<p> <b>THE YEAR WAS 1962…</b><br><br>
And independence rang loud through the streets, hills and valleys of a small Caribbean island known to the world as JAMAICA. It was this same year that a former jukebox technician turned record store owner named Vincent Chin and his wife Patricia would move their local record shop from a small storefront on the outskirts of town into the heart of the city. With a new location at 17 North Parade the timing couldn’t have been better, and this is where our story begins…<br><br>
Randy’s Record Mart (a former ice cream parlor), quickly proved to be hit with locals and found itself at the center of Jamaica’s growing music and social scene. As native tunes spread throughout the island, Randy’s became the place to find the homegrown sounds of Mento, SKA, and the future universal phenomenon known as Reggae music.<br><br>
In 1965, the Chin’s decided to expand their successful storefront. Included in their plans was the construction of a recording studio in the upstairs parlor above the store. With a limited selection of recording studios for the heap of local artists, in 1968 <b>Randy’s Studio 17</b> was born. The studio quickly became the recording facility of choice for the majority of Reggae’s prominent artists and producers including: Bob Marley & The Wailers (parts of “Catch A Fire” were recorded at Randy’s), Dennis Brown, Lee “Scratch” Perry, Bunny Lee and Niney The Observer. As well, foreign artists looking for the authentic reggae sound such as Quincy Jones and Joe Cocker all worked extensively at Randy’s. The rest is music history.<br><br>
Launched in 2007 by VP Records, the 17 North Parade imprint pays homage to the historic location of Randy’s Record Mart, the premier recording studio and record shop in Kingston, and the Mecca for Reggae music between the late 60s and 70’s.
Drawing on some of the best reggae catalogs in the world, much of the classic material found on 17 North Parade will make its first appearance on CD and digitally, with re-mastered audio, rare bonus tracks, extensive liner notes and more!!! Exclusively featuring music from such prominent producers/ labels as <b>Joe Gibbs, Penthouse Records, Powerhouse, Music Works and King Jammy’s</b> amongst others, each <b>17 North Parade</b> release will belong to one of three very distinct catalog series that define both the contemporary and classic eras in Jamaican music:<br><br>
Reggae Rewind This essential collection of classic reggae and dancehall albums have been re-issued and brought back to life for your listening pleasure. Many of the albums in the Reggae Rewind series will make their debut on CD and come fully restored with original album artwork, digitally re-mastered sound, extensive liner notes and more. This is the definitive collection also include rare tracks for both dedicated and casual fans searching for full-length classic Reggae albums.

<br><br><b>Selector’s Choice</b> Taken straight from the archives of some of Jamaica’s most prominent studios, the Selector’s Choice series is the ultimate deejay collector’s item. Including rare, out-of-print titles and classic material from reggae’s most legendary producers and record labels, many of Selector’s Choice compilations are re-mastered from their original tapes and include rare tracks, extensive discographies and more!!!<br><br>
<b>Reggae Anthology</b> Capturing some of the greatest material from Reggae’s most influential artists, producers and record labels, these very special collections encapsulate the momentous history and achievement of reggae music worldwide. With past titles (released through VP Records) from labels/ artists such as <b>Channel One, Garnett Silk, Yellowman, Ninjaman, and Marcia Griffiths, Reggae Anthology</b> is the crucial ‘best of’ collection for ALL reggae fans.
Cemented in its rich musical history, the address that once housed a 4-track studio and local record store has also birthed the world’s largest reggae record label, and helped introduce the genre’s unmistakable sound and its many stars. The music of 17 North Parade returns us to the golden era of Jamaican music, and the sound that that has endured the test of time and continues to influence generations of music lovers around the world. </p>


<b>Reggae Anthology: The Sweet Sound of Cocoa Tea</b>
Cocoa Tea was born Calvin George Scott on September 3, 1959 in the small town of Rocky Point located in the Clarendon parish of Jamaica. He is considered a pioneer in dancehall music and has enjoyed a consistent and successful career by evolving with this ever changing genre. Known for his smooth and laid-back vocal approach, Cocoa Tea has also been able to chameleon his sound to appear more gritty and tough for his cultural protest material. But Cocoa Tea was not propelled into stardom overnight; his music career experienced a false start as a youth. He sang in school and church choirs and made his first recordings for producer Willie Francis in 1974 at the age of 14. The single “Searching in the Hills” was released but was not successful. Over the next few years, Cocoa Tea worked as a racehorse jockey and later as a fisherman. Yet he never lost his love of music and continued to perform in the dancehall scene with traveling sound systems that passed through the island.<br><br>
At age 23, he moved to Kingston to pursue a full time career in music and quickly adopted the stage name Cocoa Tea after Jamaica’s popular hot chocolate beverage. He soon teamed up with Henry “Junjo” Lawes, a ruling producer of early 1980’s, and recorded a string of hit singles including “Lost My Sonia,” “Rocking Dolly” and “Can’t Stop Coco Tea.” In 1984, Cocoa Tea compiled many of his previous successes and released his first album Weh Dem a Go Do… Can’t Stop Coco Tea on the VP Records label, introducing the world to an irresistible voice that would take the Reggae world by storm.
The 80’s became the dawn of the digital era and Cocoa Tea became a much sought after talent by many of Jamaica’s top producers. Tea formed a relationship with Lloyd “King Jammy” James and went on to become one of Jammy’s main singers both in the studio and on the “King Jammy’s Super Power Soundsystem.” 1986 saw the release of The Marshall and Cocoa Tea experienced another hit with “Children of the Ghetto.” By now, digital rhythms had taken dancehall by storm, and in 1987 Cocoa Tea adopted this popular style to include on his release Come Again along with the hit “Tune In,” which many believe to be his signature song.
In 1989 producer Augustus “Gussie” Clarke teamed with King Jammy and took notice of the undeniable chemistry between Cocoa Tea, Shabba Ranks and Home T, releasing the hit collaboration “Who She Love.” The trio of artists reunited for the album project Holding On featuring the sweet vocals of Cocoa Tea and Home T and the legendary deejay prowess of Shabba Ranks. The result was a hit album full of instant classics including “Pirates Anthem” and the album’s title track, “Holding On.” Still maintaining his solo artist vitality, Cocoa Tea smoothly transitioned into 1990’s. He recorded one of his career’s most socially conscience hits “Riker’s Island” and released it on an album of the same name. He continued to explore conscious lyrics and social commentary and in 1992 witnessed the radio ban of his song “No Blood for Oil” in Jamaica and the U.K. The song contained protests of the Gulf War and was the product of another super-group, this time with Cutty Ranks in the place of Shabba.
Cocoa Tea’s subsequent collaborations with producer Philip "Fattis" Burrell helped to maintain the singer’s status amongst the top reggae acts of the late 90’s. In 1995, Burrell and Tea released Good Life and experienced a series of popular hits including the lovers’ rock tunes “Good Life” and “She Loves Me Now.” Cocoa Tea continued to maintain a solid level of popularity with hits for Burrell including 1996’s “Israel King,” and 1997’s King Sporty cover “I’m Not A King.” In 1995, Tea also experienced hits through collaborations with producer Bobby “Digital” Dixon and released Come Love Me, which included dancehall hits “No Threat” and “We Do the Killing.” It was also at the production hand of Bobby Digital that Tea released the stunning version of Bob Marley’s “Waiting in Vain;” a collaboration with Cutty Ranks.
By the end of the 90’s Cocoa Tea launched his own Roaring Lion Label. Not only did he continue to self-produce new releases, but he sought to work with other culture artists who spread a similar message of love in their music. Further releases by Cocoa Tea include 2001’s Feel the Power, and 2006’s Save Us Oh Jah. On March 11th, 2008, Cocoa Tea’s musical career will be venerated with the release of a two-disc anthology through the VP Records imprint label 17 North Parade. The Reggae Anthology: The Sweet Sound of Cocoa Tea will span his entire musical profession and will include early hits such as “Lost My Sonia” and “Rocking Dolly” as well as socially provoking songs like “Riker’s Island” and recent releases such as “Save Us Oh Jah.”
Throughout his illustrious career, Cocoa Tea has worked with some of the most venerable Reggae producers and musicians in the business. He is a truly timeless singer whose sweet style has flawlessly been able to adjust to the passing trends in Jamaican music. As it was predicted on his debut album… You can try, but you just can’t stop Cocoa Tea!