A Soundman's perspective.

Cecil Rennie AKA King Tubby’s, was born in the parish of  St Thomas, Jamaica.
He came to England as a teenager in 1965. His love of music wasn’t left behind in Jamaica; it developed in England to become a life long passion.

Cecil started his quest to be a leading soundman by serving his apprenticeship as a dedicated follower/selector of Duke Reid Sound System, This association lasted until 1969.

In March 1970 King Tubby’s hi-fi was born making Cecil at the age of 19, one of the youngest sound system owners in the UK.

The name was styled after the legendary Dub Master from Jamaica, Osbourne Ruddock AKA King Tubby’s who Cecil saw as his inspiration and mentor in Reggae Music. This friendship and close working relationship remained right up to the day of Osbourne’s untimely death in 1989.

King Tubby’s hi-fi became King Tubby’s Sound System and went from strength to strength. In 1973 introducing dub plate specials on sound systems, King Tubby’s led the way.

The Sound’s reputation grew and from playing locally in the Brixton area, soon there was not a venue in the UK King Tubby’s had not played at. King Tubby’s caught the imagination of reggae music lovers everywhere and the dances were always packed.

King Tubby’s Sound System has been hailed as one of the if not the most consistent sounds over the last four decades. The consistency and success is down to how the sound is run. Everybody in the sound is considered equal and everybody’s role is vital to ensure the smooth running of King Tubby’s Sound System.

The years of hard grafting in London, England and Europe have paid off as Cecil, aka King Tubby's took home the crown of No.1 London sound system in 2003. King Tubby's has won many titles along the way but feels that this crown is very important as nobody nowadays seems to differentiate between a DJ (carrying a box of records) to a sound system and all what that entails. At the end of the day King Tubby’s Sound System is there to entertain their supporters and this can only be done if there is harmony amongst the crew in the camp. As the sound is now looking forward to celebrating its 38th anniversary the formula must be a winning one.

A daughters perspective.

King Tubby’s from Strength to Strength
Through the eyes of Chantel, King Tubby’s Daughter

From before I was born my father (Cecil Rennie) started King Tubby’s Sound, so reggae music is all I know.; I have watched my father dedicate his whole life to his sound; absolutely nothing will ever come before King Tubby’s.

I remember on a Saturday morning my dad would have a dance to play that; night and would test his equipment making sure his speakers were all in good working order, needles sharp enough to cut your face and of course the dub plates in the record box. On numerous occasions speaker boxes were bought into the house and the sound set up just to test out his latest batch of dubs fresh from JA. not to mention the nights out I had as a child waiting at customs in Gatwick Airport for his dub plates to clear!

Sound meetings were always very important and still are, my sister Cecily and I used to sit at the bottom of the stairs whilst the sound guys would discuss how to musically murder another sound, in those day’s Coxsone, Taurus, Java, Saxon and many more.  Today our sound meetings are still as interesting only we discuss other sounds, too many to mention but you know who you are!

My earliest recollection of the very first dance I went to was in the VNC, on Brixton/Vassal Road, early 1980’s.  We used to have a Friday night blues dance, in those days admission was only 50p. There King Tubby’s would string up to play with local sounds like Jamdown Rockers and Dread Diamonds (Victor R.I.P).  It was a good community Friday night affair and where great MC’s like Tipper Irie and Slater (representing King Tubby’s) got to battle it out with Ricky Ranking and Champion (representing Jamdown Rockers).

Through the years sound system has changed and I suppose for some sound systems there is no such thing as a community dance as they soon turn into a clash! Speaking of a recent clash, King Tubby’s ventured to Nottingham for the second time for the Winner Takes All Clash.  We played amongst sounds like Classique, Willpowa, Immortal, Jahman. 

Of course I’m going to say King Tubby’s played the best and thousands of others would support me in this.; However during the course of the dance sounds like Classique (Winners from last year), Willpowa, Jahman began to drop out, leaving King Tubby’s and Immortal to go forward for the 1 to 1 final round. We played nothing but our very best from artists like Garnet Silk, Dennis Brown, Burning Spear, Freddy McGregor – one a way dubs hard to follow by anyone.

Immortal, give them there due, played well for a young up and coming sound from Birmingham. They had plenty of talk to boost their dub plates.  One Ras (from Immortal) with his talk and charisma managed to win over the crowd who were bound to vote for the sound closest to their area rather than a London sound,; (King Tubby’s) leaving us defeated for the second time at the Winner Takes All clash.

What can I say for some reason we always seem to take a back seat when it comes to a sound clash.

One message I do have for all is
THE RACE IS NOT FOR THE SWIFT BUT FOR THOSE WHO CAN ENDURE IT.
King Tubby’s, 38 Years and still going from strength to strength
One Love to All

Chantel

Sound System and Sound Clash decoded.

An excellent account by Andrew C. Campbell (aka Prince TuFFiE).   jamworldreggae.com

A History of Reggae at Jahsonic                jahsonic.com

Bio's and much more                                mp3.com/