Loved this. Memories of parents tales of Glass Bucket and others. And my own of Myrtle Bank pool overlooking the Harbour - my Aunt would take us kids to swim there on occasion. And I remember the fire. 🔥
I remember sneaking out to Club Havana on Windward Road as a teenager. Had a large collection of Don Drummond 45s which I left with a friend in Toronto never to see again! Keep up the good work!
Love this. I've heard previously about the Glass Bucket and Silver Slipper. Actually my father told me a story about how he and his brother would sometimes drive in Kingston from Mandeville for a night out. One night, if I remember correctly, he went to the Glass Bucket, which was busy and had quite a number of Cubans. He went to the bathroom and when he came back out, there had been an argument of some sort, and one of these Cubans demanded to know who he supported, Castro or Batista? When my father was in the bathroom he had seen a number of scrawled words on the word, all claiming words like "Viva Batista!". So my father bet that this was the correct response and said to the group of Cubans "Viva Batista!" and his interrogator was happy, and drinks were on the house.
That’s wild! And it reminds me of shortly after Castro, gaining power, he invited people from the tourist industry around the world to come and visit the island. My parents were in the car rental business, so they went. If I remember correctly, on the way in from the airport, there were rose petals strewn all over the road. They got to meet Castro and shake his hand. During that time the Americans dropped flyers that warned about Castro, so my parents left Cuba early because they didn’t feel comfortable with what was going on. It wasn’t long after that that that Castro clamped down on everything.
Thanks Ramya. After all the research for the chapter, I had to share it. As I said, in the article, I knew some of this, but the more I found out I was amazed. What a great time to have grown up in Kingston!
Dale, you never ceases to amaze me with your thoroughness. Integrating a musical backstory like that is next level. Most writers would just mention the music and move on, but digging into the cultural and historical development behind it adds a whole different layer.
What grabs me about this piece, Dale, is how brilliantly you mapped out the geography of sound. You feel the distances things had to travel to get there, and then you feel what happened when they arrived. Then there’s this line: “The sound system itself, pioneered by Hedley Jones in the late 1940s, was a Kingston invention that would eventually change music culture around the world.” One sentence. But it lands. No fanfare, no inflation, just the fact sitting there. Of course, the personal note about Anita “Margarita” Mahfood and Don Drummond. A relative. A tragic relationship. A sentence that opens onto something you have chosen, for now, not to tell us. Overall, just a wondrous piece that captures how much gets lost when we only tell the story of what succeeded.
Thank you, Caro. I’m really glad you like the post. There’s so much history, not only in Jamaica but the whole Caribbean, that we need to be reminded of in both fiction and non-fiction formats..
On a clear night, borders fall ❤️ Thanks for this history. Mix.
Yes. I like that thought that on a clear night borders fall. You said that like a poet. 😊
Loved reading this! Thanks for writing it!
You are most welcome, Debra.
Loved this. Memories of parents tales of Glass Bucket and others. And my own of Myrtle Bank pool overlooking the Harbour - my Aunt would take us kids to swim there on occasion. And I remember the fire. 🔥
Those are lovely memories. I never did go to the Myrtle Bank Hotel.
Was very stush! 😬
So I’ve heard. 💰
I remember sneaking out to Club Havana on Windward Road as a teenager. Had a large collection of Don Drummond 45s which I left with a friend in Toronto never to see again! Keep up the good work!
Thank you Donald.
In my research, I did read about Club Havana. What was it like, And what type of music did they play?
Love this. I've heard previously about the Glass Bucket and Silver Slipper. Actually my father told me a story about how he and his brother would sometimes drive in Kingston from Mandeville for a night out. One night, if I remember correctly, he went to the Glass Bucket, which was busy and had quite a number of Cubans. He went to the bathroom and when he came back out, there had been an argument of some sort, and one of these Cubans demanded to know who he supported, Castro or Batista? When my father was in the bathroom he had seen a number of scrawled words on the word, all claiming words like "Viva Batista!". So my father bet that this was the correct response and said to the group of Cubans "Viva Batista!" and his interrogator was happy, and drinks were on the house.
That’s wild! And it reminds me of shortly after Castro, gaining power, he invited people from the tourist industry around the world to come and visit the island. My parents were in the car rental business, so they went. If I remember correctly, on the way in from the airport, there were rose petals strewn all over the road. They got to meet Castro and shake his hand. During that time the Americans dropped flyers that warned about Castro, so my parents left Cuba early because they didn’t feel comfortable with what was going on. It wasn’t long after that that that Castro clamped down on everything.
Fascinating, Dale! Thanks very much for this history lesson.
Thanks Ramya. After all the research for the chapter, I had to share it. As I said, in the article, I knew some of this, but the more I found out I was amazed. What a great time to have grown up in Kingston!
Very cool. I’m sure this is one of the blessings of writing historical fiction - all the interesting information you learn through your research!
Absolutely! I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Great article. The research is very interesting and important.
From you, the Research Queen, I take that as a great compliment.
Great work, Dale. Well-researched piece. It will definitely help your story shine! Music is the heart and soul of Jamaica.
It really is. And it’s mainly how we’ve had such an incredible impact on the world.
Dale, you never ceases to amaze me with your thoroughness. Integrating a musical backstory like that is next level. Most writers would just mention the music and move on, but digging into the cultural and historical development behind it adds a whole different layer.
Thanks Fin! I really enjoy the whole research and integration process. Your writing is pretty immersive as well.
Thank you, Dale. The mutual admiration society is still going strong.
When a writer truly loves to write from the passion burning within, it becomes much easier to stay authentic.
True, true.
Absolutely!
Kevin, I am interested in your writing. What should I start with.
I would say “The Man With the Accordion” —what would you say your first piece should be, Finlay?
Thank you. You write with soul! Very nice.
Very captivating image to a very interesting read, Dale.
What grabs me about this piece, Dale, is how brilliantly you mapped out the geography of sound. You feel the distances things had to travel to get there, and then you feel what happened when they arrived. Then there’s this line: “The sound system itself, pioneered by Hedley Jones in the late 1940s, was a Kingston invention that would eventually change music culture around the world.” One sentence. But it lands. No fanfare, no inflation, just the fact sitting there. Of course, the personal note about Anita “Margarita” Mahfood and Don Drummond. A relative. A tragic relationship. A sentence that opens onto something you have chosen, for now, not to tell us. Overall, just a wondrous piece that captures how much gets lost when we only tell the story of what succeeded.
Thank you, Caro. I’m really glad you like the post. There’s so much history, not only in Jamaica but the whole Caribbean, that we need to be reminded of in both fiction and non-fiction formats..