Tribute to Millie Small

Boy who remembers the oldies huh? I tell you first time Jamaica music can not be replaced. Ska still carries the swing.

Little, "Millie Small" was one of these artist that could have you skanking on the dancefloor. Her song My Boy Lollipop, which was recorded in 1956 by Barbie Gaye, became a huge hit in 1964.
This record was said to put Chris Blackwell's Island Records on the Chart.

Born Millicent Smith, from Clarendon, she was the daughter of a Sugar Plantation Overseer. In her early teens Millicent formed a group called, "Roy and Millie." (Roy Panton was the other half of the group.) She started recording for the the Coxsone Dodd's Studio One record label.
They had a minor hit with "We'll Meet."

Small was the first artist to have a hit that was recorded in the so-called "bluebeat" style. This was a "music genre" that had recently emerged from Jamaica, and which, as with ska, was a direct ancestor of reggae.

However, her second release was a stronger song and was based more closely to the West Indian rhythms she was accustomed to. It became a massive hit on both sides of the Atlantic, reaching number 2 in the U.S. chart as well as in Britain.
Sadly, despite the great success of the record, it did not set a new musical style in people's awareness. 'My Boy Lollipop' was simply regarded by most record buyers at the time as an item of delightful, but lightweight 'pop' . (Incidentally the record is alleged by some to have a young Rod Stewart on harmonica).
Although she had a couple of further minor hits, she never managed to consolidate her famous smash.