Duke Reid

Arthur "Duke" Reid, CD born 1915 in Portland, Jamaica, died 1975 ,was a Jamaican record producer, DJ and label owner. He ran one of the most popular sound systems of the 1950s called Duke Reid's the Trojan after the British-made trucks used to transport the equipment. In the 1960s, Reid founded record label Treasure Isle, named after his liquor store, that produced legendary ska and rocksteady music. He was still active in the early 1970s, workin... more

Arthur "Duke" Reid, CD born 1915 in Portland, Jamaica, died 1975 ,was a Jamaican record producer, DJ and label owner. He ran one of the most popular sound systems of the 1950s called Duke Reid's the Trojan after the British-made trucks used to transport the equipment. In the 1960s, Reid founded record label Treasure Isle, named after his liquor store, that produced legendary ska and rocksteady music. He was still active in the early 1970s, working with legendary toaster U-Roy. He died in early 1975 after having suffered from a severe illness for the last year. After serving 10 years as a Jamaican Police Officer, Reid left the force to help his wife Lucille run the family business, The Treasure Isle Grocery and Liquor Store. He made his way into the music business first as a sound system (outdoor mobile discothèque) owner, promoter and disc jockey. He quickly overtook Tom the Great Sebastian and his sound system as the most popular sound system in Jamaica. Soon he was also sponsor and... less