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Lee bought the WIRL studios from Seaga and turned them into
Dynamic Sounds Recording Co., where the Dragonaires naturally recorded, using the superior facilities to record a string of well-produced albums during the late 1960s and early 1970s, often containing cover versions aimed at tourists, and
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The WIRL name had remained with its division in
Barbados and had remained the ever-popular brand of Bajan music until 1995, when it changed its name to E.A. Best Music Ltd, and eventually to its current name, Caribbean Records—still the major record company and distributor of Barbados. Back in
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was the music to provide
Jamaica with a musical identity that could break the domination of American R&B, and the Dragonaires became one of the major ska bands of the early 1960s, releasing singles such as "Fireflies", "Mash! Mr Lee", "Joy Ride", and a ska version of
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After a few years of playing at parties, birthdays and weddings, Lee decided to turn professional. By 1956, the
Dragonaires had become a fixture on Jamaica's hotel circuit, playing under their own name and also providing backing to visiting
396:. The trip was not a great success, with the Dragonaires' "uptown" musicians not fitting in with the other "downtown" artists. Realising that their appeal to ska crowds was diminishing, Lee took the band in a new direction, incorporating
418:(he acted as head of distribution for the US company in Jamaica) led to the label releasing Dragonaires records in the US, including two albums timed to capitalise on interest generated from the World's Fair performances,
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The band has continued since Lee's death, with the name initially slightly altered to Byron Lee's
Dragonaires. They later changed the band name to The Dragonaires as they were no longer able to use Lee's name.
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The band received another major boost when they were selected by Seaga, then the island's head of Social
Welfare and Economic Development, in 1964 to travel to the
323:, who became the band's manager. The single was released on the Dragonaires' own Dragon's Breath label in Jamaica, and was the second release on the
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470:'s greatest singles, to produce the album. In addition, the Dragonaires were renamed The Ska Kings on the album. Despite Atlantic's best efforts,
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album. They would release both reggae and carnival-oriented albums throughout the 1970s, and in 1975 took in another genre with the
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Jamaica, Dynamic had become a bigger force than ever before, investing in pressing more of
Jamaica's talent to vinyl, including
88:
539:. It was during this time that many of their most famous calypso songs were recorded, including the hit "Tiny Winey" (1984).
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In 1974, the band played at
Trinidad and Tobago's carnival for the first of many times, and the same year they released the
300:. The Dragonaires prided themselves on being able to play any style of music, their repertoire including covers of American
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festival in both 1978 and 1979, and were one of the main backing bands in 1982. They would also appear in 1984 and 1990.
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Throughout the 1990s they were also regulars at
Jamaica's carnival, and their "Dance Hall Soca" hit (recorded with
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failed to take off in the United States, although the record "Jamaica Ska" became a top 30 single in Canada.
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band. The band played a crucial pioneering role in bringing
Caribbean music to the world.
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they went on to record a series of "Reggay"-titled albums in the early 1970s.
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The band recorded their debut single, "Dumplin's", in 1959 at the WIRL (
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From 1979, the Dragonaires output was heavily concentrated on calypso,
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in 1963 and 1964. Also the band contributed the instrumental part of
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In August 2014 it was announced that Carl Brady would receive the
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team for which they played. The band originally played
1173:"Jamaica bandleader Byron Lee, 73, dies from cancer"
458:. Further, Atlantic Records tried to push the album
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and his friend Carl Brady, taking its name from the
62:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
1245:"Marcia Griffiths to receive Order of Distinction"
1214:
560:Byron Lee died on 4 November 2008, aged 73, from
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1192:"Byron Lee's Dragonaires hasn't missed a beat"
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993:Jamaica Ska & Other Jamaican Party Anthems
521:album, released on Mercury Records in the US.
426:(on which the Dragonaires backed the likes of
257:The band was originally formed around 1950 by
245:died on 4 November 2008, after suffering from
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549:The band continued to tour, performing with
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319:) studios, owned by future Prime Minister
122:Learn how and when to remove this message
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308:hits, and they soon adapted to include
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149:The Ska Kings, Byron Lee's Dragonaires
640:People Get Ready, This Is Rock Steady
60:adding citations to reliable sources
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27:Jamaican ska, calypso and soca band
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1243:Campbell, Howard (7 August 2014).
1215:Grizzle, Shereita (28 June 2015).
1190:Ogilvie, Anthony (29 April 2009).
25:
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1093:. 27 October 2008. Archived from
414:in 1966. Lee's relationship with
1217:"Dragonaires Retain Their Sound"
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1109:"RPM Top 40-5s - June 29, 1964"
1085:"Byron Lee gets OJ in hospital"
71:"Byron Lee and the Dragonaires"
47:needs additional citations for
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1153:Soni, Paresh (12 March 2007).
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958:Soca Fire Inna Jamdown Stylee
934:Trinidad Tobago Carnival City
646:Byron Lee and the Dragonaires
446:market with albums of mainly
216:Byron Lee and the Dragonaires
138:Byron Lee and the Dragonaires
1177:International Herald Tribune
1061:Reggae & Caribbean Music
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838:Jamaica's Golden Hits Vol 2
317:West Indies Records Limited
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312:when that became popular.
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222:after Lee's death and now
832:Original Rock Steady Hits
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850:Christmas in the Tropics
700:Reggay Hot Cool and Easy
249:for a sustained period.
1059:Thompson, Dave (2002).
963:Jump and Wave for Jesus
652:Rock Steady Intensified
524:The band played at the
484:Toots & the Maytals
220:Byron Lee's Dragonaires
754:Six Million Dollar Man
706:Reggay Roun' the World
575:in October that year.
555:Cricket World Cup 2007
466:, who produced all of
203:WIRL, Dynamic Sounds,
1011:The Man and His Music
772:Jamaica's Golden Hits
664:The Many Moods of Lee
658:Reggay with Byron Lee
382:New York World's Fair
375:Toots and the Maytals
333:Fender Precision Bass
748:Reggay International
724:Carnival in Trinidad
622:Christmas Party Time
598:First Class with Lee
592:The Sound of Jamaica
573:Order of Distinction
515:Carnival in Trinidad
263:St. George's College
56:improve this article
1324:Jamaican ska groups
1310:Entry for Byron Lee
1155:"Night to remember"
1097:on 30 October 2008.
790:Carnival Experience
402:Trinidad and Tobago
1134:. 12 December 2008
1063:. Backbeat Books.
928:Soca Greatest Hits
718:Dancing Is Forever
694:Reggay Splash Down
557:opening ceremony.
1290:45cat discography
981:Caribbean Sty-Lee
874:De Music Hot Mama
826:Carnival City '83
604:Caribbean Joyride
586:Come Fly with Lee
428:The Blues Busters
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16:(Redirected from
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1253:. Archived from
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886:Jamaica Carnival
844:Heat in De Place
760:This Is Carnival
670:Reggay Blast Off
634:Rock Steady Beat
526:Reggae Sunsplash
452:Rock Steady Beat
430:, The Charmers,
416:Atlantic Records
408:'s recording of
342:Over the Rainbow
280:stars including
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628:Rock Steady '67
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67:Find sources:
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45:This article
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1280:Band website
1259:. Retrieved
1255:the original
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1238:
1226:. Retrieved
1220:
1210:
1202:the original
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1136:. Retrieved
1131:The Guardian
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868:Soca Thunder
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802:Carnival '81
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747:
742:Disco Reggae
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712:Reggae Fever
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688:Goin' Places
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551:Kevin Lyttle
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541:
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519:Disco Reggae
518:
514:
512:
504:Tommy McCook
480:
476:
472:Jamaican Ska
471:
460:Jamaican Ska
459:
455:
451:
424:Jamaican Ska
423:
419:
409:
400:and touring
394:Millie Small
379:
360:
349:
321:Edward Seaga
314:
290:The Drifters
274:
256:
223:
219:
215:
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191:Years active
118:
112:October 2007
109:
99:
92:
85:
78:
66:
54:Please help
49:verification
46:
29:
1126:"Byron Lee"
999:Sweet Music
952:Soca Tremor
946:Soca Frenzy
922:Soca Engine
784:Reggae Hits
736:Carnival 75
676:Reggay Eyes
496:Barry Biggs
432:The Maytals
411:Only a Fool
386:Jimmy Cliff
367:Jimmy Cliff
298:Fats Domino
286:Chuck Berry
205:JAD Records
18:Dragonaires
1138:6 December
1019:References
1005:Soca Royal
975:Soca Vibes
940:Socarobics
916:Soca Tatie
888:'90 (1990)
808:Byron 1982
766:Art of Mas
682:Tighten Up
444:rocksteady
440:Ken Boothe
363:soundtrack
346:James Bond
218:(known as
82:newspapers
1261:10 August
987:Sexy Body
898:Wine Down
862:Soca Girl
508:Max Romeo
492:John Holt
325:Blue Beat
294:Sam Cooke
259:Byron Lee
243:Byron Lee
195:1950–2020
1318:Category
820:Soul Ska
464:Tom Dowd
450:such as
278:American
266:football
228:Jamaican
226:) are a
1299:Discogs
1228:28 June
616:Jump Up
553:at the
420:Jump Up
398:calypso
306:R&B
253:History
235:calypso
180:calypso
158:Jamaica
96:scholar
1067:
1013:(2010)
1007:(2008)
1001:(2004)
995:(2004)
989:(2003)
983:(2002)
977:(2001)
971:(2000)
965:(1999)
954:(1999)
948:(1998)
942:(1997)
936:(1997)
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660:(1968)
654:(1968)
648:(1968)
642:(1967)
636:(1967)
630:(1967)
624:(1966)
618:(1964)
612:(1964)
606:(1964)
600:(1964)
594:(1963)
588:(1962)
579:Albums
562:cancer
506:, and
392:, and
373:, and
361:Dr. No
351:Dr. No
348:film,
296:, and
247:cancer
200:Labels
176:reggae
164:Genres
154:Origin
98:
91:
84:
77:
69:
1112:(PDF)
270:mento
172:mento
103:JSTOR
89:books
1308:IMDb
1263:2014
1230:2015
1140:2021
1065:ISBN
533:soca
454:and
422:and
304:and
239:soca
237:and
184:soca
75:news
1306:at
1159:BBC
337:ska
310:ska
302:pop
231:ska
168:Ska
58:by
1320::
1247:.
1219:.
1194:.
1175:.
1157:.
1128:.
1087:.
1027:^
564:.
502:,
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377:.
369:,
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288:,
284:,
233:,
182:,
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