School of Rock
Random article All articles A–Z
2 languages

The Jolly Boys

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

The Jolly Boys is a mento band from Port Antonio in Jamaica. Mento is the traditional Jamaican music that preceded ska and reggae. The group grew out of the Navy Island Swamp Boys, founded in 1945 and often heard at Errol Flynn's parties. When that band broke up in 1955, Moses Deans and Papa Brown founded the Jolly Boys, reportedly with a name devised by Flynn. The band played in hotels and at private parties and was regarded as the best mento band in the region. In 1962 it was a finalist in a national mento competition in Kingston.

Music and breakthrough

In 1989 producer Jules Shear heard the band in a hotel and decided to make an album. This is how Pop 'n' Mento came about. Between 1989 and 1997 four albums were released, including Sunshine 'n' Water in 1991 and Beer Joint & Tailoring in 1992. The records led to world tours and to a part in the film The Mighty Quinn. In 2010 Great Expectation was released, with rock covers in mento style, featuring singer Albert Minott.

Influence

In mento one hears banjo, guitar, maracas and the rumba box, a large thumb piano that plays the bass. This makes the music lighter and more rhythmic than reggae. The Jolly Boys show that Jamaica had a musical history that began long before reggae.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to Touch Me Tomato and notice the rumba box, which plays the bass. Can you also hear the banjo and the maracas that set the tempo?

Discography

Studio albums

Categories: ArtistsMento