Chinese-Jamaicans: Reggae's Unsung Innovators

The Chinese-Jamaican community is a huge part of the story of Reggae and Jamaican music as a whole. They played the priceless roles of innovators, helping shape reggae music into the wonderful genre we know today.

[@wahine_dj]

Thank you for educating us about the unsung Chinese Jamaican artists and pioneers who helped cement such an important genre of music.

[@colleenhenry940]

Bless them all , they are the backbone next to the Indians thst migrated to Jamaica🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@ibnsabeel9466]

This is some serious history. I know that Chinese-Jamaicans existed, but I didn’t know they contributed to reggae culture. 👌🏾👍🏾✌🏾

[@TheSunkissedmein2000]

They didn't.

[@gxtmfa]

@@TheSunkissedmein2000 prove your point

[@Spoonface73]

@@TheSunkissedmein2000 you don't know what you're talking about

[@wildoutrudeboy]

Yes, the original Chinese that came to Jamaica around 1854 did. Even our Jamaica cuisine and cooking styles are highly influenced by Chinese. Chinese other influences or origins: Coal pot stove Burning coal (man made coal) Dutch Pot Oil lamp Food seasoning styles Pastry & bakery Bamboo rafting Games like Jacks, skipping, Hop-scotch, marbles. So please, if you don't know, just appreciate the knowledge.

[@douglasbrown1194]

​@@TheSunkissedmein2000Yes they did, didn't you listen to what the man said.

[@amakuaole]

Mikey Chung was a Chinese-Jamaican who played guitar for Jacob Miller and the inner circle band. R.I.P Mikey Chung...

[@amakuaole]

*R.I.P Mikey "Mao" Chung.

[@rolandomichel2070]

When I was in High School in Miami, FL... back in the 70's, there were a bunch of Chinese/Jamaicans. Was happy to have them on the soccer (football) team. Michael Fang-Sang was one name I remember. Killian'79

[@Maria-sy1yo]

Leslie Kong, Jimmy Cliff 'Harder they come, harder they fall' This was extremely interesting.

[@bungtempe]

I am a reggae musician and I have Hakka Chinese ancestry. Explains a lot 😅 Some people told me they wouldve believed me if I said Im from Jamaica

[@ReggaeAppreciationSociety]

Yes I 😄✌️

[@jermainelong1843]

Very educational. So many aspects of history have unsung contributors hidden in the shadows.

[@carlosmante]

Very Interesting the Combination of African and Chinese Culture.

[@jahlincoln5504]

Jamaica's 'Out Of Many One People' demographic population (African/Indian/Chinese/Middle East/European is probably why the 'Jamaican Music Industry' is so influential worldwide. Well presented educational video...

[@ReggaeAppreciationSociety]

Blessings mon ✌️ Thanks for the support

[@desmondbrown9367]

Out of many..( Akans Fante Asante Ewe Ebo Kongo )Afrikans, One people . One ♥️ Love

[@jahlincoln5504]

@@desmondbrown9367 Of course, Ghana & Nigeria seem to be the genetic homeland of most Africans in the Caribbean. Also if you trace that genetic strand of mitochondrial D.N.A. from the rest of the population in Jamaica it takes you back to Sub Sahara Africa...

[@bsadewitz]

​@@jahlincoln5504 But with regard to the establishment of the Jamaican music industry, the video is in line with other things I've read/seen. ;-)

[@bsadewitz]

​@@ReggaeAppreciationSociety Thank you for making all of these videos. I just stumbled upon your channel today, and I am delighted to see that someone has picked up the gauntlet and is putting this information out there on KZbin. To me, Reggae Music is just the most precious and astounding thing. It's not just the music itself, even, but the history of it. I have spent THOUSANDS (truly) of hours of my life listening to it and reading about it and Jamaica generally. Did you know that, if one stacked every Reggae record one on top of another, the resulting tower would be well over 100 stories tall? There is nowhere else in the world with a per capita output of music like this (this is a fact, not my opinion), and yet so many of its key figures are virtually unknown in most of the world. All the best.

[@OscillatorCollective]

Wow🤯. My mind is blown, I’m Jamaican AND Chinese, and didn’t know about this. I’ll have to look further into this.

[@matsuihenriques2013]

WE DID NOT KNOW, NOW WE KNOW!!! 🤝🏽🤝🏽🤝🏽👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾💯

[@nigelsmart7187]

Byron Lee was also popular in my home country of Trinidad and Tobago. He came down to perform during carnival season and would also play calypso, as a child I thought he only played calypso/soca music. Thanks for making this video.

[@samx98]

I always thought he was a Trini. Great band.

[@happyfreeky]

Reggae and Ska music are part of my “happiness frequency”. Loved this incredibly informative documentary about my favorite music and so many important artists

[@hyacinthjarrett8637]

Thank you for highlighting and sharing these untold stories. Yes I remember seeing Bryony Lee With his guitar and the Dragoners. It's about time that they are recognised and celebrate their contribution and history to the development of Jamaican global musical joiners. We are constantly hearing just one half of the story while the heroes and cornerstones in making it all possible are ignored. Celebrate them🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@johnr8820]

When I learned about the great Leslie Kong I was mind blown! He had a huge part in so many of my favorite reggae records. These guys deserve their credit!

[@killerkally7080]

Hidden history... Well done.

[@yusuf07007]

Ty bro, you got the facts right. Respect is due to whom it maybe due. I read much about the contributions of Chinese-Jamaicans in a book, so your facts adds up.

[@smithy280663]

great video!!!! Thanks for posting......I've been a reggae, ska, rocksteady fan since my teens.........I never knew about the Chinese contribution.....I'm richer for this knowledge..........

[@ngolinyirenda6421]

I got to know Phil Chen when living and playing bass on the LA reggae scene, what a legendary Bass Man !

[@ikongchin3088]

He used to play in the PRESIDENTS band from St. George's collage on NORTH ST. across the st.in front of Kingston Collage.

[@talawatvhd768]

Well done some people do not like the truth but we are out of many one people all contributed to make Jamaica and our Music very special. I grew up amongst many diverse community from Chinese and Asian Jamaicans so I knew a lot about the history but this is good education for others who are ignorant or do not like to know the truth or sometime prejudice 🎉

[@Ellis1Sandy]

Me, too I'm from the Liguanea area Kingston 6 and lots of Chinese had businesses in the area in the 70s. North Side Plaza MeMe restaurant lunchtime was the best many grocery shops. Many people don't know so all Chinese are put in the same basket by late a days Jamaican.

[@gregoryspevack2263]

Wonderful my friend, you really did a great job. I noticed you included a few pictures of my friend Tony Chin. Tony is a original member of the Soul Syndicate band. He is as a master guitar player and played on many great tunes .

[@ReggaeAppreciationSociety]

Wow thanks for sharing! Tony Chin is a master guitarist

[@michaells1207]

Tony used to live on Spanish town rd north side between maxfield ave and Waltham park rd I was a boyhood friend back in the day

[@ikongchin3088]

Fi real I kno Dis personally. We also must not forget HARRY T ( POWELL)

[@barringtonclarke7140]

Thanks for helping to share the facts about Jamaican music music it's amazing that this generation doesn't know that the Chinese community played a big part in the development of Ska, rock steady and reggae music and that must be respected please young artists know the history about the music, so that when you guys tour and is doing interviews, you don't embarrassed us, thanks.

[@Amidat]

a lot of it has to do with anti Chinese racism nowadays

[@chrisper7527]

Yes, this is the truth to the proliferation of reggae music.

[@cheetahluv210]

Interesting i wonder if they contributed to reggaeton as well

[@cheetahluv210]

It would be cool to have traditional Chinese instruments used on a reggae band

[@brigitkarlsen4294]

Nicely done and narrated... many facts I did not know .. THX........

[@ReggaeAppreciationSociety]

Blessings ✌️

[@AlexfromHollywood]

This is wonderful what you've put together here.. As a reggae lover, I am glad to get the education. Thank You!!

[@ReggaeAppreciationSociety]

Blessings! Thanks for watching

[@chrisper7527]

Glad to see the whole truth covered. However, we never thought of the Chinese as Chinese ( as in others). We just referred to these Jamaicans as “Chiney”, but never denied them as Jamaicans.

[@Zerpentsa6598]

They saw themselves as Jamaicans but never repudiated their Chinese roots. I knew a Chin (surname as Pat) from Jamaica and she was both Jamaican and Chinese. You got to be a Chinese to have your foot in more than one world. They do it all the time.

[@howard49]

​@@Zerpentsa6598We must rwalise China has the longsst, continuoys cililization in yhe world. Their roots run deep and long..It takes many generations to begin to shift that.. No problem though, people can be both.

[@edwardluke6699]

This is great information bring Chinese and luv all Jamaican music I opened a studio in nyc in the 80s and had a run until 2000s ran by me and my brother called loho studios 🎉

[@SELondonUSA]

Great video about the music I grew up with in 1960s London. There was a shop in a back alley in Lewisham, S.E. London that sold records of Jamaican music only. They had some rare treasures in there! The shop was called Beverly's and I wonder if it was related to the Beverley's in the video. I still have many of the old 45s.

[@KelmutHool]

Many of these names were familiar to me but I never knew they played such an important part in the evolutionary history of Reggae. Great video!

[@techromancer1]

That's the beauty of the Caribbean ❤❤❤

[@Zerpentsa6598]

Yes, when cultures and people can work together and not against. In many western countries, you are made to be assimilated to be accepted.

[@Tubulous123]

Yes!!! Thank you!!! 1Nation4Life

[@jahcools5976]

This is wonderful a lot of these so call people act like they know where reggae is coming from should watch this very informative film and stop mislead the public about reggae music this is so good, well done .

[@fredericocr1]

Beautiful video. Their stories say so much about our beloved music, about jamaica, about chinese diaspora. I don't remember ever seeing a video about the sino-jamaican community framed the way you did.

[@ReggaeAppreciationSociety]

Thanks mon ✌️

[@colinroach7815]

This is a WHOLE LOT UH history pack up in 10:04 minutes & seconds. I know bout de Chins, but all de ress uh daat history frum weh back when !!!!!!! 🔥🔊🎼🎵🎶🎵🎶🎼🔊

[@ReggaeAppreciationSociety]

Glad to be of service 👍

[@geemendez6524]

I have heard and know about the Chinese Connection with development of Jamaica 's music but thanks for sharing and Explaining and Educationing us in depth Great Great info..history Jamaican needs to know...Nuff Respect to the Chinese Community of Jamaica Godbless.. .

[@fabianbarnes4103]

Wow great educational and history lessons on those who contribute to our musical and diverse community thanks much 👍

[@MobiusMinded]

Worked with bassist Phil Chen several times. One of the best.

[@kinglion-theoverseer.6234]

Excellent research, I had no idea the Jamaican Chinese plyed such an intricate role in the growth and development of sweet reggae music❤❤

[@lordroberts1035]

I used to roll with the legendary Duke VIN, he told me about his journey into the world of sound system, his was the selector playing on Tom the great sebastian sound system, I and Duke used to go to Chin Randy's in America to buy music, Chin had a warehouse full of music, as music collectors this was an awesome goldmine, when senior Randy Vincent chin, passed, his sons Vincent and Clive took over the business and are still currently running tings - I hope this settles your mind Daisy C, who believed the entire story to be untrue..... Just check the history of VP records.

[@larrybaumont3405]

Thank you very much. fantastic story of the history and jamaican Chinese people. just amazing. Jamaica is not just about Reggae music. Jamaica have a proud History. so many famous people come's from my little island. like Harry Belafonte , Lennox Lewis, Lenny ,Henry Rev Rose Hudson of England. i could go on and on. Jamaica is one of the most amazing island on earth.

[@aundreamellado6112]

Larrybaumout Harry Belafonte was born in New York went to school in Jamaica from Jamaican parents. Moter from Abuja. Father from Westmoreland he maintained mother house. In abuja

[@Zerpentsa6598]

Lenny Henry and Rose have been thoroughly assimilated.

[@ytsm]

🇯🇲 ❤🇼🇸 💛🇮🇪 💚brothers!

[@howard49]

Not Taiwan but China

[@rassbombo8136]

great video with great content.

[@PrinceTheSigma]

BRILLIANT HISTORY!!!!

[@damienyuen7718]

These are Cantonese from Southern China where my family came from. Great video. Thanks

[@Zerpentsa6598]

Actually, most were Hakka. The Hakkas came from Guangdong and Fujian.

[@agomodern]

Very interesting background history. Peru has a very similar history of Asian immigrants taking on menial jobs (collecting night soil) until they saved enough money to own profitable companies.

[@FREEAGAIN432]

WOW, Mind Blowing History..I had no idea the connections of these two cultures. Deep appreciation for the share. JAH BLESS

[@Zerpentsa6598]

Wait till you hear Yunnan reggae!

[@tobinbh3940]

Mad respect to the Chinese influence pushing the island sound!!❤

[@Boss6907160]

Wow! Didn't know any of that! Thank you sir. Respect to the Chinese Jamaicans!!!!!

[@davidcummings5984]

The combination if JA Soundsystem and Dusco in Queens & Brooklyn was the impetus for Black New York Djs to develope live session Hip hop it would never of happened without JA Soundsystem

[@dexocube]

Brilliant documentary video bruv, gonna have to subscribe for more innit

[@ReggaeAppreciationSociety]

Yes I ✌️

[@mubirulastus2445]

great inspirational historical platform about our music..reggae. A big thanks to Reggae Appreciation Sciety Team.. love from UGANDA, EAST AFRICA

[@ReggaeAppreciationSociety]

✌️ blessings

[@errolnicholson7757]

Amazing history 🎤🎸🎹🎵🎶🎷🥁🎙️🎛️🎚️🪕🎻🎺📻🇯🇲🇯🇲

[@robertfenton340]

Possibly your best one yet! Keep up the good work!

[@ReggaeAppreciationSociety]

Blessings mon ✌️ Thanks for watching

[@andypeutherer4218]

My mind is blown thankyou

[@fender1000100]

Absolutely wonderful. I never knew about the chinese contributoon to the wonderful music and culture of Jamaica.

[@maryamkim1281]

Thank you, thank you. This is a necessary reminder to all Jamaicans and the element, a minority, who wish to exclude Chinese-Jamaicans from Jamaican identity and Jamaican culture all together.

[@johntmusic543]

Awesome respect to the chinese brothers the best music in the world came of this island that has stood the test of time a solid foundation like a house buit on a rock

[@JC-ug7qs]

Thank you for the history. We need to keep teaching the younger ones Jamaican/Reggae history. Tell your children about it in the years to come, and let your children tell their children. Pass the story down from generation to generation. Joel 1:3 NLT

[@TheAnnaFisher]

Apprecialove seeing by Beloved Brother King Rhythm Guitarist/Vocalist/Composer/Producer Tony Chin in this tribute to Asian Jamaicans with tge likes of the rest, Jah bless! He contributed ti every track on my last solo album, "Tributd For Salvation" (Molin Music). He is thd best in the North, South, East and West! 🙏🏼👏🏼❤💛🖤💚🎶🇯🇲🌟🌎

[@techromancer1]

thats one thing about the Caribbean's i miss the sound system ...i grew up in puerto rico 86-94 and the beautiful thing about it was the rounding of cultures people from different parts of the world living in peace and harmony sharing cultures and having a good time miss those years....the bass is the babe maker lol

[@kijar2]

Great job. We always knew they played a part but we often never knew the names and/or the specifics. Often times when some of the artist tell their stories you hear the names get mentioned and if you are from a particular area where the sound system or the business is then you'll hear them mentioned. As is the case with a lot of things we mainly think of the people in the limelight and not those in the background making it all happen so that the limelight folks can shine.

[@haldenbennett5979]

"Out of many one people" is certainly a great motto. Thanks for the never heard stories of these giants 👍 🙄

[@nitedreamer23]

Absolutely fascinating. I learned so much here. Wonderful video!

[@ReggaeAppreciationSociety]

✌️ Yes I

[@c10_c10]

One Love, Leslie Kong + Jimmy Cliff, Legendary

[@Kryssthealien]

Thanks bro, this has to be told for the younger generation, loyalty, never forget who was there when everything started...

[@colleenhenry940]

I heard about a few Chinese Jamaicans in Music Herman Chin-Loy and heard also about Sonny and Victor Wong, and Byron Lee also Keith Lyn!!

[@janicejames3005]

Interesting history. Byron Lee was a regular visitor to Trinidad Carnival at one time. I believe that he was responsible for taking Carnival to Jamaica.

[@kellywillis8091]

Thanks for a great education in the Jamaican music scene.

[@hebrewenglishbibleread9941]

Thanks, RAS! Great topic, rarely focused on.

[@anoyarou]

as a south east asia chinese in 2023. this is super mind blowing

[@peterkuchenbrod5696]

Great video, thank you! Also, a shout out to the great Justin Yap of Top Deck Records. He produced some of the finest recordings of the ska era, and musicians loved working for him...he paid well, allowed them the luxury of multiple takes, plus he fed them!

[@cleanbowled1767]

R.A.S, you knocked it out the park again. Nice tribute to the Sino-Jamaican musical fraternity!!!

[@ReggaeAppreciationSociety]

Blessings mon ✌️ Thanks for watching

[@muzikdepotart]

On the real yo, this is a topic i've doing research on for couple months now... so nuff respect to you for dropping this gem, lotta people tried to ignore these contributions

[@angelaescoffery7728]

Really love the info..One of the person JoJo was my dad good friend when he was growing up..

[@warrbuss10]

So interesting to know. It always wise to dig into history. Cause I sure majority of Jamaican didn't know those Chinese played such a major role in the jamaican music culture. Have heard so much about chrs blackwell and those guys but never heard about those that set the way for them

[@audleymclean3724]

Excellent, I've always known this, and usually wondered why the Ja Chinese community did not receive credit for their stella involvement in Jamaican music, Jacob Miller's backing band was owned by two Chinese brothers, [Aquarius records] in halfway tree was also owned by a slim Chinese guy [forgot his name now but it was a kind of alias name] he first recorded Beres Hammond [One step ahead], IT WAS Leslie Kong WHO FIRST RECORDED Marley WITH A SONG CALLED [ONE CUP OF COFFEE],also the best night Clubs in Jamaica over the last two decades was owned and ran by a Chinese we called Ribbi Chin, for the record I'm not Chinese trying to big up Chinese Jamaican , just giving unto Caesar his dues.

[@Nickster_P]

I never had a clue. Thank you for sharing........👍👍

[@myyoutube2495]

Thank you for covering all of our history. And remembering just about all the forgotten ones. We are “out of many one people”. ❤

[@chrischarles6747]

Well crafted video. Thank you for highlighting the diverse history of Reggae music. Have you any plan to include David Rodigan? Thx again....much respect!

[@ReggaeAppreciationSociety]

Yes I. Thanks for the support and Black Rodigan suggestion. He's part of a future video about UK reggae

[@NomadOutOfAfrica]

Loved this!

[@shadowstealer2790]

Superb stuff, thank you !

[@pabloirie2]

Thank you! Blessed.

[@martinzelaya2927]

That was awesome.

[@nukiolbartes6279]

In reality theres so many complex diverse collaborations behind lots of good things. Retrospectively some people choose to simplify them into monolithic narrative.

[@SHELLEYBAYER]

This was Excellent and absolute pleasure to watch. I grew up on Byron Lee's music and his band was epic. Byron Lee and the Dragonaires truly were the band of the Caribbean for decades because he instrumentally mastered calypso, ska, caribsoul and almost all the sub genres that followed. Among vocal artists he launched Ken Lazarus, Vic Taylor and many more. I'm sure bands like Fab Five were inspired by his template. I'd love to see a documentary just on Byron Lee and the Dragonaires.

[@ikongchin3088]

Byron was not no great bass player. Stop telling LIES.

[@SHELLEYBAYER]

@@ikongchin3088 l do believe a band consists of more than a bass guitar. I mantain the fact that Byron Lee and the Dragonaires played beautifully. They did primarily covers yes, but for decades they did it best. Classic Caribbean music that wiil never be replicated. However, you are free to not like it. I will listen, love and dance to it enough for those who don't 🎶💃🏾❤️

[@keithroberts4952]

​@@ikongchin3088 who said he was? The documentary stated that he introduced the electric bass guitar to playing Jamaican music as the double bass was too cumbersome to carry around.

[@JackRubyish]

​@Keith Roberts & the Chinese were running all the shops amongst themselves so money was plenty, plus they were shipping equipment into the country that's why NO Studio in Jamaica could SOUND as good as Channel One in that time.

[@carlwinslow5905]

​@@JackRubyish yeah but it took a full year before it would sound good. When it first opened, it sounded awful and they closed to figure out the problems they had.

[@chrismurraymusic]

You do a great job presenting the history.

[@rudytormento9753]

Awesome report! Thanks a lot for presenting it so clearly👍

[@gosnelrichards1545]

Well done to you my brother this is the real Jamaican reggae music 🎵 history blessings always 🙏🙏

[@ReggaeAppreciationSociety]

Thanks mi lion 🦁 blessings

[@ReggaeAppreciationSociety]

@@daisyc4056 Never said he was the first. But he was the first to run the first commercially successful sound system

[@poucasnotas4349]

Thank you 🙏

[@malanders7305]

Thanks mate, an excellent video.

[@mrmegabuckssongs]

Amazing and very educational

[@JonChacko]

Amazing research, thanks for sharing this!

[@fernandoherranz4095]

This is excellent. Thank you so much for sharing and educating me!

[@lawrencenjawe9875]

As soon as i read the heading i immediately thought of Leslie Kong, the Chin family and of course the Great Augustus Pablo.

[@anthonylawrence2094]

Wow, really enjoyed this, thanks.

[@goobert2469]

It’s great finding a channel dedicated to one of your favourite genres

[@angelaescoffery7728]

Learn alot...great info

[@mrgooakalegooster]

Great video! History, i didn't know about it! Thank you!

[@kaveiros1000]

Excellent!

[@brotherd1977]

Man, you just filled the gap in my reggae music puzzle, I grew up on reggae music and also collected albums. After a while I started getting into the history of the music and this right here is a video worth sharing and a blessing to us who wasn't born in that Era but appreciate the art form. Blessing my friend.

[@ReggaeAppreciationSociety]

Blessings mi lion ✌️

[@wildoutrudeboy]

What he said is facts. But it's the new sets of immigrant Chinese that is been blasted and not the real original Chinese that arrived in Jamaica around 1854 with their culture that influenced Jamaica's cooking, pastries, kids games, kitchen and dining utensils. Take for example bamboo rafting & man made coal burning

[@bernardthuo2455]

Much love from Kenya

[@ledzebulon6235]

Very interesting video, thankyou