguished catalog places him among dancehall’s most accomplished producers, though he emphasizes that his focus remains on musical excellence rather than self-promotion. His journey exemplifies how artistic dedication and professional craftsmanship can build a lasting legacy in the competitive music industry.

KINGSTON, Jamaica — The international dancehall scene has been set ablaze with the Valentine’s Day release of “Sunday,” a sizzling new collaborative single from global superstar Popcaan and rising dancehall artist Moyann. Produced by Anju Blaxx, the track made its debut on Popcaan’s official Vevo channel, immediately capturing audience attention and climbing music charts.

The single achieved a significant milestone by securing the number one position on the iTunes Reggae Singles Chart, generating substantial buzz among music critics regarding its potential for mainstream crossover success. Both artists have embarked on an extensive promotional campaign for the track while maintaining their busy schedules of local and international performances.

Moyann, who operates from Montego Bay, has been strategically expanding her artistic brand through recent tours with prominent artists like Massicka. Her career momentum continues to build following the successful release of her recent EP, with reports indicating another new music project already in development. The artist has established an impressive collaborative history, having previously worked with dancehall heavyweights including Shenseea, Teejay, Tommylee Sparta, Malie Donn, and Chronic Law.

Beyond her collaborative work, Moyann has developed a distinctive solo catalog featuring notable tracks such as “A Nuh My Style,” “Net Flixxx N Chill,” “Meech Out,” and “Fren Dem Good.” The newly released “Sunday” is now available across all major digital music platforms, where it continues to dominate the reggae charts following its Valentine’s Day premiere.

KINGSTON, Jamaica—In an innovative fusion of music and cinema, dancehall artist Govana has partnered with creative production label The Now or Never Club (TNOC) to launch ‘The Bobby Lane Project: Season 1,’ a groundbreaking cinematic short film that transcends traditional dancehall formats. This collaborative venture represents a significant evolution in how musical narratives are constructed and presented within the genre.

Executive produced under TNOC’s banner by founder Rogen ‘Ruppi’ Walker, the project marks the inaugural formal collaboration between Govana and the production house for a juggling riddim compilation. This creative endeavor builds upon years of previous artistic partnership between the two entities.

Walker elaborated on their creative synergy: ‘Our collaborative history runs deep. Govana represents both a close friend and long-term creative partner. This initiative, however, marks the first instance where he formally approached us for executive production responsibilities. We meticulously developed the concept through incremental progression, and I truly value his support in my expansion from directing into producing roles.’

The project’s conceptual foundation emerged directly from Govana’s single ‘Top Lawyer,’ with its lyrical content providing the narrative framework. Walker explained the developmental process: ‘The song’s lyrics essentially dictated the storyline. When Chronic Law recognized and embraced our vision, we expanded the narrative to incorporate his track and video. This sequential development continued with Skeng and Skippa, ultimately culminating in our decision to create a comprehensive short film that fully realized our creative ambitions.’

Govana emphasized the intentional departure from conventional formats: ‘Having collaborated with Ruppi on numerous video productions throughout my career, he naturally became my primary choice for this project. Our previous juggling compilation featured 90% of its videos under his direction. We initially planned to release my single conventionally before conceptualizing the juggling approach. Ultimately, we pursued an atypical release strategy reminiscent of our Convo Series—creating a cinematic framework capable of incorporating multiple tracks and artists.’

The project fundamentally repositions dancehall music from mere auditory backdrop to active narrative vehicle, utilizing musical elements to drive emotional and social storytelling. The film presents authentic lived experiences without artificial glorification, creating synergistic harmony between visual and auditory components.

Govana articulated the project’s aspirational impact: ‘We hope audiences embrace openness and creativity. Our fundamental objective was differentiation—inspiring fans, emerging artists, and directors to pursue innovation rather than imitation. They should feel empowered to revolutionize their artistic craft.’

The partnership exemplifies a shared creative architecture where both artist and director assume producer responsibilities. Walker noted: ‘Govana and I have maintained exceptionally creative collaborations from the 1Matik Riddim to the Convo Series. Since this represented our first co-produced juggling project, we prioritized impact. His deep involvement in creative processes while granting artistic freedom constitutes an ideal collaborative dynamic.’

Audience response has proven immediately positive, with Walker observing: ‘Reception has been overwhelmingly favorable, with particular appreciation for creative innovation. Many have requested additional content, even suggesting Netflix adaptation potential. Despite seven months of intensive labor, the positive reception makes the effort worthwhile. Many creative visions never achieve realization, so this outcome proves particularly gratifying.’

Govana echoed these sentiments: ‘Response has been exceptionally positive, with creativity receiving particular recognition. I’m grateful that artistic differentiation remains noticeable and appreciate the supporting artists who contributed to this project.’

With mounting demands for continuation, Walker confirms: ‘I’m enthusiastic about developing part two, particularly given audience demand.’ This project establishes new creative precedents for dancehall’s potential integration with cinematic storytelling.

FLORIDA, United States — Emerging Jamaican artist Brownskin Rae is carving her distinctive niche in the music industry while honoring the profound artistic legacy left by her late father, Cornel Marshall—a pioneering drummer of the legendary reggae ensemble Third World. In recent exclusive revelations, the singer-songwriter detailed how her father’s mentorship continues to shape her artistic journey despite his passing.

Rachel Marshall, professionally known as Brownskin Rae, attributes her professional discipline and performance ethos to invaluable lessons imparted by her father. ‘His fundamental teachings emphasized the necessity of formalizing all agreements in writing and mastering rhythmic precision,’ she recalled. Marshall exposed her to diverse musical influences, from multi-instrumental versatility to crowd engagement techniques during live performances. Though not an instrumentalist herself, Brownskin Rae channels this inspiration into songwriting and dynamic stage presence.

Growing up within the music ecosystem provided unique professional advantages. ‘I gained firsthand exposure to various artists, instrumentalists, and vocalists,’ she explained. Observing her father’s band setups—from equipment configuration to the intangible camaraderie among musicians—offered an immersive education in music production dynamics.

Cornel Marshall’s illustrious career included tenures with seminal groups Tomorrow’s Children and Zap Pow, alongside his foundational role in Third World’s formation in 1973. His later involvement with the Twelve Tribes of Israel band further solidified his reggae legacy.

Now residing in Florida, Brownskin Rae balances multiple professions as a certified real estate broker and technical programs manager while advancing her music career. Her latest single ‘Take Over,’ released January 2nd, emerges from contextual creativity amid disaster. ‘After experiencing a devastating hurricane, I sought to counter collective depression through romantic storytelling—a musical distraction from surrounding madness,’ she revealed of the track’s inspiration.

The St. Andrew’s High School for Girls alumna emphasizes authenticity and lyrical craftsmanship as her primary artistic contributions. ‘My penmanship and genuine content define my musical identity,’ she asserted, signaling a conscious evolution beyond her inherited musical heritage while respecting its foundational influence.